Getting my vision adjusted…….

One of the great things about a daily walk with God is; He will change you. I was assigned by Nikon to attend and assist with a conference held at Western Kentucky University for minority high school students with dreams of becoming photojournalists. Ten bright, young students were chosen to be immersed in photography for four and half days under the capable tutelage of Barry Gutiearrez, a Pulitzer Prize Winning photojournalist, from Denver, Colorado, http://barrygutierrez.com/ and James Kenney, Department Head of Photojournalism for Western Kentucky University. A number of great WKU students are also assisting with the administration of the workshop.

To be honest, I had no idea what to expect. What I’ve experienced so far has been a pleasant surprise. Barry has been artfully and effectively giving these students a good lesson in the better attributes of being a photojournalist. Barry has been quick to emphasize that a good photojournalist does not approach a story with an agenda, but rather with and open mind and empathy for the subject. This morning he told about covering a story about a young soldier that had been given leave to come home to see his newly born daughter, but volunteered for one last mission before leaving for home. He was killed by a sniper on that mission. The image that Barry captured, with the full approval of the family, was among the most powerful I’ve ever seen. What impressed me the most was the lengths he went to to be sure the family approved. If you go to his website above, it will show that image fourth in the opening slide show, of this young soldier in the casket with the photograph of his daughter tucked into his dress uniform opening at the chest.

The gulf between what we all believe to be self evident truths, is wide and varied, but the need to treat others with respect and kindness should not ever be a gulf between any of us.

I started my career as a photojournalist, and by the time I left the profession, I was pretty disgusted with the whole thing. The last major story I covered was the Scotia Mine Disaster in which 25 men died in an underground coal mine explosion. A day later 20 more men, in a rescue team, were killed in a second explosion. As a young photojournalist covering the story, I watched countless helicopters, all the networks, and hundreds of reports and photographers descend on this tiny Virginia community. The behavior of many of my cohorts in crime was disappointing, to the say the least. I left the profession, shortly after this assignment, with a pretty good level of disgust.

Today, I changed my mind, o.k. maybe God changed my mind. I saw one good man, doing good things, for the right reasons, and then sharing it with some deserving young people that need to know, this side of the story, of photojournalism.

Thank you Lord for reminding me what I once loved about being a a photojournalist. I can only hope that more men and women that care, and want to show compassion in telling their stories will step forward, and help others to follow their path.

As a follower of Christ, I can do nothing more important than to offer His love and compassion to others. Thanks Barry, for the powerful reminder.

the pilgrim