The Daily Utah Chronicle
University of Utah’s student newspaper
As a student at the University of Utah, I worked as a photojournalist for The Daily Utah Chronicle. I learned so much with each story, which allowed me to gain experience capturing virtually any potential news topic visually, both online and in print. A highlight of my time at the student newspaper was being one of the few sent out of state on an assignment as a student photojournalist. The experience of flying to California to cover a Division One college football game at the historic Coliseum gave me a crash course in learning how to survive and overcome challenging situations. Most of my assignments have been University of Utah sports, with highlights being the Pac 12 Championship and Regional Championship Gymnastic Meets at the Maverick Center in 2021. I made it a goal to gain experience covering every sport possible. When hockey wasn’t an option, I reached out and opened the opportunity for myself to cover the Utah Grizzlies of the ECHL.
University of Utah: Men’s College Basketball
The first sporting event I ever covered was a University of Utah vs. Stanford basketball game in January 2021. There were many challenges, from using an unfamiliar and unideal camera to this being the height of COVID restrictions. Media was limited to the seating area and was not allowed on the floor. On the one hand, this created unique shots from different angles, as in the case of the Timmy Allen photo on the right. This assignment was the foundation for all others as I learned what it meant to be a photojournalist.
Garth Brooks Concert at Rice-Eccles Stadium
Although not my first concert as a photographer, the first was a Beatles tribute concert at the Maverik Center; this was undoubtedly the first significant act that I had the opportunity to photograph. The iconic figure of the 90s that I grew up with and later graduated from the same university he did, Garth Brooks, carries some added meaning and connection for me. The event was a whirlwind of getting led from room to room with tightly controlled rules, including not being allowed to see the stage until the concert started. At one point, all of the media photographers were stuck in the cheerleader’s locker room for two hours as the line of traffic getting to the stadium was so backed up that the concert start time was delayed. From there, I was only allowed to photograph from the sound booth area and only from the second half of the first song and the first half of the second song. After that, all photographers were then escorted out of the stadium.
University of Utah Vs. The University of Southern California at the Colesium in Fall 2021
Not every day, a student photojournalist gets flown out of state for two days to cover a college football game, but that’s what happened. This was the first assignment where I had to pack all my gear and head to a foreign environment where I had no idea what to expect or what would happen. I also found out the day that I would be doing an Instagram takeover during the game. With all of that and a busted shoulder that was popping in and out of place, this game was one of taking the lumps as they come and learning how to adapt. This was arguably the most fun I had ever had covering a sporting event. For the U football team, this was a pivotal turning point as this was seen as a coming-together moment that propelled them to win the PAC 12 Title and a trip to the Rose Bowl that year. Above everything else, the Colesium is a historic stadium I feel lucky to have visited.
Days of 47 Rodeo: Summer 2021
Every year, Utah plays host to the Days of 47 Rodeo. The event is a premium one on the Professional Bull Rider (PBR) schedule and features many high-ranking competitors from multiple countries. I had never photographed a rodeo prior to this event but had been to numerous ones growing up in Houston, Texas. The three-night event was nothing if not eventful, with the weather having a monsoon-like appearance forcing everyone under the seating area at the Utah State Fair Park on one of the nights. The show continued after that, with mud flying everywhere, including on my camera gear.
