Photo©Ed Kashi/VII

When I began my life in photojournalism, I never would have predicted the direction the field would take. As this craft continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, it opens up new ways to engage with your audience and offers new tools and methods for dynamic storytelling – like motion and sound. This new way of telling stories is sometimes called multimedia, but in reality is short form documentary filmmaking.  Exploring these new avenues, I have come to cherish the importance of bringing a voice to my subjects and the greater responsibility this medium beckons upon my practice as a journalist and storyteller. While my journey of experimentation with motion is now in it’s 15th year, I remain completely inspired and absorbed in the process of making still imagery. For me, these two mediums are inextricably linked. Regardless of whether I am making a set of still images for a photo-essay or creating a film using motion and audio, my purpose and motivation remain the same. I want to tell stories that matter to me and to the world. I want to use my ability to gain intimacy with my subjects, and harness the opportunity to reach people as a way to make a difference, not only through raising awareness about issues of the day, but also by finding collaborators who can use my work to catalyze positive change.

I am honored and humbled to receive the 72nd POYi Multimedia Photographer of the Year Award. In the ever-changing world of documentary photojournalism, by including motion and sound I believe we can make more powerful statements and reach more people.

Thank you to all of the dedicated, talented, and hardworking photographers who continue to push this medium forward.

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