Nina Berman Photojournalism original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/noor-ambassador_ninaberman_header--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/noor-ambassador_ninaberman_profile--original.jpg No quote nina_berman_link original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/noor-ambassador_ninaberman_bio-masthead--original.jpg Nina Berman is a US documentary photographer with a primary interest in the American political and social landscape. She is the author of two acclaimed monographs: 'Purple Hearts - Back From Iraq', featuring portraits and interviews with wounded veterans, and 'Homeland', exploring the militarisation of American life post-September 11. 6 6 original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-04--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-04--original.jpg <p>USA, Pennsylvania, Springville, 2011, Fracking site.</p> <p>Nikon D700 | 1/20 sec. | f/1.4 35mm | ISO 800 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/single-focal-length/af-s-nikkor-35mm-f-1-4g">AF-S NIKKOR 35mm f/1.4G</a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-07--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-07--original.jpg <p>USA, New York, Uniondale, Hofstra University, 26 September 2016.<br>Fast food workers organised in the Fight For $15 campaign, demonstrate across from Hofstra University the site of the first presidential debate.</p> <p><a href="/en_GB/product/digital-cameras/slr/professional/d810">Nikon D810 </a> | 1/200 sec. | f/7.1 24mm | ISO 200 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-120mm-f-4g-ed-vr">AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR </a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-05--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-05--original.jpg <p>Jordan, Za’atari, 2014.<br>Produced in 2014, the Za'atari project transformed a highly charged political space, the 120-metre concrete barbed wire security wall at the entrance to Jordan's Za'atari camp for Syrian refugees, into a massive photographic mural depicting these refugees on a monumental scale.The mural at the world's second largest refugee camp was visible to both the subjects of the photographs and to the visitors, stakeholders and diplomats who decide their fate. The project borrowed the visual language of photojournalism; however, by choice and political necessity, the process required explicit consent and collaboration. The security wall is a highly contested space with multiple parties claiming ownership. There was a real possibility of violence. Consent and respect for cultural and religious norms of representation was a primary consideration. The images also had to strike a particular truth: they had to negotiate the space between the grim reality of the camp and the project's intent to use art as a form of inspiration and empowerment. In addition to the wall mural, the photographers constructed a photo studio with a black backdrop and invited refugees to have their portraits made alone or with someone or something they loved. Providing this neutral space as opposed to photographing them against the background of the camp removed the stigma and narrative of refugee status from the portraits. The subjects chose how to pose and what expressions to offer; the photographers were at their service. Around 500 portrait prints were made on the scene and given to the subjects. The booth operated as a unique space in the camp where refugees had agency. The project aims to show how photography can act as an affirming medium in spaces of disenfranchisement and psychological and social trauma.</p> <p>Nikon D800E | 1/50 sec. | f/2.8 28mm | ISO 1600 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/single-focal-length/af-s-nikkor-28mm-f-1-8g">AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G</a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-01--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-01--original.jpg <p>USA, New York, 2001.<br>Soldiers march on a red carpet in a New York City Christopher Columbus parade, during the first days of the invasion of Afghanistan.</p> <p>Nikon F4 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/manual-focus-lenses/single-focal-length/28mm-f-2-8-nikkor">28mm f/2.8 Nikkor </a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-03--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/nina-berman-03--original.jpg <p>USA, New York, Brooklyn, 2010.<br>Clay Garden, built on the site of a burned down home by a resident across the street, provides urban farming opportunities for local residents. In the background are the Webster Morrisania public Housing projects, which house over 2000 people and are one of the poorest demographics in the Bronx.</p> <p>Nikon F4 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/manual-focus-lenses/single-focal-length/35mm-f-1-4-nikkor">35mm f/1.4 Nikkor </a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/noor-ambassador_ninaberman_07--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/noor-ambassador_ninaberman_07--original.jpg <p>USA, Ohio, Cleveland, 20 July 2016.<br>The Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena, to nominate Donald Trump as the Republican Party nominee for President of the USA.</p> <p><a href="/en_GB/product/digital-cameras/slr/professional/d750">Nikon D750 </a> | 1/100 sec. | f/5.6 24mm | ISO 320 | <a href="/en_GB/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-120mm-f-4g-ed-vr">AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR </a></p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_01_thumb--original.jpg true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_01--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>At the Wingbowl in the Ramada Centre, people sample chicken wings and the event is capped off with a chicken wing eating contest. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G </a>| 28mm | f/11 | 1/160 s | ISO 640</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_02_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_02--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>The prize purse at the Wingbowl at the Ramada Centre is $1,000 for the person who can eat the most chicken wings in two minutes. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/single-focal-length/af-s-nikkor-28mm-f-1-8g">AF-S NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G </a>| 28mm | f/5.6 | 1/125 s | ISO 500</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_03_thumb--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_03--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>Progress is measured by the number of bones on an eater’s plate. The competitor on the right can see that he is losing the battle to the competitor on the left. