Emily Schiffer Wins 2010 Arnold Newman Prize For 'New Directions In Photographic Portraiture' In PDN's Photo Annual Competition

NEW YORK, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation announced today that Brooklyn-based photographer Emily Schiffer has been selected as the winner of the 2010 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture.  Judged as a separate category in PDN's Photo Annual competition, the Arnold Newman Prize recognizes an individual for his or her innovative approach to photographic portraiture.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100420/NY89602)

Miss Schiffer's winning portfolio documents youth on the Cheyenne River Reservation in rural South Dakota, where she founded a photography program in 2005.  For her winning work, Schiffer will receive a $15,000 cash award and an August 2010 exhibition at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, ME.  The exhibit opens on Saturday, August 14 and will be included in PDN's 2010 PhotoAnnual special issue.

"Our favorite locations are the fields and abandoned buildings on the fringes of town, forgotten places thick with the past that lend themselves to imaginary games and textured photographs," Emily Schiffer explains.  "My images explore 'play' as a vehicle through which youth reveal and negotiate their emotions, traumas and desires.  Children have a unique ability to experience love and joy alongside pain without compartmentalizing their experiences.  I wanted to convey this complexity through my photographs," she added.

Final judging was conducted by a panel of respected and influential members of the photographic community including New York gallery owner Howard Greenberg, and Michael K. Komanecky, chief curator of the Farnsworth Art Museum.

The "Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture," first announced at last year's PhotoPlus Expo, is completely underwritten by the Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation with support from Maine Media Workshops, the ASMP, Photo District News and the Farnsworth Art Museum.  Schiffer was selected from a large pool of entrants who requested consideration for the Newman Prize from their entries to PDN's Photo Annual competition.

The call for entries for the 2011 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture will open again in October 2010.  For complete rules and guidelines, please log on to http://www.pdnonline.com/contests.

About The Arnold Newman Foundation

The Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation was established in 2007 and funded by a generous gift from Augusta Newman.  The Foundation's mission is to further the legacy of Arnold Newman by supporting photographers and photography students and helping to disseminate Newman's photographic works.  The Foundation supports the annual Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture, scholarships at the Maine Media Workshops, lectures on photography and exhibits of Newman's work.  See www.arnoldnewmanarchive.com for additional information about the Foundation.

About ASMP

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the premier trade association for photographers who create images primarily for publication.  Founded in 1944, ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers' rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers, and helping to connect art buyers with professional photographers.  ASMP has 39 chapters across the country and its members include many of the world's foremost photographers.  More information can be found at www.asmp.org.

About the Maine Media Workshops

For over 35 years, Maine Media Workshops has offered photography and filmmaking workshops for every level of media artist, whether working professional, serious amateur, high school or college student.  Professional certificate and MFA programs are offered through Maine Media College.  Students travel from across the country and around the world to study with industry leaders.  Arnold Newman served as a member of the school's master faculty for more than three decades, mentoring emerging artists and influencing generations of imagemakers.

About PDN www.pdnonline.com

PDN Photo District News is the leading publication for professional photographers and creatives, offering up-to-date information on technologies techniques, market forces and trends to those who take pictures and those who use pictures.  In addition, PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo, held annually at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York (October 28-30, 2010) showcases the latest advances in traditional and digital photography, as well as video, software applications and accessories.  The PDN Photography Annual in May features an extensive portfolio of the best photography of the year selected from 9 genres ranging from Editorial Assignments, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Advertising, Photo Books, Student work and Fine Art.

SOURCE Photo District News