Documenting Humanity: Michele Zousmer’s Journey with Irish Travellers and Beyond

02/07/25 • 51 min

Michele Zousmer, the featured photographer in the March 2025 issue of Street Photography Magazine is a San Diego-based humanitarian photographer, has dedicated her photographic work to illuminating overlooked communities and challenging societal perceptions. Starting as a sports photographer capturing her son’s basketball games, Michele’s path led her to document stories ranging from women in prison to homeless choir members, ultimately finding her most profound work among Ireland’s Traveller community.

For the past seven years, Michele has immersed herself in the Traveller culture, gaining unprecedented access through an approach that prioritizes human connection over technical perfection. “I literally talk to them. It’s almost like a game,” she explains. “What mascara are you wearing? I’m not kidding. We just like talking makeup on the side of the road.”

This seemingly casual approach belies a deeper purpose. Through her recently published book “Mis[s]understood,” she reveals the complex realities of a marginalized community facing widespread discrimination. Her photographs capture both the vibrancy of Traveller culture and the challenges they face, particularly in education and housing.

“The more I got to know them, I came back many times,” Michele reflects. “I actually thought that they have a lot of traditions that we’ve lost in America. They are so family oriented. Everything is family. They live together as family. All the generations live together.”

Her work with the Voices of Our City Choir in San Diego demonstrates similar depth of connection. What began as documenting a homeless choir led to an intimate film project when choir member Steven Reed asked her to document his final months battling liver cancer. Despite initial hesitation due to her own experience with loss, Michele agreed, creating “Sounds of the Sidewalk: A Journey of Goodbye.” The resulting film not only honored Reed’s story but helped change perceptions of homelessness.

“I really feel that way, and I see the world that way,” she says of her approach to humanitarian photography. “I think vulnerability is so important, and I’m always very open and vulnerable. I could be vulnerable with my people that I’m relating to, but I do think you have to be careful who you share it with.”

This philosophy has earned her the trust of communities often wary of outsiders, resulting in intimate portraits that challenge viewers to see beyond stereotypes and recognize our shared humanity.

This is only part of Michele’s story, so please be sure to listen to our conversation. You won’t regret it.

Links from the show

This philosophy has earned her the trust of communities often wary of outsiders, resulting in intimate portraits that challenge viewers to see beyond stereotypes and recognize our shared humanity.

This is only part of Michele’s story, so please be sure to listen to our conversation. You won’t regret it.

Links from the show

Previous Episode

Confidence and Connection: Street Portraits with Ribsy

Eric Turibio, known in the photography community as Ribsy, brings a distinctive approach to street portraiture that emphasizes genuine human connection over technical perfection. Originally starting his photographic journey through food photography, Ribsy has evolved into a committed film photographer who primarily works with medium format cameras to capture compelling portraits of New York City’s inhabitants.

In his conversation with Street Photography Magazine, Ribsy discusses how confidence shapes his street photography practice. Rather than adopting the fly-on-the-wall approach favored by many street photographers, he engages directly with his subjects, often approaching them with straightforward requests like “You look really interesting sitting right there. Can I get a photo of you?” This direct method, combined with his authentic interest in how people fit into their environments, has become his signature style.

Working primarily with a Yashica 124G medium format camera, Ribsy carefully balances his artistic vision with the practical constraints of film photography. Because there are only 12 frames per roll of 120 film, he makes each interaction and composition count. This deliberate approach extends to his creative process – he describes street portraiture as emotionally demanding work that requires specific mental preparation and dedicated time alone to achieve the best results.

Despite relocating from New York City to the Hudson Valley and balancing photography with family life and a full-time career, Ribsy maintains his commitment to documenting the city’s diverse population. Through his YouTube channel and various social media platforms, he shares not only his photographic work but also insights into his process, helping other photographers understand the nuances of street portraiture while maintaining an authentic approach.

Links from the show

Next Episode

Antonio Pisani: See beyond the surface in Street Photography

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Antonio Pisani. He’s a photographer originally from Italy but now based in the UK, and he has some very interesting insights on street photography. What makes Antonio’s story unique is his journey and perspective. I think you will appreciate his insights.

Key Takeaways

Antonio shared how his father’s profession influenced him. His father used film cameras in the eighties and nineties. Antonio explained the magic of photography and his independent approach. He always had a clear idea of what he wanted. His father’s work had a subconscious influence. He saw his father developing photos and understood how to explore beyond the technicalities.

We dug into the concept of seeing beyond the surface. This is something that Antonio learned from his mentor, Yoshi Imamura. Antonio met Yoshi while working in a retail camera store. They connected over cameras. Yoshi gave him a pinhole lens as a gift which forced Antonio to focus on the art and meaning behind his images, not just the technical aspects. This helped him develop critical thinking and see images with his brain.

Behind the Scenes

It was really interesting to hear Antonio’s thoughts on social media. He believes Instagram can be a double-edged sword. Antonio chooses to control his images and share them purposefully rather than posting everything online for likes. He aims to create meaningful projects that last. He develops bodies of work that can be exhibited or published.

Antonio is preparing several exhibitions in Europe for 2025 and 2026. He’s also working on a book. This takes time and effort, but he optimizes his time and manages his corporate job alongside photography. Antonio believes photography is a calling and a demanding journey. The goal is to develop work that goes beyond day-to-day pictures. If photography is your passion, you’ll keep going.

What’s Next

Antonio is planning 2025 workshops and master classes. He likes to teach the art of slowing down and being present. These classes cover theoretical and practical aspects. The goal is to develop themes and projects, print your work, and share your images. And he’s always open to discussing gear, black and white photography, and his choice of Pentax and Ricoh cameras.

Be sure to check out the full episode to hear more from Antonio. Keep shooting, keep exploring, and stay tuned for more inspiring conversations.