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 24mm | f/11 | 1/100 s | ISO 640</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_04_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_04--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>The chicken wing eating competition draws a large crowd to see who will take home the $1,000 prize. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 24mm | f/11 | 1/100 s | ISO 640</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_05_thumb--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_05--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>The competition is tough and the loss devastating, with the mostly male competitors all vying to earn $1,000 for just two minutes of competitive eating. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 70mm | f/11 | 1/100 s | ISO 640</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_06_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_06--original.jpg <p>Fishkill, New York – January 2014<br>Stuffed: the Wingbowl is over and one of the losers can barely breathe, after consuming so much food. The winner ate 18 wings in 1 minute 55 seconds. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 70mm | f/11 | 1/100 s | ISO 640</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_08_thumb--original.jpg true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_08--original.jpg <p>Warwick, New York – January 2014<br>Hunter Reymaniak, 11, winner of the Noble Pies pie-eating competition. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 70mm | f/9 | 1/250 s | ISO 400</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_07_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_07--original.jpg <p>Warwick, New York – January 2014<br>A pie-eating competition takes place at Noble Pies, with both children and adults competing in separate categories. A young eater raises his head to take a breath in the heat of the blueberry pie competition. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 24mm | f/9 | 1/160 s | ISO 400</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_09_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_09--original.jpg <p>Warwick, New York – January 2014<br>During the action, an eater assesses the progress of her competition. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 24mm | f/9 | 1/60 s | ISO 400</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_10_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_10--original.jpg <p>Warwick, New York – January 2014<br>Tony Barriero, 56, of Hewitt, New Jersey, (lower right) takes home the prize of a free pie every month for a year, after taking four minutes to eat a blueberry pie. He was on a double date with his girlfriend (left), her sister and her husband. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 24mm | f/8 | 1/60 s | ISO 400</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_12_thumb--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_12--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Competitive eaters line up to try their luck at winning the major league World Chilli Eating Challenge. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 48mm | f/14 | 1/250 s | ISO 500</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_11_thumb--original.jpg true true original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_11--original.jpg <p>Warwick, New York – January 2014<br>Karen Wilm, first-time competitive eater, takes a breath during the blueberry pie eating competition won by her boyfriend Tony Barriero. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 70mm | f/8 | 1/250 s | ISO 400</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_13_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_13--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Hundreds of fans gather to watch competitive eaters vie to win the World Chilli Eating Challenge. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 34mm | f/13 | 1/250 s | ISO 250</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_14_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_14--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Like most competitive eating competitions, the World Chilli Eating Challenge is male-dominated, but it does attract female competitors. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/single-focal-length/af-nikkor-180mm-f-2-8d-if-ed">AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED </a>| 180mm | f/11 | 1/250 s | ISO 500</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_15_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_15--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Eric Booker takes a breath during the World Chilli Eating Challenge. The challenge was to eat as many 32oz bowls of chilli as possible in under six minutes. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/single-focal-length/af-nikkor-180mm-f-2-8d-if-ed">AF NIKKOR 180mm f/2.8D IF-ED </a>| 180mm | f/11 | 1/250 s | ISO 500</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_16_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_16--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Winner Joey Chestnut holds up the champion’s belt after eating eight and three quarter bowls of chilli in the World Chilli Eating Challenge. He is a star in the major league eating competitions and made fast work of 2.125 gallons of chilli in the six minutes of this competition. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 70mm | f/14 | 1/250 s | ISO 250</p> original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/thumbnails/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_17_thumb--original.jpg original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/nina_berman_stories_competitive_eating_17--original.jpg <p>Orlando, Florida – February 2014<br>Just one of the many garbage bags littering the site of the World Chilli Eating Challenge. © Nina Berman / NOOR</p> <p><a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">Nikon D800E </a>| <a href="/EU/product/nikkor-lenses/auto-focus-lenses/fx/zoom/af-s-nikkor-24-70mm-f-2-8g-ed">AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED </a>| 32mm | f/5.6 | 1/250 s | ISO 160</p> Q: What led you to take on the subject of competitive eating? <p>Years earlier I had photographed the iconic Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which takes place on the Fourth of July each year in Coney Island, New York. I found it both hilarious and a bit horrifying, so I thought there may be more to do on this particular subculture of competitive consumption.