Description
Bio
Stuart Franklin was born in Britain in 1956. He studied photography and film at West Surrey College of Art and Design and geography at the University of Oxford (BA and PhD). During the 1980s, he worked as a correspondent for Sygma Agence Presse in Paris before joining Magnum Photos in 1985, where he became a full member four years later.
Franklin’s coverage of the Sahel famine from 1984 to 1985 won him acclaim, but he is perhaps best known for his celebrated photograph of a man defying a tank in Tiananmen Square, China in 1989, which won him a World Press Photo Award. Since 1990, Franklin has completed over 20 assignments for National Geographic. His documentary photography has taken him to Central and South America, China, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Since 2004, he has focused on long-term projects concerned primarily with man and the environment.
Mentorship
Stuart Franklin’s teaching style is deeply rooted in his belief that the essence of photography transcends technical mastery; it lies in the power of storytelling and the human impulse to document. He emphasizes to his students the importance of this “hard-wired obligation,” guiding them to understand that the true challenge in photography is not merely about developing a distinctive style but about crafting a narrative that resonates with an audience. “I am happy to mentor someone with a burning ambition to communicate through photographs and with the sensitivity, patience, and commitment to develop a long term project,” Franklin shares, highlighting his dedication to fostering meaningful connections between his students and their work.
Franklin’s approach to teaching is anchored in encouragement. He believes that “90% of education is encouragement,” and strives to instill confidence in his students, particularly when they feel lost in their creative journeys. He acknowledges the challenges that come with the search for personal and artistic identity through photography, offering support and guidance along the way. For Franklin, the true stumbling blocks in a student’s path are not a lack of talent, but a lack of sensitivity and commitment. “I can work with no talent, but I can’t work with no sensitivity, and I can’t work with no commitment,” he asserts, underscoring the values he considers non-negotiable in his teaching practice.
Through his mentorship, Franklin not only imparts technical knowledge but also instills a deeper understanding of the significance of storytelling and the profound impact that a photographer’s sensitivity and dedication can have on their work. His students are encouraged to progress meaningfully in their projects, always with an eye on the larger narrative they seek to tell.
