In an industry with pressing deadlines, multiple assignments and events that can feel repetitive year after year, visual journalists continue to find ways to stay innovative, inspired and dedicated to their craft. The commitment to and passion for local news storytelling requires more than just technical skill behind the lens. Each day, lohud’s seasoned professionals serve their communities with unwavering resilience and adaptability to capture the moments that matter most in the Lower Hudson Valley.
Tania Savayan
I started working as a photojournalist at The Journal News/lohud in 2007, which means I’ve been telling stories with photographs about the community for 18 years. Many assignments return year after year, like summer camp, a recreational destination or a portrait of a business owner. The events often feel familiar, but the people never are. I use my experience to guide me but I also challenge myself to go into each assignment with fresh eyes, reminding myself to think about new perspectives, focus on details and capture the moment that unfolds in front of me.
The people I photograph inspire me. I’m eager to learn about their passions, their jobs and their struggles. I listen as they share, look around and wait. Photography is a lot about patience. Often I frame the composition and wait for the gesture or expression that helps tell the story of the person.
When I’m not working, I spend as much time as I can with family and friends doing things that bring us joy, like walks along the river, playing board games and crafting. Activities like these give me a chance to recharge and reconnect with the world around me and the people I love.
Frank Becerra Jr.
I’m going on my 47th year as a visual journalist and I can honestly say that no two days have been alike. I go to work every day never knowing what to expect, and that keeps me going.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a front row seat to some wonderful events, but at the same time some horrible ones. The range varies from the Olympics to Little League parades to the 9/11 attacks on our country, and a lot in between.
People remember photos that make them laugh and make them cry. I love to shoot anything happening in the sky. When driving to assignments, I try to allow enough time to take backroads instead of highways, and I’m always ready to stop and photograph something that might inspire me.
John Meore
What makes every day different is that there are different people in front of you every day. Different places, different places, different things … a different assignment from morning to afternoon and evening. No two days are the same; no two assignments are the same. Adapting to the situation, thinking on my feet, getting the job done.
There are also days where it’s the seventh time you’ve covered the same assignment over the past 10 years. What makes it different? The people in front of you. This may be their first time. So, seeing faces and expressions, documenting what is happening to and around them, is what it’s all about.
We also cover a lot of high school sports. That game may look and feel like it’s just another game, but no two are alike − the sport, the teams, the action and the players are not. My best sports images come from me anticipating conflict between the players.
Peter Carr
Readers can see my work in a variety of ways. They might find a photo or a photo gallery, or maybe they’ll come across a video on lohud.com or instagram. Lots of people will also see photos with a story in print.
The challenge is to make sure not to shortchange one presentation in favor of another. But that’s a fun challenge that keeps things interesting. I want to make sure my best work gets out there.
Seth Harrison
I’ve been a staff photographer for The Journal News/USA TODAY Network for 38 years, and it’s safe to say that my enthusiasm and passion for photojournalism and the news business remains as strong as it’s ever been.
The reasons that I pursued this career from the time I was in college − my love of photography and my passion for covering the news − are what continue to get me out the door every day. I still love photography, and I love covering the news as much as ever.
Our methods of producing compelling visual journalism continue to evolve, presenting me with new challenges, new opportunities and new ways to tell stories and report the news of the day.
While many of the events that I cover can become familiar, the news is constantly changing, so there are always new stories to tell. In addition, being allowed into the lives of our neighbors, often at the most sensitive and fraught moments, and being allowed to share their stories, remains a privilege that I never take for granted.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Behind the lens, veteran photojournalists keep creativity alive
Reporting by Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
