The CHF Board is particularly struck by the compassion and inclusivity Johnson embeds in her work. Her keen sense and knowledge about the geographic locations, cultures, and subjects she covers are akin to Hondros’ work and the immense preparation he undertook to learn not only on the current state of affairs, but the historical context of people, conflict, and regions he covered.
“I’m short,” says Lynn Johnson. “That’s one of the things I pack in my camera bag.” Also invisibility, compassion, sunscreen and outrage. Recently awarded a National Geographic fellowship, Johnson is known for shooting elusive subjects—language, disease, rape, water—and for asking tough questions. Her thesis as a Knight Fellow at Ohio University probed hate crimes; at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications she challenges master’s students to push past their own comfort levels. Dedicated to exploring the far reaches of the human condition, she spends maybe two months a year at home in Pittsburgh, packing that camera bag over and over.
