'Past Perfect' Photo Series Examined How Egyptian Museums Modified Curating Techniques to Present History to Contemporary Audiences

NEW YORK -- PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo has has announced that British documentary photographer, Jason Larkin, is the winner of the 2011 Arnold Newman Award for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture. Larkin's winning image series, titled "Past Perfect," examines how the museums of Egypt use different styles of curating to present exhibits depicting the past to contemporary audiences. Larkin's work was selected from a large pool of entrants who requested consideration for the Newman Prize from their entries to PDN's Photo Annual competition. Larkin will receive a $15,000 cash award and an exhibit of his winning picture series at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland, Maine from July 2 -- Nov. 27.

"By deciding how the past is presented and memorialized, museums not only preserve the past, they also play an important role in the construction of our ideologies, identities and the understanding and interpretation of ourselves," Larkin writes in a caption that accompanies the picture series. "The architecture and design of many of these places still show the influence of Egypt's French and British colonialism. These are museums that should be in museums."

This year's judges for the Newman Prize include TIME Magazine deputy photo editor Paul Moakley, Susan White, Photo Director at Vanity Fair magazine and Michael K. Komanecky, chief curator of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine.

"Photography is usually so focused on capturing the moment,' but Jason Larkin's gentle photographs move the viewer to contemplate the artificial nature of trying to preserve the past," notes Paul Moakley when asked about the significance of Larkin's work.

"Having spent my entire professional life working in and traveling to art museums across the United States and Europe, I am intrigued by the subject of Jason Larkin's Past Perfect photographs," explains Farnsworth Museum Curator, Michael K. Komanecky. "What his photographs also suggest is how museums create, consciously or unconsciously, narratives that affect their visitors and staffs alike."

Originally trained as a photojournalist in London, Jason Larkin has worked extensively in the Middle East, where he forged a successful career as a documentary photographer in Cairo beginning in 2007. In his recent work, Larkin has moved away from the day-to-day activities of journalism to develop larger bodies of work that engage and reflect on current affairs and exploring how identities fluctuate as environmental and social conditions shift and evolve.

In 2010, Larkin was one of 35 British photographers selected by the Magenta Foundation for a Flash Forward award. Other recent accolades include a 2010 Open Here photography grant from the Hereford Photography Festival in the U.K.

About The Arnold Newman Foundation

The Arnold and Augusta Newman Foundation was established in 2007 and funded by a generous gift from Augusta Newman. The Foundation's mission is to further the legacy of Arnold Newman by supporting photographers and photography students and helping to disseminate Newman's photographic works. The Foundation supports the annual Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture, scholarships at the Maine Media Workshops, lectures on photography and exhibits of Newman's work. See http://www.arnoldnewmanarchive.com for additional information about the Foundation.

About ASMP

The American Society of Media Photographers is the premier trade association for photographers who create images primarily for publication. Founded in 1944, ASMP is the leader in promoting photographers' rights, providing education in better business practices, producing business publications for photographers and helping to connect art buyers with professional photographers. ASMP has 39 chapters across the country and its members include many of the world's foremost photographers.

About the Maine Media Workshops

For over 35 years, Maine Media Workshops has offered photography and filmmaking workshops for every level of media artist, whether working professional, serious amateur, high school or college student. Professional certificate and MFA programs are offered through Maine Media College. Students travel from across the country and around the world to study with industry leaders. Arnold Newman served as a member of the school's master faculty for more than three decades, mentoring emerging artists and influencing generations of imagemakers.

About Farnsworth Art Museum

Celebrating Maine s Role in American Art, the Farnsworth Art Museum offers a nationally recognized collection of works from many of America s greatest artists. With 20,000 square feet of gallery space and over 10,000 works in the collection, there is always something new on view at the Farnsworth. The museum has one of the nation's largest collections of works by sculptor Louise Nevelson. Its Wyeth Center -- http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/wyeth-center -- features works of Andrew, N.C. and Jamie Wyeth.

About PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo

Designed for professionals in the photographic and imaging industries, PDN PhotoPlus showcases the latest advances in photography, both traditional and digital. Held annually at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, attendees have the opportunity to explore an inspiring array of photography and imaging products and services -- everything from image capture and color management to retouching and storage -- all from the industry's leading manufacturers. The show also offers over 100 photography and imaging seminars and hands-on workshops taught by world-renowned experts with a focus on cutting-edge innovations in digital imaging products and techniques.

About the PDN Photography Annual

The PDN Photography Annual in May (http://www.pdnphotoannual.com) features an extensive portfolio of the best photography of the year selected from 9 genres ranging from Editorial Assignments, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Advertising, Photo Books, Student work to Fine Art. Our Prestigious panel of judges select the work they feel best shows the years most creative, compelling, as well as innovative photography from the past year.