</p> Q: What did you need to consider when planning your shoot and how long were you on the road for? <p>I researched various competitions, looking for a good mix between professional competitive eaters and amateurs, as each affords different options and has their own vibe to them. I also realised that I needed to consider the colour of the food, since I was looking for close-ups and didn't want everything to be just one colour or texture. I went to several locations in the New York area, and also one in Florida. It took me a few months, on and off.</p> Q: How did you choose which competitions to shoot? <p>I chose the locations based on the type of food that was being eaten and whether I could get close enough, since the shoot needed me to have a face fill a frame with a 180mm lens. I also used a lighting assistant for off-camera strobes.</p> Q: What was the biggest challenge for you on this project? <p>Not to laugh so hard that I couldn’t press the shutter. And the speed of the competition – it was all over in a few minutes.</p> Q: What was the most surprising aspect of this shoot? <p>I imagined it one way, but after the first shoot I realised that the pictures could be deeply symbolic and emotional in ways I hadn’t imagined. When someone comes up for air in between bites, you have this look of simultaneous suffocation and desire which kind of sums up our culture. I also didn't realise that of course it's a competition against players, so there would be these shots of victory and defeat.</p> Q: Is there a single image that stands out for you? <p>I really like the woman with the blueberry pie. The shot makes it look almost like a religious experience. I love it when pictures reveal something I hadn’t imagined or maybe even seen in the moment. That’s the magic of photography, right?</p> Q: What’s the issue that you wanted to highlight with this project? <p>That we're consuming ourselves to the point of suffocation and for some reason we see this as entertaining.</p> Q: Which camera and lenses did you use and why? <p>I shot with the <a href="/EU/product/discontinued/digital-cameras/2015/d800e">D800E</a>, which was the camera I was using at the time. It had the best file size and quality, in my opinion. I used the older 180mm manual focus lens because I didn’t have a 70-200mm zoom and I needed a long lens. Plus, when I was shooting in the analogue days, I really loved this lens.</p> Q: How do you want readers to feel when they view these images? <p>Intrigued, attracted, reflective and a tiny bit repulsed.</p> Q: Is there a realisation or call to action you’d like to spark in those who see this story <p>Definitely not a call to action as in go and join eating competitions or boycott eating contests! Really, I hope the pictures reveal something deeper about societies that are rich enough to use food in this way, and what it means to stuff oneself – not just with food, but with consumer goods, since consumption is both praised in our culture, but in the end it is doing us in.</p> Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring photojournalist taking on a similar project? <p>Have fun and find your own visual approach.</p> Q: Given the chance to shoot this subject again, is there anything you’d do differently? <p>On reflection, I’d have liked to have shot a few slow-motion videos.</p> DISCLAIMER <p>NOOR photographers are authorised by Nikon to demonstrate to the public and professional image makers the capabilities and use of Nikon imaging products, but the expressive content of their work is solely their own. NOOR photographers are independent contractors and visual artists and are not employees of Nikon. NOOR photographers are responsible for the content of their photographs, websites, exhibitions, and visual images and the manner in which such content and images are obtained. Any messages, beliefs, or viewpoints expressed in the photographers’ photographs, websites, exhibitions, or visual images do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs or viewpoints of Nikon or any Nikon employee.</p> stories_to_be_told original, original /imported/images/web/EU/ambassadors/noor-ambassadors/nina-berman/stories_to_be_told/noor-ambassador_nina_berman_stories_masthead--original.jpg I hope the pictures reveal something deeper about societies that are rich enough to use food this way – and what it means to stuff oneself, not just with food, but with consumer goods – since consumption is praised in our culture, but is also doing us in. <p style="text-align: center;font-weight: bold; font-size: 40px">When Food Becomes Competition</p> <p>Competitive eating is a largely US phenomenon. Contests typically last two to ten minutes, with participants competing to stuff themselves with vast quantities of food for cash or other prizes. Eating competitions grew out of traditional pie-eating contests at county fairs, but gained popularity nationwide through a Fourth of July hot dog eating competition on Coney Island that has been run as an annual event since the 1970s. Nina Berman explores the American subculture of eating to win, in a world overrun with consumption.</p> I AM KADIR VAN LOHUIZEN Photojournalist & Lecturer Menu DAVID YARROW Wildlife & Fine Arts OVERVIEW PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Photography Tips SPECIAL PROJECT About the Special Project BIOGRAPHY Biography GALLERY Gallery WHAT’S IN MY BAG What’s in my bag? Read more Read less Find out more View Camera View Lens Meet the other Nikon ambassadors Close STORIES TO BE TOLD Stories to be Told /EU/learn_explore/ambassadors/europe_ambassadors/europe_ambassador_landing.page LOAD MORE LOAD MORE View All Lenses View All Cameras Lens Cameras [host] = [abf.nkisc.eu] [X-Forwarded-For] = [44.206.65.8] [connection] = [close] [accept-encoding] = [gzip,deflate] [user-agent] = [Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; Amazonbot/0.1; +https://developer.amazon.com/support/amazonbot) Chrome/119.0.6045.214 Safari/537.36] learn_explore/ambassadors/europe_ambassadors/nina_berman/overview

Nina Berman

Photojournalism

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Biography

Nina Berman is a US documentary photographer with a primary interest in the American political and social landscape. She is the author of two acclaimed monographs: 'Purple Hearts - Back From Iraq', featuring portraits and interviews with wounded veterans, and 'Homeland', exploring the militarisation of American life post-September 11.

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