Taking Chances on Stories to Tell: Photojournalist Deanne Fitzmaurice at Bild
Deanne Fitzmaurice is a national magazine award winning photographer. Deanne Fitzmaurice is an icon in the photojournalism industry, a prestigious member of the Bild Agency, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. Her exemplary work earned her the 2002 National Magazine Award for Photojournalism. Her passion for raising awareness about social issues and global crises drove her into the world of photojournalism.
Before becoming a photographer, Deanne Fitzmaurice worked as a feature writer. After college and as she wrote for various magazines, Deanne Fitzmaurice realized she wanted a more visual and active type of storytelling. The desire to use her creativity behind a lens pushed her to pursue a career in photography. As an emerging photographer in the industry, she found herself working for the black and white press, Sports Illustrated, shooting images of athletes. Eventually she became a staff photographer for The San Francisco Chronicle.
The rise to success and winning National Magazine Awards was a huge gamble. Fitzmaurice’s first editor, Harry Potter gave her a chance that she took with great enthusiasm. She was flung into the world of photojournalism and, using her creative eye, pushed her ambition and visual stories to the front page. Always taking chances on stories, she developed a long-term narrative about an elite high school football team. This project earned her the much-deserved National Magazine Award.
From award-winning National Magazine Assignment to the Pulitzer Prize and becoming a member of Bild Agency. Fitzmaurice became a member of the prestigious Bild Agency and the only female member of the agency. Her skilled story-telling captured the attention of judges for the Pulitzer Prize and she received the Pulitzer Prize in Feature Photography for her repository of images from the Iraq War. Fitzmaurice has presented as a lecturer to many educational programs and will continue to share her experience to upcoming generations.
Deanne Fitzmaurice’s philosophy is all about taking chances on stories and making them visible. She uses her creativity to fulfill her impressive photographic career. For over 25 years she has used her talent and skills to tell stories and bring social awareness to the surface. She continues to take risks and take chances on the visual stories she wants to tell.
