Yahoo Lifestyle Photographers Tell: The Inspirational Women They Can't Forget
Douglas Kirkland
Audrey Hepburn, actress and humanitarian
Photo taken: 1965
I was in my late twenties when Audrey’s press agent suggested I photograph her for her new movie How to Steal a Million. I was brought to Paris and the experience was extraordinary because she was this great star and my career was just getting started. I felt overwhelmed; like such a beginner. Audrey was wonderful because she saw something in me and made me feel completely comfortable. I will never forget how caring she was. She instilled a confidence in me and because of the shots we took, she really lifted my career. This particular image is the most playful. We bounced around and had fun. There was a great warmth between us.
Jonathan Becker
Anonymous Afghan woman
Photo taken: 2003
The American invasion in late 2001 had shell-shocked Afghanistan. By the time we arrived in August 2003, a strange and quiet peace prevailed. Exlploring the outskirts of Kabul, I have to confess, I wasn't aware of thinking so much when I took this picture, I was in a certain [mental] ‘zone’. This elegant lady, an anonymous passerby, caught my eye. She presented a determined and sage silhouette in her burkha. Her hands appeared delicate and her feet paced with certain style amidst the wreckage.
Platon
Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmese politician and human rights activist
Photo taken: 2010
This was taken immediately after Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest [as a political prisoner for almost 15 years]. As soon as she walked in the room, I was floored by her spirit; she had an aura of calm, it was like meeting the Dalai Lama, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., all rolled up into one beautiful person. I asked her if love is the most important thing, and she replied, ‘No. Love is based on passion; it peaks but it also dips. In these challenging times, we need something much more stable to rely on – that’s friendship, that's kindness.’ These words of wisdom I carry with me every day of my life.
To see more inspirational portraits, pick up the November issue of marie claire.
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