Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat shoots the ball while being guarded by Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center on April 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida.
In March 1995, Michael Jordan famously sent a fax to the Chicago Bulls to inform them that he would be returning to the team after retiring 17 months earlier. All the fax said was, "I'm back."
Well, I'm not MJ, and I never retired from doing what I do best, but I am back to regularly blogging, sharing my work, and any other works (videos, podcasts, books) that I find interesting.
Read MoreFor the past 10 weeks, I’ve had the privilege of working with one of the best visuals staff in the country and I am extremely grateful.
I want to thank my editor Scott Sharpe for giving me this awesome opportunity and for the guidance and support throughout the 10 weeks.
I also want to thank the entire visuals staff: Julia Wall, Juli Leonard, Casey Toth, Travis Long, Ethan Hyman, Robert Willet and Kevin Keister for their mentorship and help throughout. I will miss this family!
Here is the work I produced during my last full month at The News & Observer:
UNC-CH Fencing Head Coach Ron Miller poses for a portrait on June 27, 2019. Miller will be retiring after 52 years of coaching the UNC fencing team.
Video: Ron Miller, UNC’s fencing coach of 52 years, is officially retiring at the end of June. He’s the only coach North Carolina has ever had until now.
Cuba national team manager Rey Anglada (center) talks with coaches Miguel Rojas Rodriguez (left) and Javier Galvez Cordova (right) before Cuba’s game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Cuban shortstop Jorge Enrique Aloma (9) warms up before Cuba’s game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Team USA players pass time in the dugout during a rain delay on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team was playing Cuba as part of the 8th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team manager Dan McDonnell talks to his team before their game against Cuba on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Cuban third baseman Raul Gonzalez before Cuba's game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
A multiple exposure image of cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Rodriguez pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs.
USA Baseball Collegiate National Team left fielder Tanner Allen warms up before his at bat against the Cuban national baseball team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Cuban third baseman Raul Gonzalez looks towards his dugout after striking out against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Cuba national team coach Miguel Rojas Rodriguez poses for a portrait during a rain delay on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Cuban pitcher Frank Medina faces the USA Collegiate National team on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Durham Bulls Athletic Park celebrated Fourth of July with fireworks after the game between the Cuban national baseball team and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019.
Video: President Donald Trump made his first 2020 campaign stop in North Carolina on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Experience Greenville's first Trump rally of the election season.
Video: NC State football wide receiver Thayer Thomas and linebacker Drake Thomas talk about their relationship and being able to play together for the Wolfpack. Video by Bryan Cereijo More from The News & Observer: Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2PqkZ1q Twitter: https://twitter.com/newsobserver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsandobserver Website: https://www.newsobserver.com/ Digital news subscription: http://bit.ly/2OtBg1Q
Video: The four-day Raleigh GalaxyCon event brings fans together with TV show celebrities, costumed characters, fans of comics, superheroes, WWE stars and more worlds of pop culture.
Aaron Hampson stands outside the convention center as he gets ready for lunch after a morning of being dressed up as a Pokemon at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019.
Jim Sherman, at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019.
Members of the Comic Con Clique pose for portraits at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019. They were cosplaying as wrestlers on the first day of the event.
Dave Lewis, cosplaying as Batman, poses for a portrait at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 27, 2019.
Christian Carpenter, cosplaying as Deadpool, poses for a portrait at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 27, 2019.
Video: Wake Forest High School has won 45 straight games and three consecutive NCHSAA 4AA titles. With a new group and the long streak adding some pressure, Reggie Lucas looks ahead to the 2019 season.
It’s already been a month since I’ve been interning with the News & Observer and what a month it has been. Assignment work is fun yet challenging, especially when trying to find the balance between photo and video. Over the past month, I’ve really been trying to hone on my daily video skills, applying all that I have learned in the past year.
Every day is different and that’s what I enjoy the most. Here are some of my favorite videos and images from the month of June:
Video: This year’s Beaver Queen Pageant had a Damilton theme. That’s a play on Hamilton, the wildly popular musical, and dam, like beavers make. As usual, the fundraiser was marked by humor and outrageous costumes.
Young members of the crowd watch one of the acts at the 2019 Beaver Queen Pageant on June 1, 2019 in Durham Park.
2018 Beaver Queen, Flat Tail Fanny, walks through the crowd on June 1, 2019 at the 2019 Beaver Queen Pageant in Durham Park.
Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh walk into prayer to celebrate the the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide on June 4, 2019.
Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide on June 4, 2019.
Video: Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh celebrated the end of Ramadan with over 8,000 people at the Exposition Center on the North Carolina Fairgrounds on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.
Video: Garner Magnet graduating seniors who attended the Timber Drive Elementary school returned for a student clap-out in which they were celebrated for their achievement.
