We got entries from 27 different countries for the 2016 APAD Backyard Storytelling Grant, including Iran, Bangladesh & Ukraine… with issues equally as diverse as our entrants themselves. And on behalf of the judges Greg Kahn, Daniella Zalcman, and myself, we’re excited to announce our 2016 APAD Backyard Storytelling Grant recipient — Tommaso Rada

From his proposal:

“Domestic Borders” becomes a route where each photo is a stop on the way, not searching for answers but interrogating the social reality, the relations between inhabitants and the territory and the meaning of Europe today. “Domestic Borders” ends up being an unusual and unexpected trip, a dystopian portrait of the relationships between and across the border, showing the challenges of living in a unique space with a different passage of time. Two years ago I started a project on European borders. I documented the borders between Portugal and Spain, Romania, and Bulgaria, Bulgaria and Greece and Italy and France. Each chapter can work alone as well as mixed with the others. With the grant, I would do a new chapter of the project documenting the border between Spain and France.”

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Judges comments: 

I was particularly impressed by Tomasso’s subtle, lyrical approach to looking at EU borders. It’s a timely and relevant project on a subject that’s not inherently very visual — but he’s come up with a meaningful way to address an issue that’s at the heart of Europe’s ongoing geopolitical identity crisis. I can’t wait to see the next chapter of the project! — Daniella Zalcman

Tommaso Rada had a really interesting proposal, one that not only gave us a clear idea of the story but found deeper meaning hidden in the landscape. His images found a nice subtle balance between literal borders and invisible lines in the terrain, inviting the viewer to stay on each photo longer. — Greg Kahn

iI like that Tommaso is taking a bigger picture issue, and then taking a step back to look this huge global story, through the lens of something much smaller… by trying to localize it and compartmentalize it. The story is nuanced and I feel really great about supporting such important work. — Melissa Lyttle


(*** Note: We had incredibly strong finalists: Amber Bracken, Alexey Furman, Dina Oganova, and Jennifer Swanson. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention their outstanding work and proposals. We’re looking forward to seeing more from them in the future, and you should be as well.)

APAD Backyard Storytelling Grant

You’ve got about 2 weeks left to submit your proposal for the 2nd annual APAD Backyard Storytelling Grant.

APhotoADay’s Backyard Storytelling Grant is a $4,000 grant awarded to a visual storyteller to aid in a project within 500 miles (or roughly one tank of gas) of the journalist’s home.

Our goal is to reward and encourage finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, while also focusing on community. Often time the best stories - the ones that resonate most - are the ones that hit closest to home.

Photographers and visual journalists from any country may apply for this grant.

Proposals for projects that have already received grants or awards of more than $5,000 in the previous calendar year are not eligible. The grant is awarded to an individual photographer; project proposals that involve multiple content producers will not be accepted.

One entry per person. Deadline is 8/21/2016.

Any questions, please email: m [at] melissalyttle [dot] com.

This year, GeekFest is heading back to where it all began – Washington, D.C., Sept 16-18, 2016. for those trying to make travel plans, things will kick off around 6pm Friday night, and wrap by 6pm Sunday night.
The line-up of speakers is incredible:...

This year, GeekFest is heading back to where it all began – Washington, D.C., Sept 16-18, 2016. for those trying to make travel plans, things will kick off around 6pm Friday night, and wrap by 6pm Sunday night.

The line-up of speakers is incredible: Jose Cabaço, Stephen Crowley, Carol Guzy, Greg Kahn, Mike Kepka, Elizabeth Krist, Zun Lee, Jonathan Newton, Ruddy Roye, Lexey Swall, and Dani Zalcman. We’re also putting together a special panel discussion with editors and art buyers, hoping to answer the question “what are editors looking for?” And as always, we have a few surprises up our sleeves…

Our host is Howard University’s School of Communications, and it’s made possible with the generous support of our friends at Nikon.

There’s a Facebook group with more info. We’re announcing who’s registered and updating people on the event’s happening there first.

Here are the details:

REGISTRATION

Join us by registering today for just $125, or $150 at the door.

