2013 Mentoring Program
- Online gallery of Escape photo essays
- Exhibition at the Calumet Gallery, New York
- Read our summary review of this year’s program
Our largest program to date!
In 2013, YPA organized mentoring for 19 teams around the world: US, Canada, England, Scotland, and India. In all 72 college photography students received coaching from 36 professionals, photographers and photo editors, over the course of the summer.
Best of Program Awards
Best Team: Nashville, TN, USA
Best Image: Chase Guttman (Team New York 2, NY, USA)
Best Mentee (based on images and essay): Mei Ratz (Team Portland, OR, USA)
“With inspirational guidance, my mentors taught me the ropes of envisioning and executing a photography project from start to finish -- an experience that has definitely paid dividends many times over. The program helped me to uncover the creative fire within myself. With a cast of encouraging mentees and supportive mentors behind me, my photography has blossomed in a short span of time. The Young Photographers Alliance helped me rediscover my love for photography and has brought an incredible wealth of opportunities to my front door. For that, I am forever grateful.”
Chase Guttman, Team NY 2, USA, winner of award for best image
Sponsored prizes
- Free retouching by KeyIndia Graphics
- Free Merit Membership of ASMP
- $500 & $250 gift certificates from Calumet Photographic
UK Team Special Awards
Commended Project: Tania Gibson (Team London)
Highly Commended Project: Yang Zhou (Team London)
Best Image: Anna Piotrowska (Team Bristol)
Best Project: Claire Maxwell (Team Glasgow)
“It is funny how this program changed me as a photographer but also how much it influenced me as a person. Working on the escape project somehow helped to deal with what was waiting for me in the real life. It makes this program and my project even more personal and important for me. I guess sometimes we don't realize how much our photography may affect people - including ourselves. Thank you very much for the whole experience of the mentoring program.”
Anna Pitrowska, Team Bristol, UK, winner of UK award for best image
The 2013 theme: Escape
“I believe one has to escape oneself to discover oneself.”
— Rabih Alameddine, I, The Divine: A Novel in First Chapters
Escape is the theme for this year’s annual mentoring program. The program provides encouragement and assistance to young photographers seeking to establish themselves as professionals in today’s market. This program allows students to communicate, document and offer inspiration to themselves and others through the power of photography. Talented college students and recent graduates will partner with leading photographers and industry professionals who participate as mentors to collaborate on a photo essay around a compelling social theme.
How does one capture the essence of the word Escape? By its very nature it cannot be grasped or tamed, confined or controlled. Escape is the flower that grows from the crack in the concrete. It is the choice between having a drink or taking a walk. Escape is freedom from reality, but it is also reality unrestrained. Escape is a paradox. Escape is inevitable.
Young Photographers Alliance invites the next generation of photographers to explore the theme Escape, and produce a series of images. Each photographer will be asked to write a 300 word photo essay around three of their most powerful images.
The theme can be explored from any vantage point; portraiture, photojournalism, landscape or architectural photography. Each participant is encouraged to find his or her own unique perspective and interpretation, to push the boundaries of how photography can shed light on a subject in new and innovative ways.
