WORLD PREMIERE Using his camera as a “weapon against injustice,” Chinese-American photographer Corky Lee brought art and politics together through his decades-long documentation of the Asian American experience. The Queens, NY native captured all aspects of the AAPI experience, from Lunar New Year to street protests, from Pakistani Independence Day to Diwali and more, uplifting his audience with striking images and empowering generations cultural pride. Armed with 19 years of footage of Corky in action, director Jennifer Takaki honors this unsung hometown hero in this beautiful tribute. – Karen McMullen
Cambodian photojournalist Dith Pran talks to a reporter after a press conference at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand in Bangkok, Aug. 25, 1989, after getting back from Cambodia. (AP Photo)
The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) is proud to announce the 2018 Dith Pran Photo Shootout Competition to take place at the AAJA National Convention in Houston, Texas, August 8-11. Texans say that “Everything is bigger in Texas,” so we are looking for the photograph that best depicts this slogan. This contest is open to ALL attendees at the AAJA 2018 convention in Houston. The winner will receive a convention registration for next year’s convention.
Instagram Photo Shootout Rules:
Submit photo entries using the Instagram hashtag #AAJAPhoto. Upload your photo submission(s) with caption information using any Instagram App with that hashtag and it should appear at aajaphoto.org/ig
Deadline: Photo submission(s) must be uploaded on Instagram by 5 p.m. CT on Friday, August 10, 2018.
Contestants can start shooting anytime beginning 12:01 a.m. CT Wednesday, August 8 and must be uploaded by the contest deadline stated above.
A professional grade camera is not required. Images submitted from mobile devices (cellphone or tablet) are acceptable.
Each entrant can submit up to three (3) images. Judging will be based on a single image and not a series of images.
Entries should be based on the theme. Photos will be judged on theme interpretation, artistic style, composition and technical execution. This year’s theme is a suggestion and photographs unrelated to the theme are acceptable.
Entrants also need to email aajaphoto@gmail.com with their entrant’s name, Instagram account name, cell phone number, email address and caption information of 100 words or less. Failure to email this information may disqualify an entry.
You must be a current registered AAJA 2018 National Convention attendee.
Only minor burning, dodging and slight color adjustment, sharpening and cropping are acceptable. NO INSTAGRAM FILTERS ALLOWED! Any significantly digitally modified or altered photograph will be disqualified. No special artistic app filters allowed. The only exception is the black and white filter.
There is no cost to enter the competition.
Winners will be posted on www.AAJAPhoto.org. The First Place winner will have their name engraved on the Annual Dith Pran Photo Shootout perpetual award. First, second and third place winners will be announced Saturday, August 11 at the AAJA Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet. First place prize is the convention fee for next year’s convention, a $250 value.
Questions? Please contact AAJA photographer James Yee (317-640-1873) or Alex Wong (202-438-7050) or email questions to aajaphoto@gmail.com.
The AAJA Photo Shootout was started in 2000 during the annual AAJA National Convention. The competition name was changed in 2008 to honor New York Times photographer Dith Pran, who risked his life in Cambodia during the genocide by the Khmer Rouge to help journalists tell the story of atrocities in his home country. His story inspired the film, “The Killing Fields.” Pran passed away in 2008.
The Friendship Gate, produced by artisans in Chinatown’s “sister city” of Tianijn, China in 1983, was installed at the intersection of Tenth and Arch Street in 1984. Photo by James Yee taken Monday, July 24, 2017.
WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017 12:01 a.m. Beginning of Dith Pran Photo Shootout Competition
Rules: https://www.aaja17.org/dith-pran-photo-shootout/
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Commonwealth Hall C
Workshop: Explore 360/VR Journalism – A New Frontier of Storytelling
Speakers: Michael Quan/Interactive Tactical Group, Gene Cao/Insta360, Chang Lee/The New York Times, Alex Wong/Getty Images
6 p.m. Regency Ballroom
Opening Reception
8:30 p.m. Bank & Bourbon Bar in the hotel lobby
Photo Group Networking Mixer
Meet w/ Susan Choi, James Yee, Alex Wong after Opening Reception
THURSDAY, July 27, 2017 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Commonwealth Hall A2
Panel: Supercharge Your Photo/Video for Social Media
Moderator: Darrell Miho
Speakers: Michael Yamashita, National Geographic, Dion Lim, former news anchor/reporter at WTSP, St. Petersburg, (KGO-TV in San Francisco this fall)
8 p.m. Dinner Banana Leaf Malaysian Cuisine
1009 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-8288
Group Dinner
(free for college photography major students)
FRIDAY, July 28, 2017 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Commonwealth Hall A2
Panel: Lessons From Photographing Standing Rock
Moderator: Ariel Zambelich, NPR
Speakers: Augus Mordant, Freelance, Josh Morgan, The Greenville News, Richard J. Tsong-Taatarii, Minneapolis Star Tribune
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.Regency A & B
Silent Auction www.aaja17.auction-bid.org
8:45 p.m. Dinner Vietnam Palace
222 N 11th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 592-9596
Group Dinner Honoring Nick Ut’s Retirement (Nick will be there)
(free for college photography major students)
SATURDAY, July 29, 2017 1 p.m. Lunch Jim’s Steaks South St.
400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 928-1911
www.jimssouthstreet.com
Philly-Style Cheesesteak Group Lunch
(free for college photography major students)
After Lunch
Tours to be discussed at lunch:
Liberty Bell
Independence Hall
Rocky Statue and Rocky Steps
Philadelphia Museum of Art
South Street Neighborhood
Museum of The American Revolution
7 p.m. Millennium Hall
Gala Scholarship & Awards Banquet
Dith Pran Photo Shootout winners announced
SUNDAY, July 30, 2017 UPDATED TIME 10:15 a.m. Lunch Ocean Harbor (Opens at 10 a.m.)
1023 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 574-1398
Group Dim Sum
(free for college photography major students)
For more information: James Yee (317) 640-1873
aajaphoto@gmail.com
www.aajaphoto.org
Facebook: AAJAPhoto.org/fb/
Instagram Photo Shootout tag: #aajaphoto
AAJA announces the winners of the 2015 Dith Pran Instagram PhotoShootOut Competition at the AAJA National Convention in San Francisco August 15. The theme of this year competition is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
Contest directors Susan Choi, and James Yee, far left, read the winners of the Dith Pran Instagram Photo Shootout Awards. Winners from far right are James Tensuan (honorable mention), Tam Duong (third place), Kent Nishimura (second place), and Brandon Chew (first place). Photography by Greg Yamamoto
AAJA announces the winners of the 2015 Dith Pran Instagram PhotoShootOut Competition at the AAJA National Convention in San Francisco August 15. The theme of this year competition is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
1st place – Brandon Chew, San Jose State University, “Ferry Nice Selfie”. He wins registration for next year’s AAJA Convention and a perpetual trophy cup.
2nd place – Kent Nishimura, University of Hawaii, “Playing with Fire”. He wins FitBit watch.
3rd place – Tam Duong, California State University East Bay, “Companions”. He wins backpack and seat from the White House News Photographers Association and a photography book.
Honorable Mention – James Tensuan, San Jose State University, “A Suite Silhouette”. He wins backpack and seat from the White House News Photographers Association and a photography book.
Judges:
Stan Honda, New York freelance
Paul Kitagaki, Jr., Sacramento Bee
Kii Sato, Associated Press
Alex Wong, Getty Images
Greg Yamamoto, Hawaii freelance
For any questions, please aajaphoto@gmail.com
History: The AAJA PhotoShootOut was started in 2000 during the annual AAJA National Convention. The competition was changed in 2008 to honor New York Times photographer Dith Pran, who risked his life in Cambodia during the genocide by the Khmer Rouge to help journalists tell the story of atrocities in his home country. His story inspired the film, “The Killing Fields.” Pran passed away in 2008.
