I like to photograph most everything, basically whatever I hope will make an interesting picture.
In a previous life I was a photojournalist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, where I covered assignments around the world, including the post-apartheid era in South Africa, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, life under Fidel Castro in Cuba, and the civil war in Chechnya. I also photographed numerous stories in the arts, including the 100th anniversary of James Joyce's Ulysses, Cezanne in Provence, and a series illustrating Cervantes' masterpiece, Don Quixote. Closer to home, I photographed food, fashion, sports, and the many events that define our daily lives.
I was the recipient of the Overseas Press Club Award for "Rwanda: Aftermath of Genocide" and have won other major awards, including prizes in the World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year, Best of Photojournalism and National Headliners competitions. My fellowships include a Penn State University Professional in Residence Fellowship, a Terra Fellowship from the Giverny Institute at the Museum of American Art, Giverny, France; and a Pew Fellowships in the Arts, discipline winner.
I collaborate on projects with my wife, Kass Mencher, including the series "Duets" (a juxtaposition of our images) and the Lincoln Highway. We have both exhibited our work regionally, nationally and internationally.
I'm a proud member of the Instagram-based collective, Hikari Creative. My camera, by the way, is an iPhone. I've sold all my "real" cameras and use the iPhone exclusively. It's a visually liberating tool!
(Please note: my longtime Instagram account, @emencher, was hacked September 18, 2023. I have started a new Instagram gallery: @ericmencher)