Lori and Valerie. Washington, DC, 1978.
Revolutionary at that time, JEB photographed lesbians from different ages and backgrounds in their everyday-lives -- working, playing, raising families, and striving to remake their worlds. The photographs were accompanied by testimonials from the women pictured in the book, as well as writings from icons including Audre Lorde, Adrienne Rich, and more. Eye to Eye signaled a new way of seeing -- moving lesbian lives from the margins to the center and reversing a history of invisibility. More than just a book, it was an affirmation of the existence of lesbians that helped to propel a political movement.
Reprinted for the first time in 40 years, and featuring additional essays from former World Cup soccer player Lori Lindsey, and photographer Lola Flash, Eye to Eye is a faithful reproduction of a work that continues to resonate in the queer community and beyond. It will be released on March 23, 2021.
(c) JEB (Joan. E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions
Instagram: @jebmedia, @anthology
Priscilla and Regina. Brooklyn, New York, 1979.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Pages from the interior.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians
Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians by JEB (Joan E. Biren). Originally published in 1979, it was the first known openly lesbian photography book to be published in the US.
(c) JEB (Joan. E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Pagan and Kady. Monticello, New York, 1978.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Pages from the interior.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Darquita and Denyeta. Alexandria, Virginia, 1979
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Gloria and Charmaine. Baltimore, Maryland, 1979
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Pages from the interior.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Mabel. New York City, 1978.
(c) JEB (Joan. E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
Tee Corinne, 1980 by JEB (Joan E. Biren)
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions. (Tee Corrine's essay is included in the book, but not her portrait.)
JEB. Dyke, Virginia. 1975, Self-portrait.
(c) JEB (Joan E. Biren) from her book Eye to Eye: Portraits of Lesbians published by Anthology Editions.
