Cohan Zarnoch’s Inspirational Journey as a Nurse and Photographer
Cohan Zarnoch remembers seeing the lip plates worn by the women of the ’s Mursi tribe in a photograph in National Geographic. She was just seven years old, growing up in , where her only exposure to the wider world was through magazines and encyclopedias.
“I said, one day I’m going to see that,” she recalls. “When we arrived, I stood there and cried. Who would have thought when I was seven that I would have actually seen this?” Now 54, Zarnoch has spent the last 12 years traveling with non-profit organizations, photographing remote African tribes along the way.
Based in , Zarnoch is also a surgical nurse currently working on the frontlines of the . She spent three weeks in April stationed in and is now in East Texas, nearing the end of a continuous 30-day stretch of 12-hour days caring for COVID patients.
Before her current frontline duties, Zarnoch traveled with organizations such as Operation Walk, which facilitated joint replacements, and Primo Filters International, a non-profit she runs with her family that brings clean water to developing countries, often with her camera in hand.
The mother of four always had a passion for photography, capturing moments of her own children. However, she never considered pursuing it as a profession. “I thought I could only be one thing, and maybe in my next lifetime I would be a photographer, because in this lifetime, I’m a nurse,” she reflects. After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, her perspective shifted. “I decided life was too short. I remembered my dream to visit Africa.”
Zarnoch reached out to a non-profit, and within 30 minutes, she was informed they needed a photographer for their mission to . More than a decade later, she has collaborated with multiple organizations, serving both as a photographer and running surgical missions that have taken her across , Peru, , Cuba, and .
Despite her extensive global travels, her experiences in Africa are particularly significant to Zarnoch. “You’re just present in the moment – the people I meet accept you for who you are. If you accept them for who they are, a great connection forms that is hard to find anywhere else,” she explains. “In contrast, in the US, we often face cultural judgments and conformity that restrict our openness with others.”
Zarnoch has captured images of tribes in , Tanzania, , and , among others. Her vibrant portraits of tribe members, particularly women and children, embody the connection she establishes with her subjects. “I smile and wave – I want to engage with them, but often there is no translator available. Playing with the kids helps me foster a connection with their mothers,” she mentions. Overcoming the language barrier is a significant challenge, yet Zarnoch creatively utilizes her camera to bridge the gap, even teaching children to take their own photos. “They’ve never seen their reflections in mirrors; showing them pictures is a rewarding experience,” she shares.
Zarnoch believes that success as both a nurse and a photographer stems from her deep affection for people. “I love helping and connecting with others. I didn’t have a voice growing up. I feel like my work allows me to give voice to those who wish to be seen and heard,” she expresses.
Describing herself as an overachiever, Zarnoch consistently stays busy. “If I’m not running a mission trip, I’m shooting one. If I’m not doing that, I’m working at the hospital, and if not that, I’m processing photos,” she explains. Dreaming of shooting for National Geographic one day, Zarnoch’s determination continues to shine. As soon as the pandemic eases, she plans to resume her travel adventures, with upcoming destinations including and .
