The W. Eugene Smith Award 2019 by Donna Ferrato

Public Story

The W. Eugene Smith Award 2019

Copyright Donna Ferrato 2024

Date of Work Oct 2019 - Ongoing

Updated Jun 2020

Topics Abuse, Activism, Borders, Christianity, Civil Rights, Combat, Community, Corruption, Crime, Dreams, Dying/Death, Emotion, Environment, Family, Fear, Freedom, Health/Healing, Historical, Human Rights, Latin America, Loss, Militias, Oppression, Photography, Politics, Poverty, Reporting, SVA, Terrorism, Violence, W. Eugene Smith Grant Award, War, Weapons, Yearning, Youth

This year's W. Eugene Smith Grant award was a monster of a show, giving us insight into the best efforts of concerned photojournalists from across the world. Bravo to the nine finalists; to the Howard Chapnick Grant, Alisia Hansen; to the two Leonian finalists, to the W. Eugene Smith Fellowship recipient, Sian Davey, the W Eugene Smith Student Grant, Fawaz Oyedji. The display of imagery left me breathless. But I was especially stunned by the body of work by Mexican photographer/filmmaker, husband, and father of three girls, Yael Martinez. His intimate portrait of "The House that Bleeds", is a psychological drama that sheds light on his own family's experience with violence and death, as well, as many others whose missing relatives are mourned although they rarely find closure or resolution. It was an honor to see the great work, and, to break bread with photographers, judges, journalists, and, the W. Eugene Smith directors afterward at Bottino's. Wow. Thanks, Marcel Saba, Robert Pledge, Dora Somosi and Leandro Villaro for making it look easy.
New York’s W. Eugene Smith Evening by William M. Hunt
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