People nominee

Jordan McAfee has been collaborating with performance artist, Shane, since 2009. Their first successful image involved a rubber chicken. That cemented their friendship. The two often work late into the night looking for rooftops, abandoned buildings, and biker bars in which to work. Jordan and Shane enjoy each other immensely and with the use of masks and props make hilarious images like Shane in an office making a xerox of his naked buttocks. Although the pictures are in color they feel old-fashioned and bring to mind the movies of Charlie Chaplin. The photographs explore loneliness, gender, identity, the fluidity of transformation and the tragedy of the human condition.

Although Jordan McAfee studied business at Syracuse University he also won the Light Work Community Award. He became an intern at the International Center of Photography and then went on to produce e-commerce photography sessions for Ralph Lauren. Disillusioned with commercial photography, he decided to pursue a career as a physician and went to Columbia University. While preparing for medical school, he was so inspired by a course he took with photographer, Amy Arbus, that he left his medical studies to pursue art photography full-time. He has been collaborating with Shane, a drag performer, actor and friend, on a book project for the past ten years.