We’re making it easier than ever this year. You can pay via:


• PayPal: apad@aphotoaday.org (select “friend/family”)

• Venmo: @melissalyttle

• Google Wallet: mlyttle@gmail.com

• Square Cash: https://cash.me/$MelissaLyttle

HOTEL INFO
Got a sweet block of (45) Queen Suites at the Cambria in DC. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 20 LEFT.
Each room has two queen beds and a sleeper sofa.
Which means each room can sleep 5-6 people.
There’s also a sweet rooftop bar, indoor pool, and a cheap Über or 20-minute walk to Howard University.

PRICE
Eve Edelheit negotiated a great rate of $199/night + taxes.

RESERVATIONS
Call 202.299.1188 and tell them you’re with the group “APhotoADay”

OR

By clicking on this link, inputting your first and last name, arrival and departure dates, number of people in the room, credit card details and by asking for the “APhotoaDay” room block. You will receive a confirmation via email through the Choice reservation system on the next business day. The cut-off date for this room block is 5 p.m. EST Tuesday, August 16.


AGAIN, THE CUT-OFF DATE
Reservations by attendees must be received on or before Tuesday, 8/16/2016 at 5pm.

Looking forward to seeing y’all in September. Any questions, don’t hesitate… m [at] melissalyttle [dot] com.

And the winner of the APAD Backyard Storytelling Grant is…

For years, I’ve been hoping to do more with APhotoADay. Since 2000, it’s been an incredible listserv. A source of honest critique. A place for conversation and questions. A safe forum for figuring things out amongst like-minded folk. A community was created. Then GeekFest was born as an annual gathering of photo geeks. And it quickly became an opportunity to invite my favorite photographers to speak and inspire. More than that though, it became an family reunion. A chance to see old friends and make new.

But there was always something more I wanted.

After several successful print auctions, with the money raised going to good people or good causes, I applied for non-profit 501c3 status so we could give money out, as a way to contribute to photographers and their work on a more personal level. This year, that dream has finally become a reality – supporting project work and purposeful photojournalism.


As the call for entries read:

APhotoADay’s inaugural Backyard Storytelling Grant is a $4,000 grant awarded to a visual storyteller to aid in a project within 350 miles (or roughly one tank of gas) of the journalist’s home. Our goal is to reward and encourage finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, while also focusing on community. Often time the best stories - the ones that resonate most - are the ones that hit closest to home.

In total, we received 164 entries from 34 countries, including China, Iran, Lithuania, Egypt, Bosnia and Peru.

This year, one of the highlights of GeekFest Oakland was getting to Skype with Washington D.C.-based freelance photographer Greg Kahn – the recipient of our first-ever grant. Even better, was that it was a total surprise.

Greg’s project is called “3 Millimeters,” and as he states in his entry, it’s not about melting glaciers in far away places, or a big storm that inflicts swift devastation on an unsuspecting community, but it’s about the slow drowning of a place and its way of life.

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“Three extra millimeters of water every year will make land vanish. It will swallow communities. It will change environmental habitats forever. It will cause record pollution. For townspeople along the inner- coastal region of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, the impact of sea level rise is no longer an abstract worry debated by politicians. They see the land becoming more saturated beneath their feet.”

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Through the use of audio interviews, video landscapes and beautiful photography all destined for an digital publication geo-tagging the visuals and providing a rich narrative of what’s already been lost, Greg will continue telling the story of farms that have been in families for generations are being abandoned. Of locals pointing 100 yards into the bay, and telling stories of a baseball field where they used to play. Of graves of the islands’ founders now submerged underwater – lost at sea.

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The judges were Mark Murrmann of Mother Jones magazine, Matt Black of Magnum Photos, and myself (Melissa Lyttle, founder of APAD and a freelance photographer based in Florida). 

As one of the judges said about the winning proposal: The photos are awesome and it’s one of the better projects I’ve seen that tries to show the real, if subtle, effects of rising sea levels. It’s not easy, but Greg’s done it.

Another judge applauded Greg’s commitment to making a powerful story that on its surface doesn’t sound visual, into an incredibly compelling narrative rich through the depth and diversity of its images.

So a huge Congratulations to Greg Kahn! And if you’d like to continue to follow Greg’s work, please check him out on Twitter, Instagram and the Grain Images tumblr.


I’d also like to take a moment to honor the other finalists, who were recognized by the judges (comments included) for the depth of their vision and commitment to covering issues in their own backyards:

Adam Patterson - on a loyalist enclave of ex-paramilitaries in Northern Ireland

Great photos of a local story that’s actually fairly complex, told succinctly. I like the inclusion of the historical images to help give it context.

