Chatting the Pictures: Bringing Later Stage Abortions into the Light

This photo was taken by Maggie Shannon for a New Yorker photo essay about a Maryland clinic providing later-stage abortions. The clinic gave Shannon access to help lift secrecy around these treatments, which are most often sought due to fetal abnormalities, maternal health risks, barriers to early abortion, or late pregnancy discovery. The article estimates that only about a dozen U.S. clinics provide abortions after 24 weeks and up to 34 weeks in this Maryland clinic. The photo shows a staffer placing a sheet between a patient and a clinician who is administering an injection to stop the fetal heartbeat as part of the procedure.

In the video, we discuss how the photo style conveys the gravity and intensity of the procedure. We examine the rest of the edit to convey how communal this experience is. And we address the key symbolism, particularly the clinician’s shadow.