Note to readers:This is another installment of getting to know our journalists at the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Today, a Q&A with breaking visual journalist Andrew West.
Question: Why did you pursue a career in journalism?
Answer: Good question. When I was young, I read a lot of National Geographic, Time Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. I had hopes of becoming a sports photographer. However, the amazing images that were being made for Nat Geo and also from Time on the Vietnam War really stuck with me and made me want to pursue something similar. I like the fact that I can use a camera to bring awareness to a subject, cause, or individual. Photography is an outlet that allows me to show readers different viewpoints through my lens, and I hope that some of my images make readers think and sometimes even feel captivated by a subject.
As a visual journalist for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, what are you hoping to accomplish through your photographs and vidoes?
Awareness. I want to tell stories in a way that makes readers stick with the subject. When you shoot every day, not every image you make is going impact readers. However, there are times behind the lens when I am in awe of what is happening in front of me, and I see it as my job to make it as accurate and compelling as possible.
What would you say are some of the qualities of a successful visuals journalist?
As journalism evolves at light speed, a good visual journalist needs to be quick-thinking, curious, resourceful, patient, compassionate, and resilient. Having a good social media presence doesn’t hurt.
Photojournalists have to be good at tuning out the noise around them in order to concentrate on storytelling through images. Nowadays, you also have to have a thick skin. There will be people who don’t want you around in certain situations, and you have to be able to overcome obstacles.
When you are not taking photos and videos for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, whose work or what publications are your checking out?
I am a huge fan of National Geographic. I follow a lot of great photographers on Instagram as well.
The year is young, but you have been busy. Any standout visual moments for you so far?
Going on the Great Florida Cattle Drive earlier this year was a highlight so far. The trip was exceptionally visual, while being challenging, both physically and logistically. Today’s media landscape moves very quickly. For this, I was able to spend time shooting and editing while work methodically and with purpose. I was also given ample time to edit which is a very huge part of what we do.
LOCALFlorida museum features healthy collection of elusive junonia shellsMark H. BickelFort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily NewsApril 29, 2026, 5:11 a.m. ETThe popular and well known saying about junonia shells is: you don’t find them, they find you.In the sea shell world, the junonia is difficult to find. People will spend a lifetime of walks on the beach trying to acquire one. It’s similar to the recreational golfer who tees up his or her golf ball at the start of every round, hoping this is the day they get a hole-in-one.Once again, social media was a popular place for people to post photos of their junonia shells they found this winter and early spring.According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Facebook post in 2018, the junonia is one of the top three for shell seekers to find and collect. While these are found offshore in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico, the best place to come across one washed ashore is Sanibel Island.Expert shares advice: Expert points us on path for finding Florida’s ‘Holy Grail’ shellThe nice thing about living in Southwest Florida when it comes to junonia shells, you can always find one at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel Island.Photos: The elusive junonia shellWe recently connected with Dr. Jose H. Leal, the science director and curator at the shell museum. Leal manages the vast collection of shells at the museum. And when we say vast, we’re talking about more than 600,000 shells.Leal said 69 shells in the museum’s collection are junonia shells. He shared the photos in the photo gallery above of some of the junonia shells that have a home in the museum. One of the photos, Leal said, is a juvenile of the species.Leal said the junonia shells in the musuem’s collection have been acquired by donation.”Localities are labeled onto each image,” Leal said.Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium reveals new colorful exhibitYoung vacationer from Las Vegas finds ‘Jewel of Florida’ during stay on Fort Myers BeachShell yes! What SWFL beach made USA Today’s 10BEST listWhat to know: Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium’s new Great Hall of ShellsSanibel shell museum: This iconic shell is one of the most desirable in SWFLSanibel shell museum: This elusive shell only collected by dredging or trawlingSanibel shell museum: A four-foot shell? That’s right and it has some serious ‘wing span’The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel has a collection of unique shellsThe Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum has a collection of unique shells. This is one.Sanibel shell museum: This tiny, cream-colored shell was found in 28,000 feet of waterSanibel shell museum: This glossy shell is one of the rarest in the worldAfter 9 year hunt, SW Florida sheller finds most treasured Junonia seashellJunonia (Scaphella junonia)PART OF WHAT SHELL GROUP OR FAMILY: Family VolutidaeWHERE IN THE WORLD (might you find this shell)? Off both coasts of FloridaDISTINGUISHING FEATURES: An attractive shell with regularly deployed brownish spotsANYTHING ELSE SPECIAL? The junonia is the iconic Southwest Florida shell, one of the most desirable, if not THE most desirable, of all possible local finds.Please support local community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Photographer shares reasons for his passion, why journalism matters
Reporting by Mark H. Bickel and Andrew West, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
