Through Our Eyes-04/11/17
**This past Tuesday, WKU students skyped with members of RIT’s NPPA student chapter and exchanged photos for a joint critique session. WKU students discussed and selected the best photos from RIT. They did the same with us. Check out what RIT selected as their top photos from this past week! A big thanks to RIT for making the collaboration happen!
Through Our Eyes-03/28/17
WKUPJ Wins 23rd Overall Photojournalism in the Hearst Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition
WKUPJ Wins Overall in Hearst Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition.
Hearst Journalism Awards program recognized Western Kentucky University as the overall winner in their Intercollegiate Photojournalism Competition. This marks the 23rd year that Western as won First Place overall in the prestigious competition.
To win overall in Photojournalism students competed in two competitions, News and Features, and in Picture Story/Series.
In the first competition two students from WKUPJ could enter up to 8 images each. Senior Harrison Hill won 1st place and Sophomore Gabriel Scarlett took 2nd place with their collection of images.
The second competition was Picture Story/Series with Junior Srijita Chattopadhyay taking first place for her story about a mother’s struggle with the loss of her 12-year-old daughter who died from an overdose brought on by bullying at school. Freshman Lydia Schweickart placed 10th in the competition with her story about a mom starting her career as an exotic dancer to support her family after her fiancee lost his job.
Congratulations to our students who competed, along with the rest of our students who push to make our program a success every year. As the WKUPJ family we inspire and challenge each other to do better and in turn we all are a part of our fellow student’s success.
Stitched Past by Sawyer Smith
Stitched Past
WKUPJ student Sawyer Smith examines the impact of the social enterprise company Krochet Kids who’s mission is to empower women to move out of poverty through education and work.
Sawyer traveled to Lima, Peru to document their program in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods.
View her project here: https://sawyersmith.atavist.com/stitched_past
On Poisoned Land by Gabriel Scarlett
On Poisoned Land
How the Navajo still suffer from a country’s flirtation with nuclear war.
WKUPJ student Gabriel Scarlett examines the effects from decades of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation’s health, water and environment. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, “Nearly four million tons of uranium ore were extracted from 1944 to 1986; left behind were more than 500 abandoned uranium mines, four inactive uranium milling sites, a former dump site, and the widespread contamination of land and water. Only recently has the government attempted to assess and mitigate this contamination, but full reclamation of the land is unlikely.”
To see more about the in-depth project visit: https://gabrielstephenscarle.atavist.com/on-poisoned-land
Begay with two of her sons, Lewis and Leonard, who died of cancers at 25 and 42, respectively. She counts at least a dozen of her close relatives who she believes died of exposure in or around the mines.
“Do you want me to show you where I dreamt of the water running?” Desaire Gaddy muses. “All through here, just blue water and dolphins.”
The Way We Love by Lauren Nolan
The Way We Love
Love may be the only experience we all share. It makes us human. It’s part of our story. Love brings us to the extreme ends of the spectrum of human emotion, from feelings of overwhelming joy to unparalleled heartbreak. But what does real love look like?
The Way We Love is a documentary and multimedia package by WKUPJ Senior Lauren Nolan, exploring how we love in the modern world.
Experience the entire piece at http://thewaywe.love
https://vimeo.com/189903404
Through Our Eyes-02/14/17
Love You Forever
Love You Forever
WKUPJ Student Srijita Chattopadhyay documents Melanie Hack’s struggle to carry on following the death of her 12-year-old daughter Reagan, who died from an overdose of prescription pills. “I am tied of everybody hating me.” were Reagan’s last words to her mother, who learned Reagan had been a victim of bullying.
Decision to Dance
Decision to Dance
Photographs by Lydia Schweickart
The decisions people make for family is the subject of a photo story by WKU student Lydia Schweickart, who documented the double life of mother and exotic dancer Rachael, a.k.a. Nicole. After Rachael’s fiancé was laid off from his job she started supporting the family by dancing at Tattle Tale’s Gentleman’s Club, bringing home more in one night what than her fiancé’ brought home in two weeks. Now that he has found another job and Rachel is expecting another child, she has decided to quit, after her doctor banned her from doing extreme activities.