This is what we are, this is how we do it

Those are the words long time Flint Journal photographer Bruce Edwards used to describe the job a photo journalist has.


He was writing on the dry erase board, it was late 2008, in a University of Michigan, Flint, classroom. 


"Photojournalist" was written, before the class during intro to photojournalism.  "This is what we are," he said, underlining the word 'Journalist.' He circled the word 'photo.'
"This is how we do it."


I am a photo journalist. People like Bruce inspired me. 


I've been in development, in reality, since high school. That's 12 years of trying to keep a camera in my hand, and thanks to friends and family, a camera was never too far away. As a professional, I've been learning since 2007, and I can finally say after three internships, countless projects, stories, successes and failures, I am competent. I can teach others, but God, I still need to be taught. 


Currently, I work for the Tri-County Times out of Fenton, Michigan. We're a damn good paper for being so small, and it's been my role to improve and build up the photography of the paper, and also teach them about ethics, while they taught me how to cover a small community, filed with numerous residents that DO care what you say, and WILL write you when you get it wrong. I'm a community journalist, and that's where the industry still has a heart, and a pulse.