VII is excited to announce two new members and our new C.E.O. and Chairman of the Board.

A few words from VII

In this era of increased connectedness and thorough understanding of a global world, VII is proud to accept two photographers whose singular visions are very much their own. Both Sarker Protick and Danny Wilcox Frazier are known for their comfort and ability to tell stories about their own frontiers, be it Bangladesh or Middle America. In the end, we all live somewhere, and these two photographers show what it means to be a citizen and a member of a community. With the addition of Sarker Protick and Danny Wilcox Frazier, VII is steadfast in its continuing efforts to tell stories on an intimate, yet global, scale.

Sarker Protick Based in Bangladesh

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Follow Protick on Twitter and Instagram Danny Wilcox Frazier Based in Iowa

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Follow Danny on Twitter and Instagram

Sarker Protick

On joining VII…

Sarker Protick, 29, came to photography when one day during his graduate studies at University, he decided to take a picture of the sun with a camera phone. The bright sun immediately crashed his phone, the light proving too intense for his camera, but it did ignite his desire to make pictures.

From Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sarker looks for unheard of stories from his home country, challenging the status quo of visual stereotypes and undoing the common tropes of storytelling. He questions the everyday, and finds exuberance in the ordinary, the real in the unreal.

As a member of VII, Sarker looks forward to collaboration with the other members on exploring the boundaries and meanings of story. “The environment is challenging, but I take comfort in meeting these challenges with VII photographers. Together I know we can make great things”

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Danny Wilcox Frazier

On joining VII…

The complexity of modern life is so often reduced to simple sound bites, while visual storytelling embraces that complexity and examines the human condition and natural world with depth, compassion, and honesty. The members of VII are among the most gifted and passionate photographers working in this tradition today and collectively the agency strives to not just record the world, but educate and change it. My work focuses on the emotional landscape of isolated communities and I will continue to document the towns and villages fighting to preserve their culture and autonomy. It is an honor to join the ranks of one of the world’s leading photography collectives. I’m excited to add my voice to VII’s mission and join their effort to advance the social issues of our times with photography that demands attention and inspires public debate.

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From the C.E.O. & Chairman of the Board

Approximately five years ago, I left my position as a member of the board of directors of VII to pursue other business consulting opportunities. Today, I resume my connection to the company and its members.

In the intervening period, much has changed in the world of photography and journalism, but one constant remains, and that is the core values of every member of VII. As one founding member recently characterized that quality, the members of VII, “have a long history of challenging political and cultural orthodoxy, of breaking down barriers and challenging the status quo.” And it is those exact qualities that make working with the company, once again, appealing.

Without doubt, the business environment that exists today presents challenges that did not exist during my prior engagement. These challenges need to be met head-on with new ideas and a rekindled enthusiasm. It is my intention to rapidly implement those ideas and motivate my colleagues to embrace the changes that we collectively envision.

I would like to thank my predecessors for carrying things forward to this point, and I am grateful to the present membership for entrusting me with the responsibility of C.E.O. and Chairman of the Board of VII Photo.

You may feel free to contact me regarding this matter at my email address: [email protected]

Regards,

Richard D. Schoenberg