Photojournalism

“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.”

- Robert Capa

These artifacts show a balanced blend between editorial photography and documentary photojournalism, both of which are strong drivers in storytelling but on separate ethical planes. See Resume & About for context on my photojournalism background. Judges, please read my personal narrative in my contest submission for additional background context.

All photos are captioned. Please click on links for artifacts as-published and context on contests. Because of the photo-heavy nature of my work, check other sections (Social Media, Design, Diversity) for additional relevant photojournalism.

Indiana University Media School HSJI Photo Essay (July 2024)

For four days at IU Media School’s High School Journalism Institute, I worked like a working photojournalist: shoot, interview for names and context, write clean AP style single captions, then bring images back for critique and improvement the next day. I photographed both instruction and daily life — lectures, candid free time moments, street scenes during a newsworthy rainstorm — so the essay reads as a complete week rather than a highlight reel. I also worked alongside peers and instructors including editor of The Bloomingtonian, Jeremy Hogan. Winning the Randy Siddons Award validated that my work wasn’t just “camp photos,” but a coherent, published documentary set built with deadline pressures and real editorial feedback.

Randy Siddons Award for Best Photo Essay; attended HSJI under Multicultural Scholarship

Students use their cameras in front of Franklin Hall during the first day of the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. A sculpture of IU alumnus and World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle sits behind. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

JT Frenzel, left, shoots photos of counselors as Kadin Bright looks on during a meeting on the first day of the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute, Monday, July 8, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. Frenzel and Bright, Indiana residents, enrolled into the photojournalism workshop at HSJI. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Head Counselor Lexi Lindenmayer briefs students on procedures and policies during the first day of the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute, July 8, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. The Munster, Ind. native recently graduated from the Media School in May and worked at the Daily Student newspaper and WIUX student radio. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Students walk back to Spruce Residence Hall from Union Street Center after a 9 p.m. meeting during the first day of the Indiana University High School Journalism Institute, July 8, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. The weeklong Institute gives high school students the opportunity to improve their journalism skills and get a preview of university life. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University Media School Professor Chad Carrothers gives a lecture on reporting fundamentals to students of the High School Journalism Institute on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. Carrothers has worked at WFHB and teaches podcasting and journalism as a professor. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University High School Journalism Institute students Olivia Brown, of San Diego, Calif., and Bailey Basham, of Mt. Washington, Ky., write notes during a lecture on reporting fundamentals in Franklin Hall, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Employees Ava Flourini and Calvin Montgomery run towards the Noodles and Company entrance before their shift during a heavy downpour, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, on Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington, Ind. The weather was a result of remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which struck parts of southern North America earlier in the week. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

A man stands under a canopy in front of a Noodles and Company restaurant during a thunderstorm, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, on Kirkwood Avenue in Bloomington, Ind. The weather was a result of remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which struck parts of southern North America earlier in the week. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University Media School Senior Lecturer Steve Layton gives a lecture on design principles to students of the High School Journalism Institute, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Franklin Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Layton was formerly Graphics Editor and Senior Artist at the Chicago Tribune for 16 years. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Kim Wright and her son Felix Wright, 8, of Bloomfield, Ind., eat ice cream atop the Bench in the Shape of Opposing Wings limestone sculpture at Peoples Park, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. The Wrights have a tradition of visiting Bloomington to see the library and enjoy ice cream in the park. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Juniper Wright, 6, of Bloomfield, Ind., plays with her mother using a waffle cone atop the Bench in the Shape of Opposing Wings limestone sculpture at Peoples Park, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Bloomington, Ind. Wright along with her mother and brother have a tradition of visiting Bloomington to see the library and enjoy ice cream in the park. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University High School Journalism Institute student Rihana van Houtte-Read reacts while playing a card game with classmates, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Spruce Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Students at HSJI work on their journalism skills while enjoying university life, including leisure activities in the evening. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University High School Journalism Institute students Stefanie Noyer and Anda Paraschivu react while playing a card game with classmates, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Spruce Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Students at HSJI work on their journalism skills while enjoying university life, including leisure activities in the evening. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University High School Journalism Institute student Caelyn Lenardo wears a newly made friendship bracelet, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at Spruce Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Counselors set up the activity for students to make bracelets in the lobby of the residence hall. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

Indiana University Deputy Director of Storytelling Marah Yankey, right, speaks with High School Journalism Institute Director Teresa White in front of an HSJI student audience Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Franklin Hall in Bloomington, Ind. Yankey and White discussed tips and best practices for high school journalists. (Vincent Hsiao/HSJI)

JEA Fall 2024 National Student Media Contests: Superior Sports Action Photography (set, Rambler 2025)

This set of three sports photos shows my ability to produce consistent, professional-level, journalistic content within a short period of time. These sporting contests occurred within 10 days of each other and I was able to pull the best from each, getting usable shots in difficult lighting conditions (dark football, fast-occurring field hockey sunset, midday sun soccer) and writing informative, telling captions for each. That's typically not the easiest to do when the school year just started and the contest deadline for the fall convention is early. Also, the technical excellence is thanks to buying older pro gear at deep discounts used, a reminder that merit is not merely reserved for those who can afford it.

