Durham Herald Sun Photog

I’m so happy to finally have time to write on here, I’ve been reading the posts but have been too slammed to do one myself! I’m working two jobs this summer, one paid and one unpaid, and it keeps me busy but I love them.

First I work for the foreign language department on campus specifically with the Spanish and Chinese language immersion programs. A small group of students are learning the first and second level of their selected language during the first summer session by living with their classmates and experiencing cultural events to fully ‘immerse’ themselves in the language. I get to hang out with these students and document their experience, and eating all the Spanish food is an added bonus!

My main internship, unpaid, is working as a photographer with the Durham Herald Sun Newspaper, and it’s a dream job! I didn’t know what to expect coming into this, I wasn’t sure how many assignments I would get to do on my own, if I would be shadowing someone all the time or if I’d be on my own. After shadowing staff photographers for a few assignments I started going out on my own and have now been published 18 times in the newspaper and also on the website for online articles.

The thing I love most about the internship is that I get to do new things every day, I meet new people and I have learned a lot about Durham, specifically how to get around. I do a lot of driving, not far, but I’ve become very familiar with the freeway. One of the assignments I shadowed was at the Durham Bulls Ball Park which has probably been my favorite shoot yet. My photos were not used it was just a learning experience, but I got to sit up in the Press Box and eat free food. I got to watch the game and move around from first to third base with my giant 300 mm sports lens, that weighs about 40 pounds, and a monopod. I got to go up top behind the outfield and watch from the upper deck which was really cool. Mostly it's summertime, it was a baseball game, and I think it was just nice to go to have some fun.

Another perk is having front page status, on my first day I ended up on the front page of the newspaper which is a great feeling. I have been on the front a few times, had a few Metro section stand alones, and been able to meet a lot of great people some of whom have written emails or cards to thank me.

Some of the learning experiences have been for the best, but I've arrived at an assignment only to realize I forgot the battery to my camera in the office, and then locked my keys in my car, gotten lost, but it has all worked out. One of the staff photographers assured me similar things happened to her during her first internship which is comforting, but none the less I suggest everyone have AAA, they are a life saver.

I work about 50 hour weeks between the two jobs, and I am taking JOMC 221 in the mornings so I'm busy but so far it’s going really well. I shot 2 graduations today, but I do such a variety of assignments. Tomorrow I have a family fun day at Duke Gardens and then a golf tournament; I never know where I’ll end up!