Video: Raleigh’s Brent Walters holds the national record for most racquetball state open championship wins. Recently, at the men’s open singles national championship he won his 14th and 15th national titles.
Video: U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson trains to compete in the Angel City Games, an elite adaptive sports competition. This is one of a few events he will compete in as he prepares to qualify for the paralympic games in Tokyo in 2020.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson prepares for practice on June 6, 2019 in Raleigh, NC.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson warms up before his practice on June 6, 2019 in Raleigh, NC.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson poses for a portrait in Durham, NC on June 7, 2019.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson receives final instructions from his coach before his race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson regulates the pressure in his prosthetic leg before a race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson warms up before his race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.
U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson poses for a portrait in Durham, NC on June 7, 2019.
Ryan Brown, 43, crosses a submerged portion of Highway 96 in Zebulon Saturday afternoon after heavy rains caused flooding in northern Wake County.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge signs autographs after batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Judge was playing with the RailRiders on a rehab assignment.
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton during batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Stanton was playing with the RailRiders on a rehab assignment.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge watches batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton walks out of the batter's box after completing batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton signs autographs after batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.
Funeral Director Hubert D. Pope waits for the remains of Army Pfc. William H. Jones to arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950.
The U.S. Army Color Guard salutes as the remains of Army Pfc. William H. Jones arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950.
Army Pfc. William H. Jones remains arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950. Several decades passed before his body was recovered after North Korea turned over 55 boxes containing the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War.
Family members of Army Pfc. William H. Jones commemorate him at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019.
North Carolina Secretary of Veterans Affairs Larry Hall, Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray and members of the U.S. Army honor guard commemorate U.S. Army Private First Class William "Hoover" Jones at the North Carolina State Capitol on June 21, 2019. In 1950, Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War. Last year, North Korea turned over 55 boxes containing the remains of American soldiers. He was one of them.
Video: The Friends of Geer Cemetery hosted a Reclamation Celebration at the Geer Cemetery and part of the event was dedicated to re-erecting a gravestone that was toppled and buried long ago.
The FedEx Global Education Center welcomed over 300 attendees for the premiere of Uprooted. Photo Credit: Tenley Mae Garrett
Last night was special.
Four months of hard work culminated in a successful presentation of our project, Uprooted.
Over 300 members of our community came to campus to watch the live presentation of the short documentaries that told the stories of Venezuelan migrants in Medellín, Colombia. It was a surreal experience to see the impact the films had, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this amazing project.
The ‘Economy’ team. From left, journalist Brooklynn Cooper, visual storytellers Bryan Cereijo and Abby Cantrell, and designer Kailee Akers.
Celebrating after the premiere. Photo Credit: Alex Kormann
To the Vinotinto FC family, thank you so much for allowing us into your lives and sharing your story. The world now knows how special you all are.
Laurenti Velasquez and Alvaro Junior Cardenas of Vinotinto FC.
After filming for 10 days in Colombia, our team had a little over a month to edit the films together. We would share our radio cuts, scenes, assemblies, and rough cuts in class and give each other feedback. It was a long and tedious process, but it proved worthy.
Here’s what our final timeline looked like:
Scenes are coded by different colors, natural sounds make up the first three audio tracks, the interview audio makes up the fourth track, and the music bed is in the fifth and sixth track. Having this coordination is definitely helpful during the polishing phase.
While the video team worked on editing the short documentaries, the developers, writers, designers and photographers worked on making sure the website was coming together, the stories were polished, the interactive graphics were functioning, and the photo journey was edited.
And here is my team’s final video:
You can explore the rest of the project at http://uprooted.unc.edu - where you will find the four other documentaries, the written pieces, the interactive graphics, and the photojourney.
Today is the premiere of Uprooted! This will be the first time the world will see the project I’ve been working on for the entire semester with 20 other talented journalists from UNC-CH.
As a whole, Uprooted documents the effects of Venezuelans forced to flee to Colombia as a result of the political and economic crisis in their home country.
I worked with my team to share the story of Vinotinto Fútbol Club, a soccer team of primarily Venezuelan immigrants. Although the story is about soccer on the surface, following the players for a week and a half allowed my team to uncover the unexpected rewards that soccer brings them.
Along with the video I filmed and edited with my partner, Abby Cantrell, the project includes four other documentaries, photo stories and five written stories accompanied by infographics.
My peers and I have spent countless hours editing visuals, fine-tuning stories and coding HTML to put this project together, and finally seeing it come to life is like a breath of fresh air.
If you can’t make it to tonight’s screening on campus, you can livestream the premiere here: https://www.facebook.com/uprootedUNC
About a month ago, Brazilian artist Caique Vidal allowed me to document his busiest week of the year, as he prepared for his Carnaval show. Vidal, a native of Salvador da Bahia, is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music educator. He stays true to his Afro-Brazilian roots by creating samba-reggae music, which is also a way of staying connected to home despite being 3,000 miles away. For the past six years, he’s been promoting Brazilian culture in the Triangle area while trying to strengthen the community.