“It is in fact a part of the function of education to help us escape, not from our own time... for we are bound by that, but from the intellectual and emotional limitations of our time.” — TS Elliot
2013 Teams
| Anchorage, AK, United States, led by Clark Mishler & Jeff Schultz | |
|---|---|
| Deroy Brandt | University of Alaska Anchorage |
| Xenia Vlieger | University of Alaska Anchorage |
| Columbus, OH, United States, led by George Anderson & Tom Dubanowich | |
| Kayla Holdgreve | Columbus College of Art and Design |
| Dallas, TX, United States, led by Stewart Cohen & Claire McCormack Hogan | |
| Katie Bernet | Southern Methodist University |
| Sakin Hill | Mountain View College, AA Fine Arts |
| Melissa Maddox | Lamar University |
| Whitney Matewe | Collin College |
| Kate Petty | Southern Methodist University |
| Kansas City, MO, United States, led by Mark Berndt & Jonathan Chester | |
| Hayden Andrews | Webster University |
| Brandi Boehm | University of Central Missouri |
| Alex Eckard | Kansas City Art Institue |
| Taz Hall | University of Central Missouri |
| Nichole Kennelly | Ohio University |
| Mary Krim | University of Kansas |
| Los Angeles, CA, United States, led by Andrew Durham & David Zentz | |
| Kristi Knupp | Santa Monica Community College |
| Jasmine Shademan | Santa Monica College |
| Jennifer Lourie Tapp | Brooks Institute of Photography |
| Minneapolis, MN, United States, led by Karl Herber & Lance Vicnair | |
| Dave Bassey | Minnesota State University, Mankato |
| Olga Ivanova | University of St Thomas |
| Alexander Just | Dakota County Technical Collage |
| Nashville, TN, United States, led by Chris Hollo & Mark Mosrie | |
| Rachael Black | Nashville State Community College |
| Mackenzie LaRoe | Nashville State Community College |
| Arin Phillips | Watkins College of Art, Film & Design |
| Alicia Piper | NSCC |
| New Orleans, LA, United States, led by Thom Bennett & Seth Boochai | |
| Courtney Kate Asztalos | Florida State University/Contemporary Arts Center |
| Annie Pennell | University of Redlands Alumni |
| Colin Roberson | Louisiana State University |
| New York, NY (team 1), United States, led by Liz Arenberg & Michael Weschler | |
| Christina Carannante | College of Staten Island |
| Xiang-Yun Chen | University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
| Stephanie Guttenplan | School of Visual Arts |
| Erica Price | CAP/ICP |
| Annelise Sforza | Union County College |
| Yosuke Terada | LaGuardia Community College |
| New York, NY (team 2), United States, led by Michelle Kawka & Pauline St. Denis | |
| Anna Chana Demidova | Hunter College//European Humanities University |
| Chase Guttman | Bronx High School of Science |
| Jessica Kirkham | Fashion Institute of Technology |
| Alex Pergament | Alex Pergament Photography |
| Peter Senzamici | Bates College |
| Orlando, FL, United States, led by Betsy Hansen | |
| Sebastian Rojas | Mid Florida Tech |
| Rhiannon Schneiderman | Daytona State College |
| Priscilla Whittingham | Mid Florida Tech |
| Portland, OR, United States, led by Tom Hassler & Leah Nash & Christopher Onstott | |
| Nick Fochtman | Freelance |
| Sofia Marcus-Myers | Portland State University |
| Mei Ratz | Pacific Northwest College of Art |
| Seattle, WA, United States, led by Brian Morris & Ari Sharipo | |
| Bridget Baker | Seattle University |
| Charles Cataldo | Everett Community College |
| Sam McCarty | Seattle Central Community College |
| Joshua Reber | Everett Community College |
| Ottawa, Canada, led by Michael Tardioli | |
| Sarah Anderson | School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa |
| Treawna Harvey | School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa |
| Alison Lacasse | Concordia University |
| Frederic Sarrette | School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa |
| Toronto, Canada, led by Michael Cooper & Dave Cox | |
| Christa Giula | Sheridan College |
| Jennifer Laiwint | York University |
| Briar Murawski | York University |
| Madeline Scheur | Villa Maria College |
| Mumbai, India, led by Avinash K Jain & Ian Pereira | |
| Sunny Chauhan | Shari Academy (Photography Institute Mumbai-India) |
| Bristol, United Kingdom, led by Alex Acin & Daniel Bosworth | |
| Nisha Haq | Southampton Solent University |
| Anna Piotrowska | Bath Spa university |
| Adam Reid | |
| Glasgow, United Kingdom, led by Claire Stewart | |
| Faye Brown | Edinburgh College |
| Craig Gibson | University of Colorado at Boulder |
| Kotryna Ula Kiliulyte | Glasgow School of Art |
| Claire Maxwell | Glasgow School of Art |
| Chantel Ng | City of Glasgow College |
| James Parker | Napier University |
| London, United Kingdom, led by Dan Black & Jasmine Teer | |
| Kasia Ciechanowska | School of Media, Art & Design, University of Westminster |
| Jim Clarke | The Arts University College Bournemouth |
| Tania Gibson | University of Cumbria |
| Amy Notley | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge |
| Daniel Regan | London College of Communication |
| Yang Zhou | University of Westminster |
