#Girlgaze: How Girls See the World

Photographer and media entrepreneur de Cadenet selects photographs submitted to her digital media company, #Girlgaze, which showcases the work of female aspiring photographers, in this powerful collection of images. Loosely organized around vague themes such as “how girls see the world” and “girls’ inner world,” the photos exhibit a wide variety of styles, contents, and compositions. The images are accompanied by a caption with the title and the photographer’s name, location, age, and social media handle. Most of the photos celebrate womanhood in all its sizes, shapes, ethnicities, and manifestations with varying degrees of success. While some contain as little originality as an American Apparel advertisement, others, such as Brandy Eve Allen’s image of a woman superimposed over an underwater school of sardines, show a creative eye for artistic detail or thoughtful composition. Another highlight is Monica Lek’s photo of two young women dressed in black abayas and eating swirled ice cream with the backdrop of a large gray stone wall. This book commendably provides a way for young women to share their voices and vulnerabilities. The diversity of the subjects serves as a strong reminder of the pressures and messiness of gender and identity. Color photos. (Oct.)