Biography of John Kaplan
Professor John Kaplan teaches photography, design and international journalism to undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Florida. In 1992, his project about the diverse lifestyles of American 21-year-olds was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. Kaplan's work is exhibited at museums and galleries worldwide including recent solo exhibitions in the United States, Peru, Bolivia and Korea as well as group shows in the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Japan, Korea, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Kaplan is a 2008-2009 Fulbright Scholar. In 2005, he was named the University of Florida International Educator of the Year for Senior Faculty. He was named a University of Florida Research Foundation Professor for 2005-2008.
In 2005, he was named the University of Florida International Educator of the Year for Senior Faculty. He was named a University of Florida Research Foundation Professor for 2005-2008.
In 2003, Kaplan's project on survivors of torture in West Africa was awarded the Overseas Press Club Award for Feature Photography and the Harry Chapin Media Award for Photojournalism. The project was also recognized by the National Headliner Awards, Best of Photojournalism Competition, Pictures of the Year International, Society of News Design and Photo District News Best of Photography Contest.
In 1989, Mr. Kaplan was named Photographer of the Year in the annual Pictures of the Year (POY) contest. That same year, he received the Robert F. Kennedy Award for outstanding coverage of the disadvantaged in the United States. His international work in West Africa was again recognized by the RFK foundation in 2003.
Kaplan has twice been named a photography juror for the Pulitzer Prizes. He has lectured and taught at more than 50 colleges, workshops and seminars in the U.S., Asia, United Kingdom and Latin America and has also received recognition for his poetry and writing.
In 2003, Kaplan’s second book, Photo Portfolio Success, was published by Writers Digest Books.
In 2002, he was named College of Journalism and Communications Teacher of the Year and Researcher of the Year. Kaplan's teaching efforts were recognized as the second place national winner in the 2001 AEJMC Promising Professors Competition.
In 2002 and 2001, UF photojournalists won what is considered to be the Pulitzer Prize of collegiate journalism, the William Randolph Hearst national championship. Along with professor John Freeman, Kaplan was instrumental in the teaching, editing and coaching of the winning work. Students Rob Witzel and Michael Tercha were also named individual championship national winners in 2002 and 2001. Two former FlyIns program participants, Daron Dean and Danny Ghitis were Hearst championship second place winners in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
FlyIns student work produced in Peru placed first nationally in the web division of the international Best of Photojournalism competition. Kaplan's former students have won the Pulitzer Prize and College Photographer of the Year.
Kaplan is an affiliate faculty member of the university’s Center for Latin American Studies and of the School of Natural Resources and Environment.
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