In conversation with Carol Guzy
Four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Carol Guzy presents a powerful and deeply personal reflection on a lifetime spent documenting humanity in moments of crisis, loss, resilience, and hope. Widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary photojournalism, Guzy has dedicated her career to telling stories with extraordinary empathy, compassion, and emotional depth.
From Haiti, Kosovo, and Rwanda to the aftermath of natural disasters, refugee crises, and war zones, Carol Guzy has witnessed some of the defining humanitarian events of recent decades.
In this inspiring talk, drawing on decades of frontline experience, the photographer reflects on the emotional and ethical challenges of photographing human suffering while preserving dignity, and respect for the people whose stories she documents.
Guzy will share the stories behind some of her most iconic photographs, the encounters that shaped her vision, and the emotional impact of spending a lifetime documenting people living through extraordinary circumstances.
Take advantage of this event to plan a weekend in Siena and fully experience the exhibitions and events of the Siena Awards Festival.
Info
Location: Teatro dei Rinnovati |
Piazza del Campo, 1 – Siena
Date: 9 october 2026
Time: 3:00 pm
Photographer Biography: Carol Guzy was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and lived there until 1978 when she completed her studies at Northampton County Area Community College, graduating with an Associate’s degree in Registered Nursing. A change of heart led her to the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida to study photography. She graduated in 1980 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Photography.
She interned at The Miami Herald and upon graduation was hired as a staff photographer. She spent eight years at the newspaper before moving to Washington, DC in 1988 where she became a staff photographer at The Washington Post through 2014. She is currently freelance. She is the first journalist to receive a fourth Pulitzer – for coverage of the Haitian earthquake in 2010. Previously she was honored twice with the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography for her coverage of the military intervention in Haiti and the devastating mudslide in Armero, Colombia. She received a third Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for her work in Kosovo. She has been named Photographer of the Year for the National Press Photographers Association three times and nine times for the White House News Photographers Association and has earned many other prestigious awards in her chosen profession of photojournalism. She specializes on long-form documentary human interest projects and news stories, both domestic and international and is currently a contract photographer with ZUMA Press.
