Jake Borden


Biography

Jake Borden ( 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 currently on the East Coast of the United States completing a degree in Anthropology at Columbia University, and  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


Work

My creative practice centers around a deep curiosity to understand and translate the human condition. It aims to distill complex social narratives into a single frame, creating a catalyst for dialog and reflection. In recent years I have focused on the issue of statelessness, examining what it means to be a non-citizen living within a host society. Individuals who live on the margins draw my attention. I use a combination of portraiture, photojournalism, and documentary techniques to translate their stories. 

The driving concept when approaching these individuals’ stories is allowing myself to get lost in them. Before starting a project, I diligently research the topic’s geographic and political landscape. Then I try to forget everything and let go. I allow the people I meet along the way to guide the narrative. Listening is as important as seeing in my creative practice, and rely heavily on local translators to inform the direction of a story. 

While constructing photographs, the camera is often the last step. I spend the majority of time building connections and relationships. This process usually involves talking with people, sharing a meal, or contributing to their work. Once I understand what it means to live in the other person’s shoes, I will take out my camera. 

My work aims to foster understanding across cultures. This aspiration often requires me to understand the new environment, whether in a U.S. city or on the other side of the world. On long-term projects requiring a deeper level of insight, I have moved to the area for months at a time before I start photographing. This relocation allows me to familiarize myself with the environment and discern between daily life and what is out of the norm. It also allows me to build deeper relationships and try to understand a situation from a local’s perspective. I often ask myself what someone would need to know to appreciate the nuances of my hometown in Western Massachusetts. 

I tend to take an ethnographic approach when engaging in a project. I am interested in how to communicate large, abstract data sets into something relatable. I have been exploring the realm of portraiture in this regard. I believe that the story of one can often tell the stories of many. Understanding of the individual in front of the camera is far more important than any technical aspects. Being able to translate another person’s experience is always a challenge. 

The final project’s distribution and display are as crucial as anything else that goes into making a photo. I treat each story as unique from beginning to end, which includes how people will view it and who the intended audience is. Newspapers and magazines are the traditional outlets for disseminating images to a broad audience. Still, sometimes a show in a gallery with a small audience willing to sit and engage with the material can have a much more profound effect. 

In all of my work, I supplement the visual material with text. This process is vital for giving context to the image. I tend to incorporate one or two lines of captions describing the environment and include quotes when necessary. Recently I have been exploring the use of sound and mixed media when finding new ways to exhibit projects.


FEATURED IN

  • The Outsiders, New Outdoor Creativity, Gestalten, 2019
  • Travelust Magazine, The Adventure Issue, Spring, 2018
  • Wanderer Magazine, Issue 16, 2017
  • Far & Wild Magazine, The Summer Issue 2014

AWARDS

  • Outstanding Aerial Photograph
  • Exceptional Image Award for Travel
  • Landscape Photographer of the Year

Selected Clients

  • Grand Union Magazine
  • Beyond Online
  • Outdoor Photographer
  • Travelust Magazine
  • Wanderer Magazine
  • Far & Wild Magazine
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