Picture Editing
Inside the courageous comeback of USC guard Aaliyah Gayles
I worked with documentary photographer Bridget Bennett to cover the unfolding story of Aaliyah Gayles, a top national women's basketball recruit who was shot roughly a dozen times in the final months of her senior year. Aaliyah spent her summer before college and first year recovering and regaining her strength. She returned to the court to play again for USC in October of her sophomore year.
I worked with Bridget regularly over a year-and-a half to plan, react and document Aaliyah's recovery and return to the court. I oversaw photo trips, project budget, and the final published web edit. I further worked with the editing team to recruit interest for a feature-length documentary that ran cohesively with our web story over the course of Aaliyah's first season back on the court.
Shakhtar Stalevi - "Made of Steel" Ukrainian soccer team
As the war with Russia continues, many of the professional Ukrainian soccer teams, including FC Shakhtar Donetsk, have created affiliate amputee teams to compete with other clubs around the nation. Every player on the team has lost at least one limb because of the ongoing conflict - many as soldiers, some as civilians. The story explored the lives of athletes on and off the field as they learned to cope with their injuries; found friendship and love; and, in the case of the team captain, prepared for a return to fighting.
I remotely oversaw and coordinated the still photography and narrative development, by photojournalist Serhii Korovayny in Kyiv, alongside a full film production crew and written story editor and reporter. Additionally I organized the creation of the film's movie poster as well as the final photo edit and web presentation.
The Unforgotten
In Selma, Alabama, football is something approaching divine. The sport that pulls everyone in. For Morgan Academy's senior quarterback Caden Tellier, football and church were among his favorite things. That is, until Caden died because of a by-the-book tackle during a home football early in the season. Caden's death is a near mirror repeat of the death of Jay Kutner decades prior. They were both so young. Football is one of the most popular sports in America, and one of the most dangerous. How do we find peace in loving a game that kills?
In order to explore the beloved yet violent game of football, we combined emotive photography, data graphics and custom illustrations. The multimedia elements allowed us to explore the complex narrative and challenge of telling two stories decades apart cohesively and creatively.
After Kelvin Moore died in an Alabama prison, his body was returned without organs. His family wants answers
I worked with reporter Dwayne Bray and photojournalist Bob Miller to photograph the family of Kelvin Moore for an intimate story on prisoner's rights after death for themselves an their families.
Why Bundesliga needs to revive epic St. Pauli-Hamburg rivalry
I hired, imagined and edited this story about the necessity of cross-city rivalries in professional German soccer, and in the broader Bundesliga, alongside German photojournalist Maria Feck. This reporting and photojournalism ultimately drove and largely dictated the text story even beyond the photo story.
Jason Crowe and the community that raised him
Jason Crowe could have played basketball anywhere, gone to any high school. But there was never any doubt where he would play - Inglewood. His dad played there. His grandfather played there. Jason, too, would play for Inglewood. On his way to becoming California's top high school scorer, playing college basketball at the University of Missouri, and hopefully the NBA, Jason chose to stay home and play in the community where his dad and grandfather coached and played - the community that raised him.
I worked with photographer Ryan Young to develop this story from an original pitch to the final photo and written story, celebrating both the community and game through the success and dedication of Jason.
California junior college offers a lifeline for homeless students
I collaborated with reporter Dwayne Bray and photographer Julien James to document the day-to-day life of one of the many students challenged with one of the many forms of homelessness while still attending college.
Canelo Alvarez's homecoming: Boxing's biggest star returns to Mexico, his horses and a moment 11 years in the making
I hired Mexican photojournalist Alejandra Rajal to create a community-focused photo story on the home and original supporters of world-renowned boxer Canelo Alvarez in his home city of Guadalajara. I coordinated the trip alongside a full tv film and reporting crew to create complimentary stories across platforms.
For Sebastian and Gabriela Fundora, chasing boxing championships runs in the family:
I hired and worked alongside photojournalist Alisha Jucevic to create, plan, and edit a photo story on the rising careers of sibling boxers Sebastian and Gabriela Fundora. The pair fights out of their family home in the Coachella Valley of California and prioritize both boxing success and quality time with family. Alisha and I worked together to maximize time with the family documenting their everyday lives inside and out of the boxing ring and how close life and boxing are intertwined.
Celebrating 40 years of Black cowboy culture at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo
Over the course of a year, photographer Julien James and I discussed, dreamed up and ultimately edited for publication a photo essay on the collision of rodeo and L.A. culture at the annual visit from the Bill Pickett traveling invitational rodeo. Julien and I worked closely together to create a thoughtful and artistic digital presentation that weaves color and black and white photography together to highlight the beauty, energy and unity of the weekend event.
The Most American Sport
In an exploration of college football culture around the United States, our three-part series explored what college football feels, looks and sounds like in college towns and cities.
I coordinated photo, video and audio content across three different game days to create an engaging multimedia presentation that celebrates the fandom and excitement of college football game days.
Insha'allah: Making home in central Missouri
I worked with photojournalist Antranik Tavitian over the course of several months to imagine, report and reimagine this photo essay on the Al Hraishawi family and their work to make a home in mid-Missouri. Antranik recevied a bronze award in the Documentary category of the 2020 College Photographer of the Year for this entry.