PARIS — (Marketwire) — 07/17/12 — Selected from a record breaking 262 worldwide submissions, The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film announced today that Argentine photographer Gustavo Jononovich has been named the recipient of the Foundation–s 2012 Photography Grant, an international award to fund a social documentary photography project.
Initiated in 2008, Mr. Jononovich–s long-term project, Richland, exposes the ravages of over-exploitation of natural resources across Latin America and the lasting negative effects on the people and the environment. From the plight of Brazil–s Amazon population displaced by the expanding agricultural frontier to children suffering from lead poisoning near smelting operations in La Oroya, Peru, Mr. Jononovich followed miners of the illegal diamond and gold trade in Venezuela and captured the devastating impact of oil companies dumping toxic wastewater into Ecuador–s rainforest. The grant will allow Mr. Jononovich to complete this project by covering the social and environmental impact of hydroelectric dam construction in the Patagonia region of Chile.
Gustavo Jononovich, born in Argentina in 1979, began his studies in photography in 2002 and started working as a professional photographer in 2006 covering local news for the Argentine media. Since 2008, he has focused on long-term documentary projects.
“The high volume and superior quality of submissions made for a challenging decision-making process. But jury members approached their task with enthusiasm and great interest” said Didier de Faÿs, Foundation Director.
Judging took place at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris. Joining this year–s international jury were two renowned documentary photographers — photojournalist and conflict photographer . Also members of the jury were:
— Europe Picture Coordinator, The New York Times
— Library Director, Maison Européenne de la Photographie
— Photography Critic, La Croix in Paris
— Art Director, International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères
— Art Director, la Nuit de l–Année
— Art Director, Lianzhou International Photo Festival
“Gustavo is a promising young photographer, and the Foundation is thrilled to support him in the completion of the Richland project,” said Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, Founder and President. “Gustavo–s work perfectly exemplifies the goals of the Foundation grant. It allows us to witness and reflect on current social and environmental issues in Latin America.”
Established in 2010, The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for Documentary Photography & Film is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit Organization committed to positive social discourse throughout the world by supporting emerging and established photographers. Headquartered in New York, with a presence in Paris and Zurich, the Foundation is a charitable trust serving the international photographic community through exhibitions, grants, and other projects.
For additional information on the Foundation, Gustavo Jononovich and the twelve finalists, visit .
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