Magnum Blog / BURN Magazine and the 10,000 dollar grant

BURN Magazine and the 10,000 dollar grant

I started BURN MAGAZINE just before Christmas 2008. So we have been rocking along now for just over a month. BURN is a spinoff of my 2 year old Road Trips blog which was heavily influenced by both Alec Soth and Martin Fuchs. The very nature of my blog, and the evolving BURN, is a clear educational imperative and so in 2008 I created a $5,000 grant to be given to an emerging photographer who needed financial assistance with a project. Sean Gallagher was the first recipient of the Emerging Photographer Fund grant of $5,000. to continue his environmental series on the "desertification" of China. For 2009 I have announced a $10,000 grant which comes under the non-profit umbrella of the Magnum Cultural Foundation. The guidelines for submissions can be found on BURN. The deadline for this grant is March 15, 2009. Finalists will be juried by a peer group of 5. Two of which will be from Magnum and the other three will be respected members of the gallery and publishing world. I will NOT be one of the jurors. Why? Because I have "coached" too many to be impartial. In my role as curator of BURN MAGAZINE, I spend a lot of time reviewing portfolios, editing work, and generally trying to answer the myriad of questions of so many young photographers who are often vexed by the complexities of our craft. The work published on BURN comes primarily from the readers of BURN, but I do plan a series of profiles on various Magnum photographers and talent from other agencies and galleries as well. Right now BURN is just me and my laptop and one super tech helper. Give us just a bit of funding and we will BURN the house down (so to speak!). My overall goal is to create enough sponsorship so that I can eventually give out several stipends during the year to produce original photography for BURN. Many of the published essays were quite literally originated online with the photographer and me collaborating, much as I would do in one of my own workshops which I have been teaching since I was about 23. I have been teaching almost as long as I have been photographing. The pay back, pay forward ,concept is just in my blood. Of course, I am no good to anyone as a teacher if I am not also deeply engaged in my own work, publishing books, taking assignments, creating exhibitions, and generally being totally immersed in our craft, our art, our life... With the publishing world changing right before our eyes and a recession hanging over most of us, I do see more opportunities than ever before. It will take a quick wit and some nimble thinking and stealth, but I truly believe that the audience will in effect become the publishers. I do see a time for BURN when the online audience will be sufficient enough to create the sponsorship for not only stipends to finish self started projects, but will lead to an annual print publication as well. Dreaming?? Yes, of course, but how do you think I got into this business in the first place?? One of the things we have talked about at Magnum is creating quite literally "channels" for various photographers off of this website. Certainly there have not been two better leaders than Alec and Martin. I think together we will literally set the tone for the future. Most importantly, it is not about US. It is about YOU. We might be able to guide a bit, but you will be the stars of the show. So, hang out here on the Magnum Blog. I plan to be more active here as well. Join us also on BURN. One way or another we will try to keep you informed and enlightened and you will do the same for us. Links: » BURN Magazine » Magnum Cultural Foundation » David Alan Harvey's Magnum Portfolio » David Alan Harvey's Books (Signed from the Magnum Store)

Panos Skoulidas

Let's BURN that house down..
Also...
the roof.. The roof...
The roof is on fire...
peace and hugs..
Driving
Burning
panos

Panos Skoulidas

Ohhhh...
and let me not forget my "plug"...
Please go to Burn and check on my
"Venice Beach" essay...
I don't know but the more I look at it the more
I like it...
Or should I say "loves it"...
peace

Mikko Takkunen

BURN is amazing. I've often found myself there two three times a day. I've especially enjoyed following the discussions, even if I haven't always loved the photographs.

Thanks for putting it together.

Cheers.

Zaida Sofía

This blog is a blessing in disguise. Such great inspiration and support, that it's helped me believe that it is possible to start from one end of the spectrum and continue to shine throughout.

Stefania

Hi,
is this REAL ? and really not only for US?
I am from Rome Italy, free lance photographer-artist and I have a work-in-progress... started in NY three years ago... a project that I would love to develop further in New York and some other major cities in the US. I know that there are many many "monsters-masters" photographers... but I bet nobody has done the work I do;-)

Love & joy to you all

Mike Fioritto

What qualifies you as an emerging photographer? I worked as a phographer and after a hiatus of 15 years I'm back working on a social documentary project. Would I qualify? I like what is happening over at BURN.

Igor Motl

Refreshing!!! First site (magazine) for emerging photographers that really is that. It sounds pretty much unselfish and I truly hope You really are. Thank You for BURN and good luck with all Your wishes.
Igor

david alan harvey

MIKKO

thanks for hanging out with us on BURN...and please submit photographs as you see fit...i cannot publish everything that comes to me, but will try to give a good sampling of what young photographers are doing...

ZAIDA..

i really wanted to give photographers the feeling you have....with so much confusion and hype out there, i wanted to at least have a place where photographers could feel at home and develop their stories and their life philosophy...

STEFANIA...

if you are doing great work, somebody will notice...since you do not live far from me, perhaps i could take a look at your portfolio at some point...true, i am busy so much of the time, but i do also find time to spend time with photographers with something to say and something to show...

