Click here for information on the Howard Chapnick Grant for the Advancement of Photojournalism


About the Fund

W. Eugene Smith learned the hard way that photography could be too easy, a matter of making expert images of interesting subjects. He set himself to learn the truth - about himself as well as his subjects. In the process, he produced a series of photographic essays, for LIFE and other publications, whose passionate involvement set a standard for what photography can be. Gene Smith was a loner, a driving and driven man, who bucked the system of which he was a part. Some say he sacrificed his career, and himself, on an altar of self-destructive idealism. When he died at the age of 59 in 1978, he had $18 in the bank. But his name had become synonymous with integrity. His work was his memorial.

Why, then, a memorial fund in his name? Those who knew Smith knew also that he needed friends at critical times. Many photographers today are working against the fashions and economics of modern publishing. The Fund was established in 1979 to seek out and encourage these independent voices. In the first twenty seven years of competition, from many thousands of proposals, the Fund selected 227 finalists who were seeking help in finishing major projects. Each was worthy of a grant.

In one way or another, a finalist must approach Gene Smith's own high standards. "I am a compassionate cynic," he wrote, "yet I believe I am one of the most affirmative photographers around. I have tried to let the truth be my prejudice. It has taken much sweat. It has been worth it."


Board of Trustees

Helen Marcus: President
Robert Pledge: Vice-President
Sue Brisk: Secretary
Jeanette Chapnick: Treasurer
Jim Balog, Phillip S. Block, Rich Clarkson, Donna Ferrato, David Friend, W. M. Hunt, Yukiko Launois, John G. Morris, Marcel Saba, Arthur Soybel, Robert Stevens, Anna Winand

Ex-Officio:

Aileen Smith, Kevin E. Smith, K. Patrick Smith

Honorary Emeriti:

Cornell Capa, Jim Hughes

Past Presidents:

John Morris, Jim Hughes, Howard Chapnick, Peter Howe

International Advisory Committee:

Shahidul Alam, Bangladesh; Micha Bar-Am, Israel; Gabriel Bauret, Paris;Giovanna Calvenzi, Milan; Woodfin Camp, NY; Lanfranco Colombo, Milan; Robert Delpire, Paris; James I. Enyeart, Santa Fe; Ben Fernandez, NJ; Martin Forscher, NY; Marianne Fulton, Austin, TX; Paul Fusco, New York; Marta Gili, Barcelona; Burt Glinn, NY; Manfred Heiting, L.A.; Thomas Höpker, NY; Rune Jonsson, Stockholm; Robert Kirschenbaum, Tokyo; Peter Korniss, Budapest; Eliane Laffont, NY; Brian Lanker, Oregon; Murray Martin, Newcastle-on-Tyne; Don McCullin, London; Michelle McNally, NY; Susan Meiselas, NY; Vincent Mentzel, Rotterdem; Pedro Meyer, L.A.; Raghu Rai, New Delhi; Michael Rand, London; Marc Riboud, Paris; Fred Ritchin, NY; Pedro Vasquez, Rio de Janeiro.


The W. Eugene Smith Grant is funded in part by a contribution from Open Society Institute, Digital Railroad, Getty Images, Inc., The Reva and David Logan Foundation and Zuma Press, Inc.


Copyright © for all photographs and text is retained by their authors.

This W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund website is copyright © 2007 by W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, Inc.


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