The photography industry has instances where unlikely brands collaborate in a way that can go a long way. Such partnerships not only come as a surprise but also help shape the discourse around the medium. An instance is the recent teaming up of legacy brands Polaroid and Magnum Photos, who launched a joint Open Call with three renowned mentors. And now, Polaroid and Magnum have both announced the winners of their contest.
The lead image is a collage of all the winning works, courtesy of Polaroid and Magnum Photos. All images have been used with permission.
After three months, Magnum photographers and mentors Enri Canaj, Jim Goldberg, and Newsha Tavakolian reviewed about 2,101 submissions from 100 countries. Finally, they discovered 10 emerging artists whose works will be showcased at the Paris Photo Fair in November, followed by a digital exhibition. Alongside them, the mentors will also be displaying their projects, which were created for this open call.
The photographs above are by Aleruchi Kinik.
Called “the next wave of visual storytellers,” the 10 winners were chosen for their emotive series. They also worked closely with Canaj, Goldberg, and Tavakolian to develop their series. The winners also used a Polaroid I-2 camera for this venture, which the press release marks the first time some winners used film. Polaroid and Magnum Photos have also revealed that the contest is a new part of their ‘imperfectionism’ movement, which hopes to depict that creativity does not need exemplary results.
Here’s a look at the 10 winners:
- Jakub Stanek
- Jaír Fernando Coll
- Maria Beatriz de Vilhena
- Mengwen Cao
- D. M. Terblanche
The images are by Jed Bacason.
06. Mohamed Hassan
07. Stefan Pavic
08. Aleruchi Kinika
09. Natela Grigalashvil
10. Jed Bacason
The photographs above are by Jair Fernando Coll.
Each photographer either focussed on their own lives or those around them. For instance, Jakub Stanek questioned the perception of masculinity by documenting his life with his son. There is Mohamed Hassan, who traveled throughout Wales to document a sense of community and nationhood created through a series of journeys across the country. D. M. Terblanche, who has autism, turned his lens on himself to examine the world of those who have also been diagnosed with the same illness, albeit much later in life. Jed Bacason’s work focuses on family members working overseas based on his childhood experiences. There is also Jaír Fernando Coll, who has been highlighting the life of an individual diagnosed with Zika-related microcephaly for the past seven years. By participating in this open call by Polaroid and Magnum Photos, he captures a chapter in his life in black and white. As one can see from the examples, the works are diverse, as they are touching. They comment on our shared human experiences, as well as themes of migration, gender roles, identity, and environmental degradation.
The images above are by Jakub Stanek.
This selection, which has been titled Real Life is Not Black and White reveals the significance of instant photography. Through the powerful and captivating images, they hope to highlight how Polaroid can be used for creative expression. Furthermore, these winning works also hope to emphasize the features of the Polaroid I-2, which is the first camera with built-in manual controls.
For more information, head to Magnum Photos’ website.
Polaroid and Magnum Photos have also revealed that the contest is a new part of their ‘imperfectionism’ movement, which hopes to depict that creativity does not need exemplary results.