Ladue quarterback Jack Hensley (11) winds up for a pass as running back Marco Tipton (10) fakes the handoff during the varsity football season-opener against Troy Buchanan High School, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Troy, Mo. The Troy Buchanan Trojans beat the Ladue Rams 48-20.

Ladue's Zoe Tenenbaum (12) navigates the ball past Nerinx Hall's Mary Kate Bryan during a field hockey match in the Gateway Tournament at Sportport Athletic Complex, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Maryland Heights, Mo. The Ladue Rams topped the Nerinx Hall Markers 6-2 and later won their tournament pool.

Ladue's Eli O'Neal (12) chests the ball as Jeha Hwang (11) runs in for defense during a soccer game against the Timberland Wolves, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Ladue Horton Watkins High School in Ladue, Missouri. The Wolves won over the Ladue Rams 2-1 in overtime penalty kicks, ending their 3-game win streak.

P.S. During the NSMC two-hour critique session in Philadelphia, the judges had me stand up in front of everyone and explain my editing choices, especially the fact that I cropped in tightly, but not too much, on each one. Other entries in my category had not been as intentional with the crop as mine.

Song Surfer (Rambler 2025)

This moment happened fast. At the homecoming dance, my swim & dive teammate Luther was suddenly lifted above the crowd, something which usually happens once every dance, but only once. It’s rare, it’s hard to time and frame up quickly. From an elevated position on the stage, I used bounce flash to easily freeze the action while keeping the crowded atmosphere intact. I then interviewed him for a quote and wrote an AP-style caption that adds context about the full homecoming week’s events, not just what’s visible in the single. This frame is a reminder that student life photography is equal parts anticipation and accuracy.

NSPA Fall 2024 Best of Show: First Place Feature Photo

MIJA JDay 2025: Best of Show Student Life Photography

Luther Ciorba (9) is lifted up by fellow dancegoers during the homecoming dance in the multipurpose room Sept. 28, 2024. The dance was the finale of homecoming week festivities, which included themed spirit days, the annual powderpuff game, a morning TV pep rally and Friday night football. “A lot of the people who threw me up are just seniors I didn’t really even know,” Ciorba said. “Some were my friends, but it was just surprising and really fun.”

Out of Water (Panorama, September 2023)

I wanted a swimmer-level perspective rather than the typical angle from the stands or deck, so I was practicing the setup at multiple previous meets until I could execute it quickly and safely. For this in particular, I laid my camera flat on the pool deck and used the tilt screen to compose while trusting — not babying — my gear to handle the splashes. The technical details are superb: sharp focus, clean exposure and a peak moment that explains the athlete’s power and form. The final outcome works because it’s specific — breath, posture and water texture all reinforce the intensity of a sporting competition — while still interpreted clearly as a single.

NSPA Fall 2023 Clips & Clicks: First Place Sports Photography

Daniel Garza (12) swims the 100-yard breaststroke during the first meet of the season at Clayton High School, Aug. 31, 2023. Garza swam a first-place 1:02.50 in the event, seconds short from his 59.95 school record achieved at the 2022 Ladue Invite. The Rams beat the Greyhounds 95-87.

All Smiles (Rambler 2024)

This photo came from access and trust: a few players knew me as the photographer, so I was allowed into the dugout where the story wasn’t just the game, it was the relationships. After the final out, the celebration of their first win unfolded quickly, and late-summer golden hour light hit at exactly the right angle, lighting faces and hands with depth. I focused on the expressions to keep it human and readable as a single. Even without action, it’s still sports journalism: emotion and a sense of community, captured honestly, without staging and strong enough to stand alone.

NSPA Fall 2023 Clips & Clicks: Honorable Mention Sports Photography

MIJA JDay 2024: All Missouri Sports Feature/Reaction Photo

St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize 2024: Best Sports Feature

As featured in the NSPA 2024 Photojournalist of the Year first-place portfolio.

Ladue softball players Marisa Schreiner (10), Arden Busker (12), Emme Shapiro (9) and Camryn Miller (12) celebrate in the dugout after victory over Clayton 18-9, Aug. 29, 2023 at Clayton High School.

