#pressforprogress

Your Shot Series: Breaking Barriers

March is Women's History Month and to honor the women in our community and around the globe, Your Shot Associate Photo Editor, Kristen McNicholas, will be curating one image a day from the Your Shot community that celebrates women. Each day in March the photographs will be shared on the @natgeoyourshot Instagram account.

Your Shot Photographer Callie Chee captured this image at 2am in late June 2017. She caught the volcanoes spewing a little ash, the Milky Way and fog. She knew that these three elements could only be captured in a small time-frame and could disappear really quickly. She expertly planned the image and executed her vision at the right moment. Photography isn't just pressing a button. There is so much planning, anticipation and research that can go into making a single photograph.

Dear Woman,

I hear they are celebrating you today

But I really have some stuff to say.

I wish I could do more for you everyday.

In most cases my hands are tied

And I get scared often.

But maybe this will be good for both of us.

I hope you celebrate yourself everyday

Even when it's hard to look in the mirror and affirm your existence.

I hope you realize that you are important.

It's painful that we are dying everyday,

And sometimes I can't pray the pain away.

Dying in work spaces..

Dying in church...

Dying in schools...

Dying even in the hands of those we love...

Woman we are dying everyday and everywhere.

We are bruised...

We are hungry...

We are tired...

We suffer great violence in the shadows and

We are massacred without fear or shame in broad daylight.

We die from different deaths but I pray you have something to hold onto.

I pray another well meaning woman is there for you.

People will wish you well and send you cute messages today,

But most of them persecute you every day.

You will be told you are the carrier and channel from which life is brought into this earth,

But they won't give you the right to choose to bring life into this world or not.

They will say women are bold and strong,

But when you voice your unhappiness & demand your place suddenly you are aggressive.

They will tell you your dreams are beautiful,

But won't give you the opportunities to pursue them.

They will tell you how you are industrious and how you make things happen,

But it's sad how they won't legalize sex work so that you feed yourself and your dependants.

They will name "culture", "religion" & "world standards",

But only when it suits them.

They will name statistics of how things are changing in the workplace and assert their pleasure on your ascension.

But they won't give you equal pay for equal work with your male colleague.

They sexualize you,

But won't allow you to own your sexuality in the best way you know how.

Some will even say they got you,

But they are the best architectures of high walls instead of bridges.

Lovers will tell you how much you mean to them & utter sweet words,

I hope their actions echo their words.

I am sorry I get carried away sometimes,

Today is a beautiful and important day for you.

They are celebrating you!

My prayer is you realize how important and beautiful you are everyday.

I hope you celebrate yourself everyday.

 Woman I hope you are not afraid.

To own your life and your truth.

To rise from the dust...

To morph into what you were meant to be.

To accept yourself and to fight for what you believe in.

We are dying everyday...

I hear there is a theme again this year,

I hope when you lay down at night alone, you form your own themes for your journey and purpose.

I hope when you march in the "sacred spaces" and hold your banner up,

Your hope is restored.

Your soul is set on fire,

To find the light and warmth you deserve in all spaces.

I love you woman.

Yours,