It’s finals month and that means there are a few all-nighters coming my way. It means I am going to be under an immense amount of pressure to get done. It also means that by the end of it, I’m going to be a better visual storyteller.
So, while I am stressed, I also try to stay calm and positive to make sure I continue to work while enjoying the journey.
Earlier in the semester, my Branding of Me professor, Gary Kayye, gave us a book titled Rules of the Red Rubber Ball. It starts with the following quote by James Michener:
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which.
He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing.
To him he's always doing both.”
It’s become my favorite quote because it’s about pursuing your passion and enjoying what you’re doing while always striving for excellence.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing news and work from this semester.
Thank you all for following along and supporting.
Sunset as seen from the back of my truck during last weekend’s trail ride in Mebane, NC. I am currently working on a video/photo story with a cowboy club in North Carolina.
It’s Opening Day for the Syracuse Mets - previously the Syracuse Chiefs - and on this #ThrowbackThursday, I want to share a photo story on Rafael Bautista that I photographed two years ago, as well as some of my favorite images from the 2017 season.
Rafael Bautista warms up in the on deck circle as he awaits his second at bat of the season against the Rochester RedWings on April 8th, 2017. Before getting called-up to the Washington Nationals on April 29th, 2017, Bautista led the Syracuse Chiefs in batting average (.291), hits (23), runs (14), and stolen bases (3).
Rafael Bautista signs a fan's card during a team signing event after the game on April 8th, 2017. The baseball card features Bautista during his time with the National's double-A affiliate, the Harrisburg Senators.
Rafael Bautista catches a fly ball during the Syracuse Chiefs game against the Norfolk Tides on April 23rd, 2017. “He’s an outstanding outfielder, runs exceptionally well, has a good throwing arm and he pays attention, that’s what I like most about him, is that he pays attention,” said Dusty Baker, the manager for the Washington Nationals after Bautista was promoted to the majors.
Young fans wait for Syracuse Chiefs players to come sign memorabilia ranging from old jerseys to baseball cards, before the Chiefs game against the Rochester Red Wings on April 9th, 2017.
Rafael Bautista steals a base during a Chiefs game against the Rochester Red Wings at Rochester on April 16th, 2017. Bautista is known for his speed. Before getting called up to the Nationals, he led the Chiefs with 3 stolen bases. Last year in Double A with the Harrisburg Senators, he led all of minor league baseball with 56 stolen bases, with a 84% success rate.
Several Syracuse Chiefs players joke around during practice a day before what was supposed to be the first game of the season in April 5th, 2017. The game was postponed the next day due to inclement weather.
The Syracuse Chiefs play at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York. Though the stadium's capacity is 11,071, the Chiefs averaged 4,157 fans per game.
The Syracuse Chiefs locker room before a game against the Norfolk Tides on April 23rd, 2017. Rafael Bautista's number 8 jersey hangs in front of his locker.
"I need to buy a suit in case I one day get called up to the majors," said Rafael Bautista during one of our conversations early in the season. On April 22nd, he along with the help of catcher Pedro Severino, went to the mall to purchase a suit jacket. Seven days later, on April 29th, he was called up.
During my junior year at Syracuse University, I knew I wanted to work on a baseball story, but in Syracuse, we don’t have a Major League Baseball club. I started brainstorming story ideas and thought it would be interesting to document one of the players who was projected to be called up during the season.
I did some research before Opening Day and found that Dominican centerfielder Rafael Bautista was one of the top prospects expected to play in the big leagues during the season.
I reached out to the Syracuse Chiefs and they were very accommodating in allowing me to talk to Rafael and giving me a season pass to photograph as many games as I possibly could.
Rafael was awesome and he had a great season with the Chiefs. One day, he called me and lets me know that he was about to go to the mall to buy a suit in case he got the call. I picked up my camera to document the moment. Seven days later, he makes his debut for the Washington Nationals.
Starting this year, the Syracuse Chiefs are the Syracuse Mets - the Triple-A affiliate to the New York Mets. The Triple-A team for the Nationals is now the Fresno Grizzlies, where Rafael hopes to play after he recovers from a season ending injury that he sustained last year.
My time photographing Rafael and the Chiefs is one of my fondest memories of my time in Syracuse. The organization is all class, and I am so appreciative of the opportunity they gave me.
Most importantly, I will always be grateful because they helped me surprise my dad with the throwing of the first pitch during one of the games. It was a special day.
Back in October at the Eddie Adams Workshop, Visual Journalist Tom Kennedy gave a presentation in which he said, “photography is writing with light.” Though I knew light was the most important element in photography - because without light, there is no photo - I had never thought about it so poetically.
