Atención Art Talks: Renowned Photojournalist Of San Miguel, Fostering Understanding

By Pascual Hijuelos

In 1819, Théodore Géricault exhibited “The Raft of the Medusa” in the annual Paris Salon. From the onset, the painting stirred intense controversy.  It was a bold  political critique of the monarchy, but more significantly, it was the first painting to depict a contemporary disaster. Géricault meticulously researched the incident that had taken place at sea. He used the survivors as models and even reconstructed the raft. It can be said that Géricault may well have been the first investigative reporter.  Until the early 20^th century, newspapers used artists to depict events visually. Today, almost everything is documented through the lens of a camera.

Janet Jarman, longtime resident of San Miguel, is an accomplished photographer, media artist, and photojournalist whose work has been featured by The New York Times, NPR, National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and numerous other leading media organizations. For over a decade, Janet has championed the subject of midwifery in México, as well as in other countries, through her striking photos, documentary videos, and now her recently released book “Birth Wars”.  Fortunately, I was able to pull Janet away from her busy schedule for a chat.

Janet, how did it all begin? At a very young age, I was drawn to art such as painting and drawing, reflecting my fascination with everything in nature. Later, art took on another role after the tragic loss of my brother when I was 14. During this emotionally heavy period, my father and I decided to take a photography class to learn and heal together. I began to see photography as a way to interpret the essence of life—with all of its incredible beauty, but also its tragedy.  As I continued through my high school and university years, I began to wonder if visual storytelling could create change by fostering understanding that could bring people together instead of driving them apart. This motivation remains at the center of my work today.

So how did you get started as a photojournalist?After graduating from the journalism school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I worked at The Miami Herald for about four years. This immersion into visual journalism in South Florida solidified my already strong interest in Latin America. Following this time, I decided to turn freelance and worked on assignment for international publications, along with a number of foundations.   I pursued long-term personal projects in addition to assignments. My visual style has always involved entering a scene where emotion is being experienced. I endeavor to capture the essence or truth of the situation and portray it in a respectful way, hoping to make viewers feel like they are there with me.

What motivated you to pursue the midwife issue, and why is it important? My coverage of this particular theme began in 2013 when I met some extraordinary women in Chiapas. They were traditional indigenous midwives and well-respected leaders in their communities. I saw how they treated women not as patients, but as human beings who deserve dignified care according to their customs. In many remote communities, they were the only caregivers women trusted. Yet, they were being rejected by the institutional medical system—why, I wondered? I also met a number of teachers and students at midwifery schools such as C.A.S.A., (in San Miguel de Allende) and doctors in hospitals. As I learned more about their conflicts and challenges, it became clear to me that this story was about an unequal power struggle that often perpetuated obstetric violence and discrimination against women—and that this pattern repeated itself all over the world.  As I dug deeper into the issues affecting midwives and the people they serve, I felt a strong calling, both as a journalist and as a woman, to tell this vastly complex story. The topic of respectful childbirth is an important human rights story that involves bodily autonomy, culture, politics, science, and much more.   Over the next decade, often alone and sometimes with a few female colleagues, I drove thousands of miles through Guerrero, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Morelos, San Luis Potosí, Jalisco, and Guanajuato—and also in Guatemala—in and out of communities, down long unpaved roads, up and down mountains, and across a few rivers. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the many women, families, organizations, and health institutions who trusted us and continued to invite us back to their homes and communities.

The culmination of this coverage was the feature film “Birth Wars”, which we proudly premiered here in San Miguel as part of the 2019 GIFF Festival. Since then, the film has screened at over 55 festivals worldwide.  Seeing the reaction to and interest in the film, in 2020 the MacArthur Foundation offered to also support a photo book on the subject. I returned to my still photography roots and became a ‘lone wolf’ photographer again. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I was determined to show the challenges of giving birth during this fearful time. I worked inside hospitals and in remote areas where traditional midwives became the front-line workers, taking great risks. I started a portrait series to show the territories where midwives work and added a sub-story about placentas—the life-giving organ that is so often overlooked. I worked on this book for several years, and it was published by FotoEvidence, a publisher focused on human rights reporting. 

As with the film, my goal remains to contribute to changing the narrative about maternal health, and especially the approach to childbirth. I want to show that there is another way—a gentler way—and that a woman has the right to choose if, how, where, and with whom she gives birth. Ultimately, this requires a dramatic paradigm shift in the obstetric model of healthcare—from a doctor-driven system to one that returns the decision-making power to women. Midwives are at the center of this movement, acting as important catalysts of change here in México and across the world.

What advice would you give a young media artist or photojournalists today? Success depends first on being a strong storyteller. No matter how much equipment you add to your creative tool set, being an experienced journalist and storyteller will set you apart. Master that first.  Work respectfully, knowing that the story belongs to the people you are photographing. It is their story, not your story.  Keep searching more. Whenever you think you are finished, you probably are not—at least, that has been my experience. Always stay open to seeing in another way and to finding unique story angles that can add balance and nuance to your work.

Thank you, Janet.

For further information, you can contact Janet through her website: www.janetjarman.com or Instagram @janetjarman

“Birth Wars” will be available in January 2026 at Camino Silvestre, San Miguel de Allende.