My brother always used to say...'hope he doesn't hurt himself patting himself on the back!'4/16/2011 Awards are cool to get. They give you some affirmation that you're doing work that reaches people. That reaches people outside of the community that have grown used to you and your work. I learned on Friday that I won first place for feature picture in the Pennsylvania Newspaper association's Keystone Awards, awards that recognize work done within a year, in this case 2010. I also won a first place in Photo Story with colleague Lisa Byers. When I was younger and building a resume the idea of winning awards was to recognized and perhaps get a better job somewhere else. But I don't want to move. Now I feel these awards mean that a story has more life and can now reach even more people beyond our usual readers. It hit me last year as I watched my friend Craig talk about his Pulitzer Prize winning story, that he is still telling this story and spreading the story to more people and in a way that gives people more insight into how the story came about and what the story means. So I'm hoping now that the picture story we did on Matt Beightol can now reach more people and hopefully help people who are dealing with the same issues Matt and his family have for more than 18 years now. Stories like this that can have a second life are important. The other photograph, the little girl catching rain drops off an umbrella with her tongue, well that won't go far in helping humanity, but I hope it gives more people a chance to see the image and perhaps think about how fun little things in life can be--that sometimes we need stop and enjoy something as simple as this--to breathe. And I still put it on my resume and hope to never have to use it. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer and Story by Lisa Byers.
4 Comments
Jane Smith
4/15/2011 12:17:24 pm
CONGRATULATIONS! I'm so proud to know you and see you get the recognition you deserve for all your work. It's good not only for you, but for the Tribune and for the community. Keep up the good work!
Mom
4/15/2011 12:46:53 pm
Hey, son, congratulations again. I like the pictures also. we are happy for you and proud of you too.
Jim
4/16/2011 12:21:33 am
Congratulations brother! I told you the rain drop photo was a winner. As always, keep up the good work. We need to celebrate again.
Tammy
5/20/2011 06:04:37 am
Congratulations on the pictures! I especially like the ones of Matthew.(I might be a little biased!) Thanks again for getting that story out. I loved it. Leave a Reply. |