In the last year, I’ve been documenting light any time it catches my attention. This has made me appreciate it much more while also learning new and interesting ways in which it interacts with objects and people.
To do this, I’ve been using one of my favorite Instagram features - Stories - where I am able to quickly share snapshots of light when I see them. Doing this over a period of time has helped me build a mental archive, allowing me to control light in my professional work.
I was recently talking to a professor who told me that what he appreciates most about photography is that it taught him how to see light, and in-turn appreciate the world in a different way.
Even if you’re not a visual storyteller, I would challenge you to start paying close attention to light everywhere. The intensity, the color, the shape it creates, how it interacts with the world. There is gratification in understanding this small part of life.
Here is my current light journal, which you can also find on my Instagram page:
It’s Opening Day Weekend and I’m excited for the return of baseball. To commemorate, here is an ongoing portrait series that I started during the 2017 season:
During my internship at the Miami Herald, I photographed several Miami Marlins games. It was a lot of fun but also very repetitive, so I was constantly thinking of frames I could make throughout the season so that by the end, I could put together some sort of photo essay.
Earlier that year, I had worked on a story with Syracuse Chiefs (now the Syracuse Mets) Outfielder Rafael Bautista - The Major League Dream - where I had taken a portrait that I really liked. I thought about emulating it with visiting players - because access to Marlins players after practice was nearly impossible - and creating a series of portraits of players before the games.
Players were usually open to the idea once I explained it would take just a minute. It was fun, stress-free, and an awesome experience because I got to interact with some of my favorite favorite players.
I was able to take about one portrait per game and finished the season with seven portraits. I’m looking forward to continuing this project every time I photograph a game!
From left, Visual Storyteller Abby Cantrell, Colombian Photojournalist Martín Villaneda Gómez, Visual Storyteller Bryan Cereijo, and Journalist Brooklynn Cooper pose for a photo during ‘Fun Day’ in Medellín, Colombia.
During nine days in Colombia, I was part of one of the best groups I have ever worked with.
My partners - now family - kept cool under immense pressure and stress, were the utmost professionals, and took care of each other at all times.
During the time we weren’t out in the field filming, I took portraits of what I now call the A-Team:
Colombian Photojournalist Martín Villaneda Gómez (@martin_in_raw, @martinvillanedag) tests the light before an interview in Medellín, Colombia.
Martín, thank you for guiding us through your city and helping us with literally anything we needed at any given time. From guide, to translator/fixer, to photographer, we appreciate all of your contributions. Most importantly, thank you for your friendship. We are now waiting for you at UNC.
Visual Storyteller Abby Cantrell (@abbycantrell) stands in nice mall light for a portrait before our shoot.
Abby, I couldn’t have asked for a better video partner. You are always on your A-Game and I’m constantly learning from you. Thank you for your hard work in filming, scrubbing through all the footage and being unphased by the endless hours of work put into this project.
Journalist Brooklynn Cooper (@ibrookyyy) sits in her hotel room reflecting after a long day of reporting in Medellín, Colombia.
B, you’re awesome. I appreciate you for always listening and for your support. Every day, I look forward to our text conversations because they lighten my day — they are way too funny. Can’t wait to see the work you produce.
Visual Storyteller Jason Armond (@jasonarmondphotography) enjoying some downtime during filming in Medellín, Colombia.
Jason, our honorary member. My brother from another mother. Thank you for being genuine and always having my back. Can’t wait to get this podcast started.
Morning Light in Medellín, Colombia.
- Bryan
The past couple of weeks have been busy. There’s been filming, working on midterms, more filming, getting ready for Colombia, more filming, traveling to Colombia, more filming, and now I am finally back in the States.
It’s taken me a couple of days to regroup - and I’m still working on it - but I’ve finally have been able to gather myself enough to sit down and write a bit about my experience.
Traveling to Medellín, Colombia with the Uprooted UNC group was an amazing experience. I’m grateful for this opportunity because it was inspiring and meaningful: we traveled, met awesome people, and documented important stories.
There were a lot of moments of reflection during the trip in which I just thought about how incredible it was that I was in another country, doing what I most care about, and working with my peers to shed light on the struggles that Venezuelans face when they are forced to flee their country.
Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite moments and images from the trip as my peers and I start putting the entire project together for an April 23rd premiere date.
The view from Medellín’s recently inaugurated ‘Metrocable.’ The Miraflores station became the fifth gondola lift station in the city, making Medellín one of the cities with the best sustainable public transportation in the country.
Last semester, Nathan Klima and I produced two short docs in the span of four months on the American South.