Alyssa Schukar - on a community outside of Chicago being lost as a refinery expands

There were a number of stories submitted that looked a particular neighborhood in a city. This one stands out for the extra layer the story has, of living in the shadow of the BP refinery. The photos do a great job of giving a sense of the neighborhood, the people that live there, as well as what the issue is.

Cesar Rodriguez - on the impact of harvesting tobacco in Mexico on people’s health and traditions

Gorgeous black & white photos showing/telling a horrific story. Well done and worthy of a grant because this is one of those projects that’s an important story to tell but will be really hard to get placed.

Daniella Zalcman - on an Eco Village in England

A self-sustaining community of squatters known as the Diggers, fighting eviction in the wake of new luxury apartments is an on-going story that Daniella has scratched the surface of and already made some beautiful storytelling pictures and captured intimate moments of. Time and movement are all that’s needed here.

Nick Oza - on expanding his immigration coverage to a recent surge of unaccompanied minors in Phoenix

This is a really excellent piece on immigration/border issues. My only knock against this work is that it all feels very familiar simply because it’s a story that has been covered a lot, for a number of years. But this is a very well-done, multi-layered look at the border and it’s not a story that’s going away. It’s obvious Nick has put a lot of time and effort into this.

Oscar Castillo - on prisons and violence in Venezuela

Great photos. Great access.  Really excellently done, but a project on violence in Central America while powerful, has to shed a light on something new, a new aspect, a new angle.

Sumon Yusuf - on river erosion in Bangladesh

Gorgeous b&w panoramic photos of water, so vital to people’s lives both for survival, economic development and spirituality, slowly displacing millions.

APAD’s BACKYARD STORYTELLING GRANT

UPDATE: THE GRANT APPLICATION PERIOD HAS NOW ENDED. THANK YOU TO THE 161 PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL. THE JUDGES WILL BE GOING THROUGH THEM, AND HOPE TO HAVE A WINNER CHOSEN TO BE ANNOUNCED AT GEEKFEST OAKLAND (tinyurl.com/geekfestoakland). 

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Summary:

APhotoADay’s inaugural Backyard Storytelling Grant is a $4,000 grant awarded to a visual storyteller to aid in a project within 350 miles (or roughly one tank of gas) of the journalist’s home.

Our goal is to reward and encourage finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, while also focusing on community. Often time the best stories - the ones that resonate most - are the ones that hit closest to home.

A hand-picked panel of judges from APhotoADay and speakers from GeekFest Oakland 2015 will review the applications and award prizes. On top of that, APhotoADay will help find the completed project a home with at least one prominent industry photo blogs. Yes, think the NYT Lens Blogs and TIME Lightboxes of the world.

Application Process:

In a statement not to exceed 500 words, please describe the project you’re interested in completing. Also include research you’ve made and the ways in which the grant will directly help you achieve your goals. In a bio not to exceed 250 words, please tell us about yourself. Keep it real. Be yourself.

If you haven’t started the project already, but you have a great idea that you need help starting and funding, that’s cool. Please describe how you would approach it, while illustrating some tangible research you’ve done and contacts you’ve made.

In a selection of up to 20 pictures (or a 5 minute sample reel if you’re doing a video project), please show us work that highlights your abilities as they relate to the type of work you’ll be doing.

Photographers and visual journalists from any country may apply for this grant.

Proposals for projects that have already received grants or awards of more than $5,000 in the previous calendar year are not eligible. The grant is awarded to an individual photographer; project proposals that involve multiple content producers will not be accepted.

To submit your project (here’s your checklist):

Please place up to 20 sequenced images (2000 px on the longest side x 72 DPI) in a folder titled with your first and last name. For those working on a video project, please include a 5-minute (or less) video that pertains to the story and/or is representative of the work you’re looking to do.

In that folder, also include a text document with your statement/proposal. 

Include a second text document with YOUR contact info, including:

• name

• mailing address

• phone number

• email address

• social media handles

* and also, three references that can vouch for you as a photographer and a human being. we need their names and a way to contact them.

And lastly, include a third text document with your 250 word bio. Again, keep it real. Be yourself. This isn’t a resume as it is a bio.

DO NOT INDIVIDUAL FILES. SEND ONE .ZIP FILE.