MIKE...

yes, "emerging" is pretty subjective....but , it is one of those terms that i think applies to someone who is very serious, yet not quite "there"....potential, talent, but perhaps not published as he/she should be...i think the jurors for EPF will know an "emerging photographer" when they see one....most likely emerging means young, but not necessarily...i know one truly emerging photographer who is in her sixties!!!

IGOR...

i do give a lot to young photographers.....this craft, this profession, has been good to me and i have always felt a need to give back ....and pay forward as well...as i said above teaching has been in my blood my whole career....sometimes i have to struggle to balance it out with my own shooting, because i cannot let that slide...but, usually it all works out about right...

good luck with all your wishes as well..

PANOS...

you are turning into a flagrant promoter!!! anyway, nice to see you hanging out here at Magnum....but, i will leave the light on for you back home at BURN...

cheers, david

Brian C. Frank

David,

Quick thinking and quality will help Burn survive these times. Seems the quality aspect is taken care of. Nice work.

david alan harvey

BRIAN

all of us are going to have to be "quick thinking"....times of turmoil are also times for invention for those who see the opportunities...i do not see myself as a visionary nor do i have a crystal ball, but i do think that solid content properly distributed will always be king...anyway, we will see...

cheers, david

John Vink

Hear hear David...

Panos Skoulidas

John Vink..
Thank u again for helping us at our "BURN" house..

David A H...
Yep...
( as they say in every motel6 [ I call it also home ]: "we leave the lights on for you")
:))))))))))

bobblack

GO GO GO GO MEDFORD! :)))))))))))

I LOVE THAT FUCKING COPPER-SUN PHOTOGRAPH! (ESSAY TOO!)...

David, i usually READ Magnum blog everyday too...but have been distracted this week ;)))))))))))....

BURN IS ON FIRE!...:))))...

and damn, GOOD LUCK EVERYONE FOR THE EPF! :)))))....

now, back to Burn ;)))

hugs
running to dinner

bob

Patricia Lay-Dorsey

When David speaks of mentoring emerging photographers online, I know from the inside that the man walks his talk. I am one of those fortunate ones whom DAH has taught, critiqued, believed in, and moved forward in ways unimagined eight short months ago. We met online and worked together for almost two months before we ever met in person. And that meeting happened because David (with Mike, his assistant) went four hours out of their way on a road trip to come to my home in Michigan and do the first serious edit of my project. Trust me, this fellow is for real. He genuinely strives to be available to ANY photographer who's willing to get out there and shoot. And shoot and shoot and shoot!

Both the Magnum blog and BURN magazine are places where established, world-respected photographers like Alec, Martin, David and others give back by giving to those who are coming after them, whatever their age. For, I cannot tell a lie, I am the emerging photographer DAH referred to as being in her 60s. Yes, my friends, it is NEVER too late to follow your dream...

Patricia

william

Looks great, as an aspiring middle age curator of a small gallery in Regina, Saskatchewan i look forward to contributing some material.
I have a long standing project Canadian Northern Railway Station circa 1912 on Caribou St. in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Between these two project I have become more involved in photography and university studies.
I found this blog as part of my university studies and look forward to seeing how this project progreses.
....later

Akaky

I don't actually have a photographic project of any sort, I do, however, have a lot of crappy pictures and I am working very hard on developing a silly walk. Do you think I could funding for that, or is this something I should try to get government funding for?

lianliankan

Laura

David,

Do you frown on people submitting more than one project to EPF? I have two projects that I can seem to pick between.

Thanks for starting Burn! It is truly inspiring!

Laura

Please allow me to apologize for the multiple entries! I kept getting a window that said my comment couldn't be posted......but apparently it was!! SORRY

Akaky

Laura, your computer is stuttering

Panos Skoulidas

Laura, :)))))
It's ok.
It's ok.
It's ok.
It's ok.
It's ok.

Vittore Fotografo

Wow the magazine is really nice. Editorial photography has changed is nice to see that there are new spaces for photographers. Well done.

david bowen

great place..

david bowen

burn is just great.. magic to see it coming together and stands alone .

nat geo has an interview with harvey online now..
http://ngm.typepad.com/editors_pick/2009/02/photographing-andrew-wyeth.html

david

david alan harvey

LAURA

i do not see any problem with submitting two projects...please submit separately please...

cheers, david

Marlene Marino

Dear David,

Regarding the EPF submission, does it matter that my files are 300 dpi (14.0 MB), or should I size them to 72 dpi? The submission guidelines specify that the images should be at least 1600px on the longest side, and that any file format is fine, but there is nothing about the dpi.

Kind regards,

Marlene

Luca

Marlene,
im not sure but i think you are misunderstanding the epf essay submission for the magazine with the submission for the Emerging grant.
But dont trust me:i wanted to submit an essay for the magazine only to have a comment from david,bob,panos,patricia,but i did it for the grant:)

Jeff Paul Internet Millions

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Nike Kobe IV

Refreshing!!! First site (magazine) for emerging photographers that really is that.