Naomi Harris
Encyclopedia
Naomi Harris is a Canadian photographer living in New York. After completing her Bachelor in Fine Arts from York University, Toronto, she moved to New York where she received her photographic training at New York’s International Center of Photography
.
She moved to Miami Beach in December 1999 to begin her first personal project documenting the last hotel in South Beach that catered to senior citizens. The project, called “Haddon Hall Hotel ” received The International Prize for Young Photojournalism presented by Agfa and Das Bildforum in Germany in 2001
While living in Miami, she would frequent a nude beach where she began photographing fellow sun worshipers. Shortly thereafter she learned that many of the other beach goers were also swingers. After attending a party she decided she had to photograph this fascinating subculture.
Upon returning to New York in April 2002 she began researching the lifestyle and did her first swinger shoot in July 2003 in Black River Falls, WI. This was to be the first of over 38 parties she would photograph in 48 months all over the US.
The project was realized in America Swings, her first monograph published by Taschen
in October 2008. It was edited by Dian Hanson
and includes an interview by artist Richard Prince
who sought out Harris after seeing her work in Taschen’s The New Erotic Photography.
The trade edition of America Swings was released by Taschen in August 2010.
She has been published in the New York Times Magazine as well as the London Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, Marie Claire UK, and Newsweek, and she likes to knit, sing karaoke, and frequent nude beaches.
Harris currently is working as a teacher at her alma mater, The International Center of Photography.
2004 - Represented Canada at the World Press Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam
2003 - Received the gold award in photojournalism from the National Magazine Awards Foundation (Canada)
2002 - One of the “30 Emerging Photographers To Watch” as selected by Photo District News
2001 - Winner of the International Prize for Young Photojournalism presented
by Agfa and Das Bildforum, Germany
Finalist for the Eugene Smith Award
Honorable Mention for Yann Geffroy Award presented by Grazia Neri Agency, Italy
1999 - Eddie Adams Workshop participant
International Center of Photography
The International Center of Photography is a photography museum, school, and research center in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
.
She moved to Miami Beach in December 1999 to begin her first personal project documenting the last hotel in South Beach that catered to senior citizens. The project, called “Haddon Hall Hotel ” received The International Prize for Young Photojournalism presented by Agfa and Das Bildforum in Germany in 2001
While living in Miami, she would frequent a nude beach where she began photographing fellow sun worshipers. Shortly thereafter she learned that many of the other beach goers were also swingers. After attending a party she decided she had to photograph this fascinating subculture.
Upon returning to New York in April 2002 she began researching the lifestyle and did her first swinger shoot in July 2003 in Black River Falls, WI. This was to be the first of over 38 parties she would photograph in 48 months all over the US.
The project was realized in America Swings, her first monograph published by Taschen
Taschen
Taschen is an art book publisher founded in 1980 by Benedikt Taschen in Cologne, Germany. It began as Taschen Comics publishing Benedikt's extensive comic collection...
in October 2008. It was edited by Dian Hanson
Dian Hanson
Dian Hanson began her publishing career as an American pornographic magazine editor, historian, and occasional model, helping found the 1970s hardcore journal Puritan, then moving on to Partner, OUI, Adult Cinema Review, Outlaw Biker and Big Butt, among others...
and includes an interview by artist Richard Prince
Richard Prince
Richard Prince is an American painter and photographer. Prince began appropriating photographs in 1975...
who sought out Harris after seeing her work in Taschen’s The New Erotic Photography.
The trade edition of America Swings was released by Taschen in August 2010.
Current projects
In May 2010 Harris received a Canada Council for the Arts Grant to do a road trip across Canada along the Trans-Canada Highway and document the crossing and the people she meets. She will begin this journey on May 23rd, 2011(Victoria Day) in Victoria, British Columbia and end the trip in St.Johns Newfoundland on September 5th, 2011(Labour Day).She has been published in the New York Times Magazine as well as the London Sunday Times Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, Marie Claire UK, and Newsweek, and she likes to knit, sing karaoke, and frequent nude beaches.
Harris currently is working as a teacher at her alma mater, The International Center of Photography.
Grants and awards
2010 - Recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts Project Grant2004 - Represented Canada at the World Press Joop Swart Masterclass in Amsterdam
2003 - Received the gold award in photojournalism from the National Magazine Awards Foundation (Canada)
2002 - One of the “30 Emerging Photographers To Watch” as selected by Photo District News
2001 - Winner of the International Prize for Young Photojournalism presented
by Agfa and Das Bildforum, Germany
Finalist for the Eugene Smith Award
Honorable Mention for Yann Geffroy Award presented by Grazia Neri Agency, Italy
1999 - Eddie Adams Workshop participant
External links
- Naomi Harris’s website Unusable without Flash.
- America Swings Book website