One entry per person.

The deadline for submissions is midnight (PST) on Monday, Aug. 31, 2015

The announcement of the winner(s) will be made during GeekFest Oakland (Sept 11-13, 2015).

Any questions: please email m[at]melissalyttle.com.

Official Press Release Announcing APAD’s Continued Awesomeness

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What makes the APhotoADay listserv unique is community.

Since 2001, I’ve watched people grow up on there. Find their voice. Come into their own. Some have grown from young college photographers into some of the industry’s brightest stars. Having that support system is powerful, especially for people at small newspapers where leadership and guidance are in short supply. We are each other’s sounding boards, editors, mentors and friends.

APAD is an instant photo family. Now it’s growing into something more.

Every year, APAD organizes an annual workshop lovingly called GeekFest, where we uphold the organization’s collaborative “we’re all in this together” philosophy. We bring in speakers and encourage them to participate in the weekend’s activities. It’s an awesome sight to scan the shuffleboard court in St. Petersburg, during a night of fun, and see National Geographic photographer Sam Abell and Pulitzer-winner Damon Winter playing a game with a college kid named Mitchell Franz and Chad Pilster, a photographer at a small paper. Talking like old friends. Getting to know each other without the pretense of a job title.

And every year, we have held a print auction to benefit different causes.

After more than a decade of supporting photographers as best we knew how, APAD has become a 501©(3), allowing us to give back in a bigger way. All of the money from this year’s print auction will go directly to grants for working photographers, enabling them to tell visual stories that would otherwise go untold. It’s just one more way to continue our mission of supporting the photo community.

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This year’s auction will be held online through Paddle 8 and includes photographs contributed by Ed Kashi, Vince Musi, Melissa Farlow, Randy Olson, Damon Winter, Todd Heisler, Ami Vitale and many, many other accomplished photographers. The auction will begin on September 2, 2014 and will end on September 16.

For anyone interested in attending this year’s GeekFest, which is taking place in Philadelphia from Sept 12-14, 2014, more information can be found here or on our Facebook page.

A direct link to auction is here:  http://paddle8.com/auctions/aphotoaday

Seriously… Have you seen this rockstar line up?! GeekFest Philly is shaping up to be a stellar year full of inspiration, fun and as always some photo love.

For those looking for the official GeekFest stuff… Here’s the flyer and the schedule. Hope to see you there.

Our Facebook page is also hopping, and probably the best way to stay plugged in: tinyurl.com/geekfestphilly

GeekFest Planning is Taking Shape

GeekFest is a 3-day celebration featuring inspiring photographers and visual journalists. And this year, it’s taking place in PHILLY – Sept. 12-14, 2014. Temple University is generously hosting our Saturday and Sunday presentations.

You want rockstars? We got rockstars. April Saul, Ed Kashi, Kainaz Amaria, Vince Musi, Sara Lewkowicz, Holly Andres, J. Kyle Keener and David Maialetti. As if that’s not enough, we’ll have more baller speakers and fun announcements coming soon.

Cost for this amazing weekend is just $100 in advance or $125 at the door. That’s payable by going to www.aphotoaday.org/support.html and clicking on the DONATE button at the bottom. 

The *OFFICIAL* GeekFest Hotel is The Windsor Suites in downtown Philly. We have blocked 15 rooms at a special rate ($139/night + tax for a double). After those 15 are taken, rooms will be booked at their regular rate, so act soon (the discounted rate ends Tuesday, Aug. 12). To make your reservation, call (877) 784-8379 and mention “GeekFest” to get our discounted group rate.

If you’re trying to plan your arrival/departure – things will kickoff Friday night around 6pm at KennerVision Studios in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood, with some drinks, snacks and inspiration a la J. Kyle Keener. Saturday and Sundays schedules are still being firmed up (and I’ll post it as soon as it is), but Saturday will go from 11am to about 6pm, and Sunday 11am to 5pm – at Temple. **The only definite so far is Ed Kashi speaking Saturday afternoon around 4:30pm.**

How to kill yourself creatively.

If you read one thing today, read this:

bgwrittenword:

I’m writing this from the perspective of someone who is trekking through the process. I’m not sitting on a high horse. I can’t even afford a horse.

It is often said that you have to be partially insane to be a creative. I’m not sure if that idea is influenced by the odd forms of modern art, or…