THE DOROTHEA LANGE–PAUL TAYLOR PRIZE IS CURRENTLY PAUSED. New guidelines and dates will be posted in 2023.
What are the members of CDS’s Lange-Taylor judging panel looking for in a successful submission, one that is strong enough to win the competition?
All entries should have one thing in common: evidence that they were created with reliance on documentary methods—research and interviews—and immersive, long-term fieldwork. We are interested in work that directs its gaze outward, that curiously engages with the world, and that is, as former CDS director Tom Rankin describes, “derived from an in-depth understanding of place, history, and the current situation, in concert with a personal relationship to the proposed work."
The Lange-Taylor Prize is intended for the advancement of an ongoing fieldwork project that fully exploits, in the tradition of Dorothea Lange and Paul Taylor’s important work, the relationship of words and images in the powerful, persuasive representation of a subject. The focus is on the strength, breadth, and nuance of the work as an extended narrative and meditation. The prize is not awarded for completed projects or to support the production of a book, exhibit, website, or other outcomes.
Please submit materials in all of the forms that your work encompasses (e.g., if your project will include photograph, text, and video you should include a sample of each). The judging is based only on submitted work as well as the project description and statement describing interplay of words and images.
Are there any restrictions on who can apply?
Single documentary artists or collaborative teams working with text/audio/photographs/video/graphic novel format may apply.
Collaborative teams should enter under only one person's name. Please make clear in your project description and statement how your collaboration works, how you've approached the project together. Also include information about how the pieces in the portfolio you've uploaded were created together and/or separately.
There are no restrictions on the age and nationality of applicants. Individuals currently associated with the Center for Documentary Studies are not eligible for the prize. Please send any questions about the guidelines and eligibility to Brittany Barbee at the Center for Documentary Studies at brittany.barbee@duke.edu.
How many times can I enter?
You (and partner/s) can submit as many entries (for separate projects) as you wish, however, please note: You will need to register online at SlideRoom with a different email address for each entry. (All of your other contact information, except the email address, can stay the same.) Multiple entries must be for distinct and separate projects.
Collaborative teams should enter under only one person's name. Please make clear in your project description and statement how your collaboration works (with the name of each partner and his or her one-page bio), how you've approached the project together. Also include information about how the pieces in the portfolio you've uploaded were created together, separately, in combination.
If I have trouble submitting my entry, whom do I contact?
For technical support related to uploading documents, entry forms, and/or payments, please visit SlideRoom's Help site.