For our local story, we traveled to the nearby town of Siler City. The population of Siler City, North Carolina has increased by 20% since 2000. Along with the population growth, there’s been a demographic shift in which Hispanic residents now make up roughly 50% of the town. Fourteen years ago, Jose Juan started an independent soccer league, La Liga Sabatina de Siler City, which he organizes to this day. Soccer is now what unites this town in the American South.
For the second film, we traveled to East Atlanta, which has become one of the most significant regions for contemporary hip-hop music in the United States. We filmed rap duo Osei & Armani, from Bouldercrest Road, home to some of the most popular rappers to come out of Atlanta. In the short film, Osei & Armani reflect on the what it takes to be successful in the most popular music genre today.
Both films will be screened at Morehead Planetarium today at 6pm along with eight other films produced by our peers. At the end of the showing, we will host a Q&A where we will answer questions about the stories and production.
Hope to see you all there!
Also, go ‘Cuse!
In January, I started working for Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As a production assistant, I’m responsible for filming and editing promotional videos and assisting the creative department with research and editing for planetarium shows. But perhaps the coolest perk is being able to photograph some of the awesome people who come to visit.
On Friday, Astronaut Charlie Duke came to talk about the various Apollo missions he participated in, including the one that took him to the moon. General Duke is one of only 12 people to have walked on the moon and was the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for Apollo 11, the first moon landing. It was incredible to hear him talk about some of his experiences in person.
Because he was on a tight schedule, I did not have a lot of time to make a portrait. I thought about what I wanted it to look like and arrived early to set up. I knew it had to be simple because of the time constraints so I took my reliable and efficient Yongnuo YN360 light and had Sam - a gentleman who was working the event - help me out and stand in so I could have an idea of what my exposure would be.
Hurry up and wait.
About 10 minutes later, General Duke walked in and I quickly introduced myself, directed him to the spot where I wanted him to stand, and fired off six frames in 10 seconds.
Mission Accomplished.
Professor Greg Heisler at Syracuse University always stressed the importance of working with intention, having an idea, and then being prepared. Though this was a simple setup and thankfully everything went seamlessly, this shows the importance of all these tips - especially in larger, complicated shoots.
I was talking to one of my mentors this past week about my recent struggles. He listened. Then he reminded me of what we do as storytellers - we seek to document and share stories. But what makes a good story?
In its most basic form, a good story includes a person who has a goal and overcomes struggle to achieve that goal. During the journey, there is change that comes from overcoming said struggle.
As Donald Miller says, “somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we actually live in.”
Though we strive for a perfect life, not only is that something that is unachievable, but it’s also something that would cause us to plateau, to stop growing.
Year 22 was probably the most challenging year thus far. I experienced the highest of highs in graduating from Syracuse University and returning home for a bit to spend time with my family.
I also experienced real lows in moving to another state by myself, trying to acclimate to a new space, starting all over, and dealing with the physical and mental effects that this stress caused.
Through this, Year 22 taught me the importance of allowing myself to seek help when I realize that I cannot do everything all by myself. I’m so thankful for my supportive family and all that they’ve done and continue to do to ensure I continue on my path. It taught me struggle and it has been slowly showing me the growth that stems from it.
Year 22 made me realize the importance of truly understanding my passion. This has allowed me to expand the amount of things I can do with it - learning to use different mediums, mentoring, and further enjoying what I do.
Year 22 reaffirmed the golden rule. The rule that tells us to treat others as we would wish to be treated. The rule that my mom has told me to live by since I can remember. When others don’t abide by it, remind them of the rule. I’ve come to understand that not everyone is going to like me, but they have to respect me.
Year 22 reinforced the idea that it truly takes a village to achieve success. I’m so grateful for everyone that has supported me in my endeavors during the past year.
Year 22 taught me that I define what success is for me. Everyone’s path is different. Coming to terms with this has helped me stay focused on the path I’m blazing. I know that if I constantly work hard, results will surely follow.
Year 22 showed me that I can set goals and then follow through by doing everything in my power to meet my own expectations. This year, I competed for one of two TEDxUNC student spots, and though I ultimately wasn’t selected, I finally put together a presentation that I was proud of and that I feel can inspire others. I’ll just think of it as practice for next year.
Year 22 helped me realize it is important to live in the present, in the moment. Trying to take it all in because life moves so fast. Acknowledging small victories is important.
Year 22 highlighted the importance of friendship – especially when one is going through challenging times.
I appreciate you, Jackie, for always being just one phone call away. For always listening. And for always giving me the best possible advice. See you soon.
I appreciate you, Manny, for being the best brother I never had. I know that you’re always there for whatever I need and that means a lot. I also want to thank you and Geo for taking time out of your day and meeting up to celebrate my birthday.
Year 22 confirmed my love for mentorship. Over the past couple of months, I’ve used several opportunities to talk to students about the importance of what we do and share all that I’ve learned about visual storytelling.
