Description

Bio

Carolyn Drake works on long-term, photo-based projects, seeking to interrogate dominant historical narratives and creatively reimagine them. Her practice embraces collaboration, and has, in recent years, melded photography with sewing, collage, and sculpture. She is interested in collapsing the traditional divides between author and subject, as well as the real and the imaginary.

Drake was born in California in 1971, and studied media/culture and history at Brown University in the early 1990s. Following her graduation, she moved to New York and worked as an interactive designer for many years before departing to engage with the physical world through photography. After living in Istanbul and Ukraine and working internationally for a decade, she returned to the US in 2013 to work on more self-reflective projects close to home. 

Drake has authored four books, with her fifth, Men Untitled, released in September 2023. Her work has been supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Peter S. Reed Foundation, Light Work, the Lange-Taylor Prize, a Fulbright Fellowship and the Henri Cartier-Bresson Award, among others. She became a full member of Magnum Photos in 2019.

Mentorship

Carolyn Drake’s mentorship and teaching style are characterized by her deep commitment to exploring the complex relationship between the photographer and their subject. For Drake, the process of creating images is not merely about capturing moments; it’s about collapsing the divide between the author and the subject, thereby allowing for a fluid and evolving photographic language. 

Drake’s teaching goes beyond the technical aspects of photography. She is particularly interested in how documentary photography can challenge or perpetuate historical narratives and tropes. In her mentorship, she emphasizes the importance of collaboration and imagination, encouraging her students to think critically about the trajectory of their projects and how these elements can shift the narrative they are constructing. She often poses probing questions to her students, urging them to reflect on the deeper implications of their work.

“I would like to discuss with you not just how strong your images are, but what new perspective you are offering of your chosen subject,” Drake says. She challenges her students to consider not just the images they create, but also the reasons behind them. “Why are you making images, how does making these images impact you and the world beyond you, what is their place in the wider arena of photography?” These questions form the foundation of her mentorship, pushing students to think about the broader context of their work.

Drake is less concerned with her students having immediate answers and more focused on fostering an environment where they can explore these questions deeply and thoughtfully. She encourages them to examine the choices they make in terms of process and aesthetics, understanding that these decisions are crucial to the narrative their work will ultimately convey. Her teaching style is both introspective and challenging, guiding her students to not only develop their technical skills but also to cultivate a profound understanding of the impact and significance of their work within the wider world of photography.

 

- Magnum Photos reserves the right to terminate the mentorship agreement in the event that the mentee fails to initiate or maintain contact for a period exceeding four (4) consecutive months. In such circumstances, the mentorship will be considered forfeited, and no refund of any fees paid will be issued. - Participants agree to: 1. Attend sessions regularly and on time. 2. Ensure you have a sufficient level of spoken and written language skills for the Mentorship you are attending. Details of the language of the Mentorship are stated on the Website. 3. Conduct yourself in a professional and courteous manner and refrain from harassing or causing offense or nuisance to us or our staff. 4. Initiate contact to schedule mentorship sessions, with reasonable assistance provided by Magnum Learn staff upon request. Failure to maintain communication or schedule sessions within a four-month period may result in termination of the mentorship without refund.
Magnum is committed to fostering a respectful and dignified environment that adheres to the highest level of professional standards. We strive to be inclusive and welcoming to everyone who works with or for Magnum and Magnum photographers, creating an environment in which each person’s rights, dignity and individual worth are respected. You can read Magnum Photos Code of Conduct here: https://www.magnumphotos.com/educational-safeguarding-policy/
The mentorship with Carolyn Drake is in English.
Once we review your application, you will receive an email from the Magnum Learn team. Please note that we review application on regular basis.

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