Photographers on Photographers: Jordan Tovin in Conversation with Kevin Cooke

Photographers on Photographers: Jordan Tovin in Conversation with Kevin Cooke by Aline SmithsonAugust 17, 2026

Every August we ask the previous Top 25 Lenscratch Student Prize Winners to interview a hero or a mentor, offering an opportunity for conversation and connection. Today Jordan Tovin and Kevin Cook are in dialogue. Thank you to both of the artists.

I first came across Kevin Cook’s work while researching photographers whose practices are rooted in genuine collaboration. The longer I spent with his work, the more I appreciated the way he brings his own voice to stories without overpowering those of the people he photographs. Rather than looking elsewhere for meaningful narratives, Cook has consistently turned his attention to the communities around him, creating deeply personal work in the places he has called home. I was especially inspired by how years of trust, relationships, and emotional storytelling ultimately culminated in a physical publication—transforming lived experiences into something viewers can hold, revisit, and connect with long after the photographs were made. His project Gone too Soon inspired me while I was putting together a newspring publication of my own: one that, like Kevin’s, sought to use words to elevate the story. The longer I spent with the physical copy of the work, the more I was infatuated with the design and thoughtfulness he put into the layout.

Kevin Cook is a documentary photographer and photography educator proudly based in his hometown of Philadelphia. He holds a Master’s degree in Photojournalism from the University of Missouri.

A passionate mentor to the next generation of visual artists, Cook has taught
photography at both the high school and college levels. His professional background includes participant in the Eddie Adams and Mountain Workshops, and he was recognized as a Getty Images Instagram Grant Finalist. He is also the recipient of two grants from Art is Essential and The Knight Foundation.

He has vended at a variety of art book fairs and photo festivals including: Multiple
Formats Art Book Fair, Jersey Art Book Fair, Philly Zine Fest and 20/20 Photo Festival Book Fair.

Instagram: @kevincookphoto

Many photographers have documented gun violence in the United States. What drew you to this subject specifically, and what did you feel was missing from existing representations of gun violence that you hoped this project could address?

I am a proud Philadelphian. It is important to me to photograph the city where I was born and raised, using my camera to address social issues in my hometown. In publishing this work, I wanted to provide viewers with a tangible experience, allowing them to hold and feel the photographs.

Looking back on the project, what did it teach you about your own process as a photographer, storyteller, and collaborator? Were there moments that challenged or changed the way you typically work?

Photography is more than just making pictures. It’s about connecting and understanding people. It is a privilege when someone entrusts me to tell their story, and I strive to photograph with my heart as much as with my eyes. Photographing individuals during their most traumatic moments is incredibly challenging. However, I have been able to build strong relationships with my collaborators that foster mutual comfort and respect. It is a very special experience when those I work with express their gratitude, share their affection, or welcome me as part of their family.

This book deals with deeply personal and often traumatic experiences. What was it like collaborating with a designer on such sensitive material, and how did you navigate questions of ethics, representation, and visual form together?

I provided the designer with full creative freedom regarding the graphic design and typography to achieve our vision. While some of the imagery may be graphic, I know it was photographed in a gentle, respectful way. I shared copies of the final product with all collaborators, and the feedback has been positive.

Did you begin the project with a clear sense of what the final work would look like, or did its form emerge over time? Can you talk about the key moments, discoveries, or decisions that shaped its evolution?

Beginning a long-term photography project can be overwhelming. I wanted my project to be a comprehensive overview of Philly’s gun violence crisis. I knew this would take some time. I focused on four key components: portraits of survivors, police activity and crime scenes, vigils and funerals where loved ones mourn and celebrate those lost, and perspectives from those who have committed murder. After three years of photographing, I felt like I had the essential pieces of a complete puzzle.

I was interested in publishing the work as a newspaper because it allowed me to achieve the education and advocacy I strived for. I also felt it was a unique aesthetic way for a project to be presented.

You’ve spoken about your love of teaching and mentorship. How has being an educator influenced the way you approach making work, building relationships with subjects, or thinking about audience and impact?

My work is energized by the time I spend every summer teaching a photography camp to children in 4th–8th grade. We go over the basics of photography, operating a digital camera, editing on a computer, and printing pictures for a weekly gallery show. Their excitement for the medium is contagious and inspires my own creative process.

After speaking with Kevin following the interview, we agreed it would be helpful to include a link for readers who want to learn more about gun violence in Philadelphia, along with organizations, resources, and tools for further support and information: https://www.uptheblock.org/en/

Jordan Tovin (b. 2004) is an artist who makes multimedia long-form projects about the lived conditions of people navigating uncertainty within communities undergoing change. In collecting pictures, ephemera, words, and objects from the world around him, Tovin works within the documentary tradition to create long-form projects that reveal the nuance embedded in the everyday inner workings of these spaces. Tovin holds a BFA in photojournalism from the Corcoran School of Arts and Design at George Washington University.

Instagram: @jordan.tovin