Karen Ballard at Xposure 2025: From 9/11’s Pentagon to Hollywood, Her Lens Tells Stories

Photo : Sharjah Govt Media Bureau

For over 30 years, award-winning photojournalist Karen Ballard has captured some of the most unforgettable moments in history. From the devastation of 9/11 to war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, and even behind-the-scenes moments with Hollywood’s biggest stars, her camera has taken her to incredible places.

On the opening day of the 9th annual Xposure International Photography Festival in Sharjah, Ballard shared her inspiring journey with the audience. In her session, titled "A Life in Stills," she spoke about the challenges and excitement of covering both war zones and film sets. “We live pretty extraordinary lives as photographers,” she said. “From the Pentagon on 9/11 to Daniel Craig on the set of Quantum of Solace, my camera has taken me to some surreal places.”

Ballard, a winner of the William Randolph Hearst Award, started her career in Washington, D.C., working for The Washington Times. There, she covered politics, including Bill Clinton’s presidency. “I started my first job in D.C. covering the White House. My first inauguration was Clinton’s, and this past one was my sixth,” she recalled. One of her most famous photos captured a moment between Clinton and Al Gore on January 20, 2001. “Some people say it looks like Gore is about to punch Clinton, but really, he was just putting on his coat,” she joked.

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Though politics played a major role in her early career, Ballard later found herself in the world of Hollywood. She became a stills photographer for major films, including Quantum of Solace, Jack Reacher, and Munich. Her photographs have been featured on movie posters, DVD covers, and promotional materials for some of the biggest films.

She credited director Steven Spielberg for helping her transition into the film industry. “I met Steven when I was a newspaper photographer. Years later, when he was filming Munich, he wanted a photojournalist to capture the movie in that style. My first time on set, I wasn’t sure how to approach it. But Steven told me, ‘Just do what you do, get in there.’ So I started shooting the way I would cover a news story.”

Over the years, she has worked with Hollywood legends like Tom Cruise, Daniel Craig, Sylvester Stallone, and of course, Spielberg. She shared fun behind-the-scenes stories about working with these stars and how she captured some of their most candid moments.

While she has documented moments in war zones, Ballard clarified that she doesn’t consider herself a war photographer. “I was embedded with troops and made three trips to Iraq and three to Afghanistan, but I’ve never claimed to be a war photographer. I was a photojournalist working in war zones.”

Beyond politics and Hollywood, Ballard has also worked on immersive storytelling projects across the world. She shared a memorable experience from Africa, where she photographed Maasai warriors during a rite of passage ceremony. “This only happens once every 12 years, and the elders gave me permission to photograph it. It was magical,” she said.

Through her work, Karen Ballard has proven that photography is more than just taking pictures—it’s about storytelling, emotion, and capturing history in the making. Her journey from covering the White House to war zones and Hollywood sets is a testament to the power of photography in shaping the way we see the world.

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