I remember the first time my friend Craig went overseas to cover a war, I was a little afraid for him. I mean we went to school together and I didn't know anything about being safe in a war zone. What I couldn't fully grasp was that he had learned so much more about these things than I had, not that one can be safe in war, but he was prepared. I remember thinking about him one night while I was at work covering a football game and I laughed a little. How did we go in such different directions--and yet we're still the same. As I was photographing cheerleaders on the sideline he was photographing President Karzai being put into office in Afghanistan. We were both documenting the life in front of us, but his pictures will possibly be historic I thought. Now, a bunch of years later, we both are still documenting the life in front of us, we're both doing important work, but his work won't possibly be historic, it IS historic as he won last years Pulitzer Prize. This means his pictures, his story will now be studied for generations to come. I'm not one that is competitive in such things, I love the fact he has success and he deserves this success--believe me--he is truly a good guy, I am however someone who wasn't shy about asking him to come out to the little college I teach at in Northwestern Pennsylvania to speak. Its been a funny thing, I go around telling people about Craig's success as if I had something to do with it. Oh I will admit if it wasn't for me standing over a darkroom tray smelling the freshly fixed prints still wet prints that Craig was working on back in 1985 and telling him what he needed to do to improve the print(truth is there was never much to tell him) and if I hadn't gone out with him for coffee after coffee as he was working his first gig in Marlborough Ma. or drank beer with him on a bar stool with his name on it in Pittsfield Ma. a few years later, or talked with him as he was working on any number of projects for the Denver Post then he wouldn't have won the Pulitzer this year. Thats my story and I'm sticking to it. Actually its quite an honor that he has agreed to come out and speak at the college in February. I designed the poster above to hang around campus etc... Public is invited. I'm trying to spread the word so young journalists and photographers might make it part of their plans. Its a great opportunity to see and hear someone who is on the top of their game.
Rich, I guess I must have played a roll in Craig's success and Pulitzer as I had mentored you through our years together at the Tribune. I guess pay it forward does have it's benefits especially in helping to contribute to winning a Pulitzer and "that's my story and I am sticking to it" also. Craig, congradulations on your award.