Facilitating a class in video journalism at Randolph Community College. Thank you to Khadejeh Nikouyeh and Jay Capers for the opportunity.
Year 22 taught me the importance of understanding emotions, learning how to control them, and working toward growing my emotional intelligence. Because “intelligence can come to nothing if emotions hold sway.”
Year 22 proved to me that Year 23 will be what I make of it.
Yesterday I shared a story that I worked on with the Southern Durham Football team. It was an in-depth look into their season. For four months, the team allowed me to be present at every moment. They trusted me - for which I will forever be grateful.
Southern Spartans head coach Darius Robinson celebrates with his players after winning the last game of the season against Millbrook High School, 21-14. On the first day that I met Head Coach Robinson, he took me to the team locker room and introduced me to his players: “this is Bryan, he will be photographing our season. He is now part of the family.”
How did this come about? As visual storytellers, how do we make this connection, gain this trust, and tell the story to the best of our abilities?
Though it varies by story, the one common factor is being human.
Let me explain.
My favorite quote throughout my time as a photojournalism student at Syracuse University says:
“We tell stories of people - not ‘subjects.’ Honor their humanity. Our language sets the tone.”
I think it’s very important to always keep this in mind because this is the level at which we connect with those whom we are fortunate to photograph. It is not a photographer-subject relationship but a human one. We gain trust by being genuine, listening, being present, and by truly caring about the story.
Telling these stories is a collaborative process. Explaining this is a good way of building these relationships. Don’t take control of a story that isn’t yours. You’re simply helping share this narrative with your storytelling ability. Ask the people you are photographing “what do you think your story is?” and be prepared for the answer. Chances are it might not be what you thought it was - it’s much more meaningful.
Be respectful and feel situations out. Go with your gut instinct. Sometimes the best move is to put your camera down and be present. This is still hard one for me too, because I don’t want to miss a frame. But when the situation calls for you to be present and you are, this goes along way in the trust you are building. Being present and asking questions is good way of making images - even though you are not pressing the shutter button - because you will be constantly learning about the person and the different layers to their story.
Once the story is complete, maintain that relationship. Whether that’s through social media, mail, text messages, etc. These are human beings that entrusted you, allowed you into their lives, and shared with you. Don’t take this for granted. Honor those relationships.
Even if you’re not a visual storyteller, I would challenge you to start thinking about the relationships you create and how you honor them. As I mentioned earlier in this post, we connect not as subjects-photographers but as humans. Meet new people, ask questions, listen, and most importantly, be genuine and care.
Care.
Listen.
Be Genuine.
Be Present.
Be Respectful.
Honor the Relationship.
In August 2018, the Southern Durham Spartans welcomed me to photograph their brotherhood. I documented their season: from the joyful moments to the lowest points where they had to regroup and be ready for the next challenge. During my time with this team, these young men taught me about resiliency. They were always up for the challenge, they never gave up on each other, and they always found a way to bounce back when games didn’t go their way.
Though the season didn’t end how they would’ve liked, they made sure to take advantage of all of the opportunities being part of this team offered.
Thank you to all the players and coaches for allowing me to be a part of the journey.
Southern Durham junior linebacker Jaki Brevard raises the team axe before the Spartan's game against Orange Highschool in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The team captain usually carries the axe before games.
Southern Spartan head coach Darius Robinson prays with his players before the team's game against Cardinal Gibbons. During a pre-game pep talk with his players, Head Coach Robinson asked his players if they knew why they prayed... "We pray before games because of all the sins we are about to commit on this field."
Southern Durham senior wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd watches on as the Spartans trail Cardinal Gibbons in the second game of the season. Lloyd would go on to have a productive season despite various injuries throughout.
Southern Durham head coach Darius Robinson addresses his team after a big win against the the No. 4 team, Seventy-First High School. The Spartans scored nine points in the final 78 seconds of the game to finish the upset, 36-32.
Southern Durham assistant coach Chris Smith celebrates with linebacker Jakhari Dowd (33) after a big play against Cardinal Gibbons High School. The Spartans had 18 coaches on staff this year, mostly comprised of past players that want to give back to their high school team.
Southern Spartans head coach Darius Robinson celebrates with his players after an upset win against the No. 4 team in the region, Seventy-First High School.
From left, Southern Durham players Curtis Justice, Deshawn Harris, and Zyon Johnson, celebrate an upset win against the No. 4 team in the region, Seventy-First High School.
Southern Durham sophomore quarterback Omari Smith works on his footwork by running up a hill during practice.
Hurricane Florence forced schools in the Triangle area to move up their Friday night games to Wednesday. This means that teams only had two days to prepare for their upcoming game.
Southern Durham players take a quick nap before their game. During home game days, players usually have a team meal and then hangout in head coach Robinson's room before the game.
