Jake Borden

Jake Borden ( b. 1993) is an American photographer and National Geographic Explorer based in New York City. Raised on an organic sheep farm in upstate New York, his work in the medium began after discovering world renowned photographer John Stanmeyer lived down the road. He began an apprenticeship with the photographer, managing his extensive archive and assisting with the production of multiple National Geographic projects both at home and abroad.

Since 2017, he has been working on a series of personal projects in the United States and internationally, focusing on the longterm effects of conflict. The series “In Ruins”, chronicling the lives of IDPs living in the Republic of Georgia, won first place in the 2017 Tbilisi photo festival and was a finalist for the 2019 Burn Emerging Photographer award, and was published by the BBC and Vice News.

In 2018, he moved to Beirut, Lebanon with generous support from the Alice B. Henriquez Memorial Fund to continue a series of work chronicling refugees from the Syrian conflict living in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, at the same time studying anthropology and Arabic at the American University of Beirut. He received mentorship from some of the leading names in the industry through the 2019 VII Masterclass in Poland and the Eddie Adams Workshop, one of the world’s most prestigious photography seminars.

In  2019, Borden was invited as guest artist to participate in the “Arts, Border Politics” exhibition along the Korean DMZ with the international collective Nine Dragon Heads.

He has worked for clients commercial and editorial including NASA, The BBC, Vice News, UNHCR, Reuters, Interview Magazine and Chai -Khanah.  He is a visiting lecturer at The University of Connecticut  and is currently completing a degree in Art History at Columbia University. Borden typically refrains from talking about himself in the third person. 

Borden is available for commercial and editorial assignments. 

Instagram: Jakeborden

Whatsapp & U.S. Number - 413-429-1784 

Email: Contact@jakeborden.com

Education 


Columbia University 

American University of Beirut 

VII Masterclass - Poland 

EAW XXXI 



Exhibitions&Publications                        

2016 - 30 Under 30 Show. Number 6 Depot. 

2016 - Vice News

2016 - BBC World Services 

2017 - Kolga international Photo Festival - Tbilisi Georgia 

2019 - Beirut Image Festival 

2019 - Art Border Politics - Korean Demilitarized Zone 

2020 - Group Show - Solidarity, Sohn Fine Art Gallery               

2020 - Solo Show - Minneapolis, Avalanche Art Space      

2021 - Eyes On Main Street 

2022 - Group Show - Columbia University 



AWARDS


 L'Ane Vert Artist Residency, Morocco, 2016 

Fuji Film Emerging Photographer, Runner Up - 2018

1st Place Reportage Kolga International Festival - 2017

Alice B. Enriques Memorial Grant 

Martha Porter Boschen Fund 

National Geographic Explorers Grant 2021





Using Format