Living through Lu Lu’s (Panorama Food Issue, October 2023)

I spent a Saturday afternoon in University City with two writers to report and photograph a restaurant feature. While they interviewed the owner and his nephew, I looked around for a frame that could carry both place and personality. The flamboyant mural in the back of the dining room became the solution — instant context, but not a distraction — so the environmental portrait could feel lived-in rather than staged. My role was to deliver a photo that the writers’ reporting could fit in, and the collaboration shaped every part of the final shot: where we stood, what angle felt respectful and how to keep the image flexible for layout. This story especially resonated with me as it was a restaurant I always went to with my family when I was young, and now I could work with them as a journalist.

St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize 2024: Honorable Mention Portrait

As featured in the NSPA 2024 Photojournalist of the Year first-place portfolio.

Co-owner Jerry Li stands next to his nephew Edison Lu (11) in their family-owned restaurant Lu Lu Seafood and Dim Sum in University City, Mo. Oct. 7, 2023. The two spend nearly everyday together greeting customers, serving their famous Cantonese food and maintaining the restaurant. "The restaurant is a family business," Lu said. "The whole family is working together and contributing their skills to keep the restaurant alive."

Snow Prince (Rambler 2024)

Yet another dance photo that shows my ability to work in low light and improve upon my previous work. Shooting with my camera above my head "hail mary" is my signature move that classmates know me for especially at school dances. It allows me to get right into the moshing crowd while capturing an appealing and unique angle. This time, I intentionally "dragged" the shutter with bounce flash to include more of the ambient lighting and achieve a "dreamy" look with the blur effect while maintaining sharpness on the subject. It's a great example of how I can push creative boundaries to convey emotion while not crossing the line into unethical photo editing.

Quill & Scroll WPM 2024: First Place Breaking News Photography

As featured in the NSPA 2024 Photojournalist of the Year first-place portfolio.

Aaron Lin (10) is lifted up by fellow dancegoers after being named the first ever Snow Prince at the annual UNICEF Snowball dance at Ladue High School Jan. 27, 2024. Tenny Dibooglu (12) was named king, Sophi Strayhorn (10) was named princess and Rory Lustberg (12) as queen.

Splashing Records (Panorama, February 2024)

I travelled out to Columbia to cover the invitational swim meet at Mizzou while it was in the middle of winter and below freezing. Luckily indoor pools are always humid. The team had several great feats I was there to capture. Looking at all my time in high school participating in and covering swim & dive, these moments are rare. I also documented this moment with a GoPro atop my camera and posted it on X (see Social), so you can see that the peak emotions are only there for so long. I focused on narrowing the crop on an already close-up photo to really drive home the emotion.

Quill & Scroll WPM 2024: First Place Sports Reaction Photography

As featured in the NSPA 2024 Photojournalist of the Year first-place portfolio.

See Design for additional context on this photo and its photo story

Lily Ta (11), center, embraces Lily Hsieh (12), in celebration as MJ Bezzant (12) reacts after the 200-yard medley relay during the COMO Invitational finals at Mizzou Jan. 20, 2024. The squad of Hsieh, Bezzant, Ta and Meg Willmann (11) had just swam a 1:50.50, good for third place in the statewide mid-season meet but breaking Ladue’s 2019 school record of 1:51.07. The relay ranked first in Missouri Class 1 teams from this performance. “It was like a fantasy coming true,” Ta said. “My freshman year I had a picture taken next to the record board and Gentry, the old coach Hap, was like, ‘Oh, you’re gonna get your name on that wall one day,’ and that had actually happened.”

Mastermind (ID Magazine, Fall 2024)

This portrait began with a question: how do you visually suggest “strategic” without being too cheesy? After talking with the writer, we leaned into an ominous, “mastermind” (the story's title) mood and I executed it in just a few frames — 45-degree key light, rim light for depth, deliberate focused expression, and a controlled low-key exposure environment that fit the page well. It’s also a workflow example: collaborate on concept, shoot efficiently, deliver fast so the designer isn’t waiting.

JEA Spring 2025 National Student Media Contests: Superior Portrait

Quill & Scroll WVM 2025: Third Place Profile Portrait Photography

Walsworth Photo Contest 2025: Feature or Portrait Winner.

See Commitment to Diversity for published ID example

Alex Zhang sits before a chess board for a portrait, Oct. 16, 2024, at Ladue High School. Zhang, a member of Ladue’s chess team that has won five consecutive state championships, is ranked among the top 50 nationally in his age group. “I hope to make it into World Youth and represent the U.S. team, or reach the Fide Master title,” Zhang said.

Triple Threat (Panorama Nature Issue, November 2024)

This portrait is evidence of my studio look in the real world, my signature style I’ve enclosed in most of my photo stories. I hit a creative block until I thought about the subject’s boathouse, then I was astonished at the golden-hour light pouring through the translucent garage windows. I placed the subject where there was less ambient light, then added off-camera flash to have him stand out in the image. The environment matters: it supports the story of an athlete whose identity spans rowing and triathlons. On the reporting side, I verified the specific details I used in captions (team affiliation, performance history) so the copy was as rigorous as the visual.

