Goals

My career goals as of January 25, 2009 are unclear. I do know that I have a passion for journalism and photography, but I also have a love for the wilderness and activities like backpacking and canoeing. I predict that my jobs after I graduate will be a meld of these various passions.

I was first attracted to photojournalism by the war photographs of Robert Capa, and modern war photographers such as David Leeson. I could see myself in five years working as a foreign correspondent sending in video and photo dispatches from the field.

I am also looking forward to interning with the National Park Service. There are stories that need to be told visually there as well. I could also envision myself working for the Park Service, freelancing for outdoor publications or photographing the latest exploits of mountaineers on Denali.

Working for NGO’s in the third world is another possibility. I would love to work for an organization that is developing impoverished nations and giving them possibilities to enjoy the freedoms (like the freedom to eat) that we often take for granted.

Well, there are three very different career paths. Yet, to do them well I still need the same basic skill set. I need to have complete confidence in my ability to walk into any situation, either a war zone in Gaza or a groundbreaking ceremony in Denali National Park, and to come back with the best storytelling image possible.

I think one of the best ways to get this experience is by working for a newspaper, and I plan to intern at one this fall or in the spring of 2010. To prepare me for that, this semester I would like a variety of assignments to build a broad base in photography to work off of. I would like to come away from this semester with a solid photostory and a well planned out and edited video piece.