The first ever recipient of 2016’s inaugural Bob and Diane fund has been announced. Founded in June of this year, the grant aims to help visual storytellers promote awareness of Alzheimer’s disease.
Maja Daniels, a Swedish photographer based in London was awarded the US$5,000 prize for her project, Into Oblivion. Masterfully shining a light on the patients suffering from the debilitating illness and their caregivers, with dignity and respect, Into Oblivion was unanimously praised by a jury of some of the world’s most respected photojournalism professionals. Daniels’ was one of 83 entries, submitted from 22 countries worldwide. In addition to the cash prize, her work will be presented on TIME LightBox and FujiFilm North America will be donating her a FujiFilm X100T camera.
“Maja’s work offers a very tender and well-observed look at an institutional setting,” said Sarah Leen, Director of Photography, National Geographic Magazine. “The idea of coming back to that door is brilliant. I’m moved by it. It is smart, intellectual and highly emotional. ”
Into Oblivion /Maja Daniels /Bob and Diane Fund
MaryAnne Golon, Director of Photography at The Washington Post called Daniels’ work, “Fantastic,” adding that it “. . . reminds me in a modern way of how we’re looking at the world with Instagram, as squares. Each picture takes me to another step. ”
The Bob & Diane Fund, has been a passion project of its founder, Gina Martin, following a personal experience with the harsh reality of Alzheimer's’ disease.
Martin’s own mother, Diane, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and after a five-year battle, passed away due to it’s damage. Throughout this unforgiving experience, Diane Martin’s primary caregiver had been Bob; her high school sweetheart and husband for almost 50 years. Only three months after Diane’s death, Bob himself passed away.
The love, generosity and compassion between Bob and Diane Martin in the face of this monstrous disease inspired Gina Martin to create the fund, named after her parents as a legacy to their strength.
Into Oblivion /Maja Daniels /Bob and Diane Fund
Martin tells us, “It is exciting to see an idea actually come to fruition. When I thought of doing this nine months ago - I had no idea how much work it would entail. It is a passion of mine - so I have loved every minute of getting this off the ground. ”
We have previously covered the initial work and determination it took Martin to get this project off the ground but since then she was astounded at how much harder it got. One particular issue was how the grant had allowed both video and still image entries and the problems that caused. “Judging stills to videos was difficult,” Martin tells us “and I realized that I will have to separate these in the future. ”
Martin also hopes to expand the organisation’s goals, so as to support new visual awareness pieces on Alzheimer's’ rather than rewarding existing works. “I am excited to see what this fund becomes in the years to come,” she tells us.
Alzheimer’s disease currently affects more than five million Americans and over 46 million people worldwide. This mentally destructive disease, which can bring with it social stigmas and social isolation, afflicts someone in the U. S every 66 seconds.
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However, as Matin explains, “Alzheimer’s is more than just memory loss. It’s the slow and painful evaporation of a life that takes an enormous toll on caregivers and families. ”
In addition to the patients, the immense burden of Alzheimer's’ disease is shared by the more than 15 million unpaid caregivers helping to support sufferers through it. According to alz. org, in 2015, while providing an estimated 18. 1 billion hours of unpaid care these kindhearted people spent, on average, more than $5,000 a year to do so.
It is hoped that the fund will encourage photographers and visual artists in general to spread knowledge and compassion to a world that is in dire need of further education on the horrific effects of the disease.
In a statement Martin said: “The visual stories of patients and caregivers can humanize what is, in fact, a very cruel and dehumanizing disease. My hope is that the work funded today and in the future will have a profound and lasting effect on people, persuading them to support and advocate for a cure. ”
To see more of Daniels’ Into Oblivion project, you can view it on TIME Lightbox or on the Bob & Diane Fund site, where further information on the grant is available.
. digitalrev.com2016-11-17 03:00