Photojournalism
I am not your typical college student.
I went back to school to learn more about photography, and on a whim, decided to join the newspaper as a photojournalist.
It was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.
In that newsroom I received support and guidance, and a license to go out and shoot whatever I wanted. I could even write the stories.
I covered everything from art openings to soccer games. As long as the subject was somewhat relevant to the readers of the newspaper, I could do it.
The photojournalism advisor and LA Times Pulitzer Prize winner Gerard Burkhardt, called me “prolific.” I was shooting up to five assignments per week. The journalism advisor and current president of the Society of Professional Journalists Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins told me it was a calling.
The first semester, I won the Advisors Award.
The second semester, I was published in the LA Times, and one of my photo series’ won first place from the California College Media Association.
I’ve since moved on from the newsroom, but I’m still riding the high. You could say it was bootcamp. From the long hours shooting, carrying equipment, second guessing your shots, to critiques in the newsroom, editing and writing captions late into the night, to finally seeing your work published, I learned so much.
I bring my work ethic into every situation, whether I’m covering local news or documenting a once in a lifetime special event. Each photo deserves my full attention.
I don’t share this to brag, but I like to do a good job, and I like that it’s been recognized. I’d like to continue to be of service in this way, making pictures. Photography is definitely my calling.
Yours, Akemi
LINKS BELOW
Los Angeles Times: Play about slavery roils campus
AfroLA
The Corsair
Link to: Articles written and shot by Akemi Rico
Cover images below all shot by Akemi Rico.