“A terrific still photograph remains one of the most powerful weapons that is around - it is storytelling with a camera - a box with a hole in that allows you to tell stories which is as old as time. If you’re good, curious and you tell them in a unique way or the best way you can people will always want to see them or know about things.
Photojournalism will be around forever.”
Tom Stoddart 1953-2021
Extraordinary Women
“Many images hold strong memories for me, I am very proud of my pictures. You make pictures with what’s in your head and your heart and your feet and there are a handful I consider to be my best pictures - that they were the best I could have made them; but the photograph of Meliha Varešanović, walking with her head held high, wearing her heels and jewellery, through a battle-scarred Sarajevo neighbourhood has a special place in my heart. In 1/250th of a second Meliha’s bravery, defiance, beauty and soul are captured and exposed in one powerful frame and for a photographer it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Tom Stoddart - Extraordinary Women
Portraits
"I’m a photojournalist of attachment…you make the type of pictures depending on what kind of guy you are; sensitivity, optimism and being curious is a great combination in photojournalism and the harder you work the luckier you get. A portrait isn't just about a capturing a likeness; it's about unveiling a personality, a character, a soul."
Tom Stoddart
Crisis
“Tom was the photographer’s photographer. His pictures from conflicts, catastrophes and humanitarian crises around the world spoke for themselves; with a compassionate eye and a click, Tom captured the moment that told the story. His pictures were technically brilliant, emotionally charged and worth at least the thousand words reporters wrote to accompany them. His images from Sarajevo, the Berlin Wall, Iraq, Palestine, Sri Lanka and other global hotspots spoke of his courage and the suffering of those in intolerable situations and conditions.”
Kim Willsher - L’Oeil de la Photographie.
Health
“I did 7 years criss crossing sub-saharan Africa with people saying what are you doing that for no one is going to be interested, nobody cares…I’m a kind of very gentle guy, but you have to have something inside of you, a steel. When something happens and you think I have to go on that. I want to be able to stand up in front of someone, even if I don’t speak their language they can indicate if they want to be part of this collaboration or not so 28m or 35mm are my go to lenses. I’m very much about keeping it simple and wait out the moment, wait and strike when there is something happening. If you can look into someone’s face like that you don’t need many words to know what’s going on; you can look into their soul. I love the Ted Grant quote: “When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls!” which is for me how I found the best way of communicating.”
Tom Stoddart
Movement
“Ordinary women are capable of extraordinary things. When a crisis engulfs a community it’s the women who turn to face the challenges head on. Their love of family and ‘never surrender’ attitude drives them on to survive the miserable cruelty of conflicts, political persecution, natural disasters and health emergencies. Sadly, a recurring theme in my career has been documenting lines of refugees fleeing ethnic hatred or political barbarism. But again, amongst such fear and chaos, it’s women and girls who protect the weak, bear the weight, build the fires and feed the hungry.”
Tom Stoddart - Extraordinary Women
Politics
“When it came to an assignment Tom was always laser focused and driven. He was going to be the first one to arrive at the scene, get the most important pictures, be the first one to get those pictures back to the paper and he was going to get that coveted front page exclusive. Nothing was going to stand in his way.”
Aidan Sullivan - Verbatim Photo
Front Line
“Arriving in Sarajevo in 1992 I photographed proud, stylishly dressed women wearing pearls arguing over the price of foraged dock leaves in the market place. In Sniper Alley I saw countless acts of courage and humanity by women shielding their children and helping each other across the deadly intersections.’ In conversation with Kenneth Jarecke Tom describes the moment he made the image of the Marines coming to terms with learning one of their unit had been killed; ‘A lot of this is about instinct - what am I trying to shoot here, praying for; what scene is going to bring all of this together so the reader knows what the story is in this one frame.”
Tom Stoddart