Southern Durham players Lavar Houze (46) and Cinsere Clark (14) dance during the team's homecoming pep-rally at school.
Southern Durham football players relax before an away game. The Spartans usually stayed on the team bus until they had to start warming up. Many schools in the area did not have visitor locker rooms.
Southern Durham junior wide receiver Devin Smith carries the team speaker inside of the bus. Smith, one of the team's best players, was not playing due to injury but that did not stop him from starting the party before the game.
Southern Durham senior running back Kevin Pierce Jr. straps on his shoulder pads before the game.
Southern Durham junior wide receiver Devin Smith prays outside the locker room before the team's game against No. 4 Seventy-First.
Southern Durham senior wide receiver Jaylen Lloyd is consoled by senior running back Taron Beauford (1) and teammates after a tough loss.
Southern Durham football defensive coordinator Norris McCleary reviews the game-plan with his defense before the game. Coach McCleary, who played in the NFL for three seasons, now volunteers his time during the high school football season.
Southern Durham freshman kicker John Paulino warms up before the team's game against Southern Alamance. Despite being heavy favorites, the Spartans would go on to lose the game 29-7.
The Southern Durham Spartans play against Orange High School. The Spartans lost the game 27-17 and it ultimately cost them a spot in the playoffs. Despite Southern Durham (5-6) having a better record than Orange (3-8) at the end of the season, all three wins for Orange were inside the conference.
Teammates console senior linebacker Aaron James after a loss. James embraced his teammates saying "you all are my family, I love y'all."
Southern Durham senior captains walk to the center of the field for the coin toss. The Spartans won their second-to-last game against East Chapel Hill, 42-7.
My grandmother and mother in Havana, Cuba in 1976.
“The saddest thing about life is that you don’t remember half of it. You don’t even remember half of half of it,” writes Donald Miller in A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Miller continues by sharing how his friend Bob “captures memories because if he forgets them, it’s as if they didn’t happen; it’s as though he hadn’t lived the parts he doesn’t remember.”
This made me think about what I do as a visual storyteller. I am allowed to document a small part of history, someone’s history every time I pick up a camera. I think that’s special. Visual mediums allow us to preserve the past, document the present, and inform the future in a very special way.
Personally, I experienced this power of photography when just recently, a family member brought 35mm slides from Cuba. In the pack of about 50 slides, there were images I had never seen of my great-grandmother, grandmother, and mom in Havana. Had it not been for a photographer who decided to pick up his camera 40 years ago and photograph my family, I wouldn’t be able to witness this part of my family’s history.
This is one of the greatest things we do as visual storytellers. Every time someone allows us into their lives and we start documenting this part of history, their story, we are helping preserve these memories.
Even if you’re not a visual storyteller, I would challenge you to start documenting your own journey and the lives of those you love. Take as many selfies as your iPhone allows you to and then some. Takes photos on every trip, at every family gathering, sporting event, concert, and wherever else life may take you. Capture every memory as you strive to at least remember half of half of your life.
Last week in my documentary video storytelling class, we were assigned an “interpretation” assignment in which we could choose any poem and put together a narrative to represent it.
I wanted to make the assignment meaningful. I had never made an interpretation piece where I had to think about every shot in the video beforehand and the meaning it would contribute.
This project became significantly more special when my mom - who was visiting - agreed to be a part of it, reading one of the poems that she constantly reminds me of when I’m too stressed and not feeling too well.
No Te Rindas translates to “Don’t Give Up,” and it’s a poem by Mario Benedetti that reminds us to keep pushing forward, to keep going despite the many hardships we may face. Why?
“Because every day is a new beginning,
Because this is the hour and the best moment.
Because you are not alone, because I love you.”
My mom and I filmed for three days and edited it all together on the last day. It was awesome to give her insight as to what I did - from the filming, to the editing, to the countless hours spent looking for royalty free music that would perfectly fit the video. It was like ‘Bring Your Parents to Work’ weekend (which actually exists).
We were both happy with the end result, but more importantly, with the time we spent together creating something meaningful for the both of us.
When she got on the plane, she sent me a text that read “thank you for allowing me to be a part of your projects. I really enjoyed it. I love you.” Love you too, mamá. This is a video and an experience that we will both forever cherish.
Two weekends ago, I was fortunate to attend the Eddie Adams Workshop and it was an incredible experience. From the speakers to the edit sessions to the portfolio reviews to the important conversations, I learned something every step of the way. I am also extremely fortunate to have been part of Team Tie Dye. Producer Eric Thayer found us all great stories, Angus Oborn was the best tech and provided lots of comic relief, and Editor Tim Rasmussen and team leader Preston Gannoway put our work together beautifully and helped us grow as visual storytellers. Huge shoutout to my peers on team Tie Dye who are all awesome human beings and were extremely supportive throughout the entire weekend!
