3 minute read
Shooting into the future
Student's $10,000 photography scholarship will help further his already bright career
Paula Duran / Roundup
Opportunities are there for you. You just need to look for them.
Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez, 23, is a Pierce College student who won a $10,000 scholarship from Nikon in October at the Eddie Adams Workshop, also know as “Barnstorm,” in New York.
Gonzalez was born to Mexican parents and raised in the San Fernando Valley.
He graduated with honors in 2004 from San Fernando High School, “a public school in one of the nation’s largest school districts Los Angeles Unified and one of the lowest performing schools in the country,” according to Gonzalez.
Nikon’s involvement with this workshop is to support hundreds of the world’s most promising young photojournalists through sponsorship, and award a $10,000 scholarship to the top student during the workshop.
The judges select a student based on the work that is presented at the workshop. Whoever wins the money must use it for education in the photography field.
“We all shared a common bond and that was sharing our stories through photographs,” said Gonzalez. “Best words wisdom from my team leaders were to have fun and to fail. By failing we get to learn.”
He said the workshop changed the way he looks at stories and photography.
“I learned that most of them had to fail and pay their dues before they were able to get out there and do the stories they connected with.”
The workshop is a four day, tuition-free, invitation-only event. Among those invited are photographers who’s portfolios were selected by the Eddie Adams Workshop Board of Directors.
His love for photography goes back to when he was in school. He began to be interested in multimedia and photography with the help of a technology program that help under privileged schools become more involve with technology, math, and science.
Then, with the help of a freelance photographer, Gonzalez started getting more involved in the field. The next thing he knew, he was traveling the world shooting congregational retreats of young corporate presidents in China, Dubai, Barcelona, and Buenos Aires.
Through the same person, he got to know his current editor and gallery curator. Gonzalez started covering certain assignments for Agencia EFE, a Spain- based news service similar to the Associated Press.
He has been able to cover major news events for Agencia EFE as a freelancer and in his free time experimenting with Final Cut Pro and “getting a head start into the world of multimedia.”
Gonzalez spent three semesters working for the Roundup Newspaper and two with the Bull Magazine.
During that time, he went to the regional and state Journalism Association of Coomunity Colleges (JACC) competitions, and received awards at both. Currently, he is waiting to finish his photojournalism associates degree from Pierce College and then plans to transfer to San Francisco State.
He said that he will still freelance news, sports, and entertainments assignments, and has “hopes of one day being able to have some steady clients and shooting stories that deserve a voice.”
