Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive” in Oslo, Norway
Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
8-3-2025 1:40 PM
Description
Arne Langleite, Photo archivist and curator, Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Oslo, Norway
Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive” in Oslo, Norway
In 1988, five female photographers established Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive,” in Oslo, Norway. According to the photographers, there was a need for a female perspective in photography, as only 10-20% of photographers were women, and the images of women made by men reflected men’s point of view.
Although short-lived as an independent photography collective, Hera was, according to Mimsy Møller, one of the photographers, important for the development of the individual photographers involved. It is also a name that occasionally reappears in Norwegian photographic history, but there has never been written a thorough history of them.
Another of the photographers, Annette Faltin claimed: “A different experience of time is what distinguishes us from other, male photographers […] Because we take our time, we penetrate beneath the surface, see a more nuanced picture, know better the situation we are photographing. That is our strength.”
In this paper, I will outline the creation of and short-lived existence of this all-female photography collective, the branch of photography within which they functioned, and the general gender balance within the photography profession at the time. I will also attempt a sketch of how their images have stayed in circulation after the collective’s demise, with images being taken over by the agency Samfoto.
Arne Langleite is a photo archivist and curator at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology in Oslo. He has a background as a photographer and artist, and has a degree in Fine Art Photography from Glasgow School of Art. He is currently doing an MA-degree in Photographic History at De Montfort University in Leicester. Arne's research interests include the history of northern light photography and stock photo agencies of the mid- to late 20th century.
Relational Format
Conference proceeding
Recommended Citation
Langleite, Arne, "Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive” in Oslo, Norway" (2025). Women of Photography: A 24-Hour Conference-a-thon Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025. 40.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/womenofphotography/2025/schedule/40
Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive” in Oslo, Norway
Arne Langleite, Photo archivist and curator, Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology, Oslo, Norway
Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive” in Oslo, Norway
In 1988, five female photographers established Hera, “The Women’s Photo Archive,” in Oslo, Norway. According to the photographers, there was a need for a female perspective in photography, as only 10-20% of photographers were women, and the images of women made by men reflected men’s point of view.
Although short-lived as an independent photography collective, Hera was, according to Mimsy Møller, one of the photographers, important for the development of the individual photographers involved. It is also a name that occasionally reappears in Norwegian photographic history, but there has never been written a thorough history of them.
Another of the photographers, Annette Faltin claimed: “A different experience of time is what distinguishes us from other, male photographers […] Because we take our time, we penetrate beneath the surface, see a more nuanced picture, know better the situation we are photographing. That is our strength.”
In this paper, I will outline the creation of and short-lived existence of this all-female photography collective, the branch of photography within which they functioned, and the general gender balance within the photography profession at the time. I will also attempt a sketch of how their images have stayed in circulation after the collective’s demise, with images being taken over by the agency Samfoto.
Arne Langleite is a photo archivist and curator at The Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology in Oslo. He has a background as a photographer and artist, and has a degree in Fine Art Photography from Glasgow School of Art. He is currently doing an MA-degree in Photographic History at De Montfort University in Leicester. Arne's research interests include the history of northern light photography and stock photo agencies of the mid- to late 20th century.
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