Our team’s theme was ‘life in flux’ and we were instructed to photograph our stories with this idea in mind. Flux can be defined as continuous change, passage, or movement. Recently, my life has been in a state of ‘hyperflux’ and though it has been challenging, it has also been very rewarding. I continue to look for that continuous change because in that, there is a story, a journey, and growth.
I also enjoy slowing down and taking it all in: living in the moment and enjoying the present. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been fortunate to meet some awesome people that have allowed me to document their story. Here’s what I’ve been working on during the months of September and October:
Fencing Coach Jennifer Oldham established the Mid-South Fencer’s Club in Durham, NC in 2007 with the idea of building a community out of a traditionally individual sport. She’s one of five coaches in North Carolina to achieve the ‘Maitre d’Armes’ (Master of Weapons) title. Her dedication to the sport and her students has helped the club rise to one of the best fencing clubs in the nation.
Before and After — A couple of days before Hurricane Florence made landfall, I was able to photograph the Haw River near Chapel Hill. After the hurricane passed, I went back to see the effects of the hurricane on the massive river that runs 110 miles through North Carolina. Several locals who usually use the river to fish and kayak commented that it's the fastest they had ever seen the river moving. They were also astonished at how much the water level rose but thankful that there was no major flooding.
Cuban chef Roberto Copa Matos at his farm in Hillsborough, NC.
Being Cuban-American, I always try to find the Cuban community wherever it is that I am at. After some searching, I found out about Cuban chef and farmer Roberto Copa Matos.
Roberto studied biochemistry at the University of Havana but emigrated from the island in 2002. His concept is simple: from soil-to-table. He owns the nation's only soil-to-table Cuban restaurant and he takes a lot of pride in that. 'It's about cultivating relationships from soil to table. From the moment we harvest our food to the moment where we serve the guest, we are building relationships along the way," says Matos. His goal is to grow the farm to the point where almost all of the food products he uses at his restaurant come from his farm.
Roberto Copa Matos walks through his farm, Terra Secca, in Hillsborough, NC. Matos, originally from Cuba, studied biochemistry in the University of Havana but immigrated from the island in 2002. "It has always been my dream to have my own farm and work the land," says Matos.
Roberto Copa Matos holds black beans that he harvested from his farm, Terra Secca, in Hillsborough, NC. Matos's concept is simple: from soil-to-table. He owns the nation's only soil-to-table cuban restaurant and he takes a lot of pride in that. 'It's about cultivating relationships from soil to table. From the moment we harvest our food to the moment where we serve the guest, we are building relationships along the way," says Matos.
Roberto Copa Matos harvests lettuce from his farm, Terra Secca, in Hillsborough, NC. His goal is to grow the farm to the point where almost all of the food products he uses at his restaurant come from his farm.
One of Roberto Matos's team members cuts lettuce in preparation for the dinner shift at COPA, Roberto's restaurant. Roberto strives to create the best working environment for his employees, who he refers to as team members. "I don't ever ask them to do something I haven't done first. It's really about respect and making sure everyone feels great coming to work," says Matos. He also chooses to pay living wages and provide benefits to all his employees.
Roberto Copa Matos is the owner of COPA restaurant in downtown Durham, NC and he is also the chef. "It's like a puzzle sometimes and I always enjoy the challenge of solving it," says Matos about creating successful dishes. His created a simple yet effective menu that is based on traditional cuban dishes.
Roberto Copa Matos puts the finishing touches on one of his most famous dishes, 'Copa Vieja a la Americana.' He describes the dish as a "long-forgotten version of Cuba's signature dish, ropa vieja: NC grass-fed beef, slow-cooked with wine, mint, and a light tomato sauce. Served on casava flatbreads."
Roberto Copa Matos designed the interior of his restaurant and one of his main priorities was to have an open kitchen concept. The idea is that guests can always see what's going on inside the kitchen.
Roberto Copa Matos leads a cooking class in the kitchen of his restaurant, COPA. Before COPA opened, Roberto started a kickstarter in which people could contribute money that would be used to complete the interior of the restaurant. Those that donated a certain amount would receive a cooking class and a dinner.
Roberto shares a laugh with his wife, Elizabeth Turnbull, and co-worker, Doug Addington, after the Saturday dinner shift ends. One Saturday's, Roberto serves all the leftover food so that his team members can have a nice meal before going home.
Roberto's hat sits on a table while he eats. "The law makes us wear something on our heads while we are in the kitchen and I thought I would wear something that fit the theme of the restaurant," said Matos about his choice of wearing the traditional hat.
Interpreting ‘life in flux’ through different levels of football in Liberty, NY. This was completed during the Eddie Adams Workshop.
And portraits from last week’s high school football game in Liberty, NY:
