Stephen Shames

Stephen Shames is an American documentary photographer known for his powerful images of social issues, activism, and marginalized communities. Over a career spanning nearly 60 years, he has used photography as a tool for advocacy, focusing on topics such as child poverty, racism, and political movements.

Shames first gained recognition for his work documenting the Black Panther Party in the late 1960s, offering an insider’s perspective on one of the most influential political movements in American history. His long-term projects have also tackled the realities of poverty in America, juvenile justice, and the lives of street children across the world. His images balance harsh realities with a deep sense of dignity and resilience.

His work has been widely exhibited and is included in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, and the George Eastman Museum. He has published multiple books, including Power to the People: The World of the Black Panthers, Outside the Dream: Child Poverty in America, and A Lifetime in Photography.

Beyond photography, Shames has collaborated with advocacy organizations such as the Children’s Defense Fund to ensure his work drives real change. In 2010, he was named a Purpose Prize Fellow for his work supporting AIDS orphans and former child soldiers in Africa.

His approach to photography is rooted in deep engagement with the people and communities he documents, rejecting the detached perspective of a tourist in favor of an insider’s understanding. (Website, Instagram)