Quill & Scroll WVM 2025: First Place Profile Portrait Photography

NSPA Fall 2024 Clips and Clicks: Third Place Feature Photo

NSPA Fall 2025 Best of Show: Honorable Mention Environmental Portrait

St. Louis Public Radio Teen Photojournalist Prize 2025: Best Portrait

Karan Vatwani (12) stands with his bike in the St. Louis Rowing Club boathouse Oct. 20, 2024 at Creve Coeur Lake in Maryland Heights. Vatwani is a member of the Wheelhouse Racing Team, participating in several triathlons each year that consist of long-distance swimming, cycling and running. He competed at the USA Triathlon Olympic Distance National Championship in Atlantic City, New Jersey in September, which qualified him for the 2025 World Triathlon Championships Finals in Australia. A rower since his freshman year, Vatwani began training for triathlons with his friends over summer break in 2023. “It started out as just kind of something to do for fun,” Vatwani said. “I just decided it’s something I should pick up over the summer when I’m not rowing or biking.”

Murphy’s Music (Panorama, September 2023)

This portrait was about being straightforward. I chose available lighting instead of my common off-camera flash because the theater already had the mood the story needed. I staged the subject simply, let the light do the work and focused on clarity. The result? A practical, honest image that supports the writing rather than competing with it. The caption includes a quote and a short detail about her origin that gives readers something beyond the pose. Why I included this single on this portfolio is range: not every strong photo needs a full setup; sometimes the best move is recognizing when what’s already there is enough.

MIJA JDay 2024: All Missouri Portrait Photography

Norah Murphy (10) stands with her guitar in the theater Sept. 21, 2023. Murphy started playing guitar and writing songs in fourth grade. “I started because I’ve always wanted to do it after singing songs," Murphy said. "It’s just been better now because I think I’m getting better at it."

Solo Symphony (Panorama Photo Issue, January 2023)

This was my first photo story using off-camera flash, and the hardest part was confidence. Choosing an editorial concept, committing to it and still staying accurate as a journalist. Because shooting at the subject’s home was not feasible, I looked for a clean, modern space at school and built a portrait that feels intentional. I recorded and transcribed an interview, then wrote captions with background details and a quote, treating the copy as reporting, and visuals as journalistic aesthetic. The final images represent a turning point: I learned that good lighting doesn’t mean much if the story isn’t specific, contextual and responsibly told.

MIJA JDay 2023: Best of Show Portrait Photography

Music has always been a thing for junior Micky Chyu. One would see that when she is playing her violin. Along with being in the chamber orchestra at Ladue, Chyu is co-concertmaster in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and partakes in a quartet at the Webster Community Music School. Besides being a violinist, Chyu plays guitar and sings in Ladue's a capella group, Viva Voce. When Chyu was 6 years old, she grew a curiosity watching videos of people playing the violin and wanted to try something new. Today, Chyu devotes hours every day to practicing her skill, even with extracurriculars and homework in the way. Her teacher and friends keep her motivated. "It's really how much you practice that defines how good you are," Chyu said. "I would say focus on your technique, but also try and make sure that you're really getting the point and make sure that you're having fun with it."

Just Go With It (Rambler 2022)

This was one of my earliest high school career highlights. I was still learning bounce flash in a very dark dance space with the only ambient source being the DJ lights, and a good majority of frames from that night weren’t usable. This one most definitely was. It captures the emotion of the room — movement, joy and the “all eyes on me” vibe of being in the circle — without needing multiple images to explain it. Editing was minimal because the frame already had what a single needs: sharp subject, readable expression and enough environment to feel real. For me, this is a reminder of my early successes (and struggles). I know that I was always persisting at my craft.

NSPA Fall 2022 Clips & Clicks: First Place News Photo

MIJA JDay 2023: Best of Show News Photo

Freshman Will Plassmeyer smiles as he makes dance moves in a circle of students at Ladue High School's homecoming dance Oct. 15, 2022. Students moshed to the loud party music as flashing DJ lights moved across the school's multipurpose room. "We were at homecoming, they played a good song, everyone made the circle in the middle, and my friend Owen Prange, freshman, pushed me in the middle and I didn't know what to do so I just started dancing," Plassmeyer said.

See Commitment to Diversity for additional, strong documentary photojournalism more closely pertaining to that area.

See Design for photo stories presented in their full context. Besides artifacts published in the yearbook, singles above have links to their original context.

See Reporting and Writing for documentary photojournalism employed in my reporting on a recent ICE walkout.

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