Deanne Fitzmaurice
Deanne Fitzmaurice is a Pulitzer Prize-winning documentary photojournalist known for her deeply human approach to storytelling. Her work explores resilience, healing, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Her Pulitzer-winning project “Operation Lion Heart” followed the recovery of a young Iraqi boy severely injured by war, exemplifying her ability to connect compassion with visual narrative. Fitzmaurice’s photographs have appeared in National Geographic, TIME, and The New York Times Magazine, establishing her as one of the most influential voices in contemporary photojournalism.
Raised in Massachusetts and trained at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, Fitzmaurice began her career at the San Francisco Chronicle in 1989. Over nearly two decades, she chronicled defining social, political, and environmental moments, including the AIDS crisis, the Loma Prieta earthquake, and major sporting events.
Her Pulitzer Prize in 2005 marked international recognition for her sensitive and enduring storytelling. She has since gone on to produce work for NPR, MSNBC, the ACLU, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, while also creating imagery for major brands including Apple, Nike, and Google. Her dual ability to move between editorial depth and commercial creativity has brought her worldwide acclaim.
Fitzmaurice’s career is distinguished by her commitment to long-form narratives. She followed Saleh Khalaf’s story for more than a year, producing an intimate portrait of a child’s resilience and a family’s devotion. Her capacity to document suffering while preserving dignity is a hallmark of her work. This philosophy has shaped her wider practice, where she seeks stories of perseverance and strength in contexts as diverse as war zones, sports arenas, and communities confronting social change.
Beyond her photography, Fitzmaurice is a co-founder of Think Tank Photo, a company that has revolutionised the way photographers carry their equipment. As a Nikon Ambassador, she has become a mentor and advocate for the next generation of storytellers. Her lectures and workshops at Stanford University, Santa Fe Workshops, and international platforms reflect her belief that photography is not just about the image, but about the responsibility to witness, record, and inspire. Fitzmaurice continues to balance global assignments with personal projects, ensuring that her storytelling remains deeply connected to humanity.
Her work has been recognised by Pictures of the Year International, the Casey Medal, Communication Arts, NPPA Best of Photojournalism, and the U.N. International Photographic Council Achievement Award. She has been a finalist for the W. Eugene Smith and Alexia Foundation Grants, and her images are held in the permanent collection of the Newseum.
Deanne Fitzmaurice is the co-author of Freak Season, documenting baseball player Tim Lincecum’s journey from spring training to the World Series, and she has contributed to the bestselling Day in the Life book series. While not producing full-length films, she has created multimedia stories combining photography, video, and audio for major outlets including MSNBC and the ACLU, extending her storytelling into new formats. Her work has been widely exhibited internationally, with images held in the permanent collection of the Newseum, affirming her lasting impact on visual storytelling.