Erika Larsen

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Erika Larsen
Born1976
Washington, D.C
EducationRochester Institute of Technology

B.F.A in Photography

M.F.A in Computer Graphics/ Animation
OccupationPhotographer

Filmmaker

Author

Erika Larsen is a multidisciplinary storyteller and photographer who is known for her intimate essays about cultures that maintain strong connections with nature.[1] From documenting Sàmi reindeer herders in the Scandinavian Arctic to photographing the strong horse culture among Native Americans, she immerses readers in faraway cultures through her visual storytelling.[2]

Life[]

Erika Larsen (born 1976) grew up in Washington, D.C. Her father was one of the designers of the Hubble Space Telescope. Strongly moved by the Hubble images, Larsen — a high schooler at the time — signed up for weekend photography classes to dive further into her passion. She strategically picked a technical university to hone her photography skills, and become a storyteller in the process.[2]

Between 1994 and 1999, Larsen received a B.F.A in Photographic Illustration and a M.F.A. in Computer Graphics and Film/Video from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.[3] Photography was her passion and after being accepted to the Eddie Adams Workshop, she began working professionally as a magazine photographer in 2000, specializing in human-interest stories.[4]

She currently resides in South Florida, U.S.

Work[]

Erika Larsen’s work uses photography, video and writing to visually represent and express cultures around the world. She seeks to explore our human connection to the natural world, as these are expressed through culturally unique elements, including ritual, spirituality, language, adornments and customs, and family and world views.[3]

One of Larsen’s specific interest areas, hunting, took her on the trip of a lifetime to the Scandinavian Arctic in 2007. This expedition led to her first National Geographic assignment.[2] While working on her four-year photography project among the Sámi, Erika chose to live as a "beaga," a housekeeper for the reindeer herding family of Nils Peder and Ingrid Gaup while photographing in Norway and Sweden.The Sámi people, who live in the Arctic region of northern Scandinavia and Russia, the largest area in the world with a way of life following the seasonal migration of animals, are by tradition reindeer herders, living as nomads, but today only 10% still work in reindeer husbandry, a business now regulated by the European Union.[5] From that intimate vantage point, she was able to immerse herself in the culture, language, and land of the northern Sámi. Her first monograph (a detailed written study of a specialized subject or aspect of it), "Samí: Walking With A Reindeer," was released in 2013.[6]

Over a two-year period, Larsen travelled to many locations in the western United States to learn about the significance of the horse in Native American tribes – culturally, spiritually, and economically.[7] ⁠Her findings and photographs were featured in the March 2014 issue of National Geographic.[8]

In 2018, Erika Larsen took part in a National Geographic traveling exhibition and publication titled "Women of Vision," commemorating the 125th anniversary of the magazine.[9] A tribute to the spirit and ambition of these forward-thinking and distinguished female photographers and underscores the momentous work they have done to bring narratives from all over the world to the pages of National Geographic and into the homes of millions of people.[10] The exhibition underscores National Geographic’s history of documenting the world through photography and its ongoing commitment to supporting photographers as important and innovative storytellers who can make a difference with their work.[11]

Currently, she is a National Geographic Society Fellow exploring the landscape of the Americas in relation to the animals and natural resources which are interpreting our current environment.[12]

Awards[]

  • 2008: Fulbright Fellowship[citation needed]
  • 2008: World Press Award[13]
  • 2010: Swedish Project Support, Lois Roth Endowment[3]
  • New Jersey State Arts Council Fellowship[citation needed]
  • Women in Photography Individual Project Grant[citation needed]

References[]

  1. ^ "Erika Larsen". The Photo Society. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Meet a Pro: Erika Larsen, National Geographic Photographer". 42 West, the Adorama Learning Center. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Erika Larsen". Roth Endowment. Retrieved January 25, 2017.
  4. ^ "Photo Journal: Erika Larsen - A Quiet Elegance". NPPA. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  5. ^ "Sámi, the people who walk with reindeer (2007-2011)". Visa pour l’image. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  6. ^ "Erika Larsen: Opening Our Eyes". trendmag2.trendoffset.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  7. ^ Lorenz, Erik (2021-02-03). "#21: People of the Horse – with Erika Larsen". Unfolding Maps. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  8. ^ "Erika Larsen: The Native Words for "Horse" | Talking Feather". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  9. ^ Johnson, Steve. "'Women of Vision' shows off work of National Geographic photographers". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  10. ^ ""Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment" photo exhibit Forest Lawn Museum at Glendale – ArtsBeatLA". Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  11. ^ "'Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment' Exhibition". omart.org. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  12. ^ "Meet female photographer and storyteller Erika Larsen". National Geographic Expeditions. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  13. ^ "Erika Larsen". World Press Photo. Retrieved January 25, 2017.

External links[]

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