Shutterbabe: Adventures in Love and War

Written By: Deborah Copaken Kogan

            An undermined woman who works as a war photojournalist among men, Deborah Copaken Kogan has deemed herself an alter-ego—Shutterbabe. In her book, Kogan depicts stories from her life going as far back as high school and a few memorable moments of her younger years. However, the real meat of the book is her journey as a young woman fresh out of college and wanting to submerge herself into the, then a male-dominated world, of photojournalism. Kogan seeks adventure both in her surroundings and career, as well as in her personal life. Being a Corporate Communications and Photography double major, and having been looking at photojournalism as a possible career, I really dug into this book. I feel I related fairly well to what Kogan had to say, other than her struggle to fit in as a woman. We are in more modern times now. It was her struggle to really find her niche with the possibilities almost being endless, and to find what it was that was really going to be “fulfilling” in her life, that’s what got me.

Kogan graduated from Harvard in 1988, and since has worked as a photojournalist, television producer, and writer. Her photographs, which is a huge part of her book, have been published in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Times, and sold for numerous other publications. She’s been all around the world, having even lived in Paris for quite some time as soon as she graduated college. She was asked to apply to Magnum, a prestigious photographic cooperative that only hire the best of the best. I can only hope to amount to half of the accomplishments this woman has been renowned for in my lifetime that she achieved in her twenties. I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mrs. Deborah Copaken Kogan.

On another note, the overall book’s set-up… I found it to be a bit odd at first, and actually I still think this. The chapters are named after lovers she had from the time she was assigned her first war story with the ever mysterious and moody Pascal, to the man she chose to settle down with and make a family, Paul. I honestly just wonder what all of these men are thinking, or if they have even read the book.

Also, Kogan has very interactive transitions and stories that keep the reading, certainly myself, wanting to continue and not put the book down. One minute she’s speaking in first person, the next it’s dialogue, and then BOOM—some flashback that adds to the experience or anecdote she is trying to convey.

I was pleased with the descriptions as well. Being a book about, not only her career, but the interpersonal workings (more so) of her life, Kogan was definitely emotionally involved. Describing what she saw working: watching junkies shoot-up, men being blown-up by landmines, and a Romanian autopsy on a dead orphan that affected her in a tremendous way. Kogan definitely gives everything she has to offer in her experiences and “adventures in love and war.” This was NOT just another news story for her by any means.

One thing that really got me through out the book, however, was how in the world was she remembering all of these conversations verbatim?! She was reciting dialogues from at least ten years prior to writing the book. Is it justifiable because the book is on her life and the way she saw it, and is the reader supposed to believe everything? That whole thing just kind of through me off.

Overall, a really sound book. I would definitely recommend it, especially people considering photojournalism as a career. It had me thinking the entire time and relating my life to what she was going through. Kogan gives great insight on the matter, and some tremendous life lessons along the way.