From Layoff to Liftoff - Starting a New Chapter

I’m not convinced everything has to end, but something good recently did: my full-time producer role. It’s bittersweet — bitter because I loved it, sweet because I know change creates opportunity.

The past two and a half years in Miami were a ride! Leading a stellar production team, we crafted over 300 segments for my show — engaging content that hit screens in airports globally. If you’ve traveled lately, you’ve likely seen our work. What made it special wasn’t just the output but the people: a selfless crew and incredible talent who brought passion to every frame. I’m proud of what we accomplished together.

For me, ReachTV was a proving ground. I channeled everything I’d learned — writing, directing, cinematography, audio, editing, working with talent — into leadership. I wore multiple hats, often by choice, to shape stories that mattered. That experience sharpened my skills and perspective, and I’ll carry it forward.

Working at the ReachTV Miami Office - 2024

Crew photo after filming a full episode of The Business Traveler Show. From left, Johanan Benavides (Cinematographer), Gina Dearing (Hair and Makeup), Johanna Gomez (Host), Myself (Producer), Yecid Benavides Jr. (Sound).

Getting ready to film an episode of The Business Traveler Show.

Capturing BTS photography alongside Georgi Hernandez (Director of Photography) while filming a segment in Los Angeles.

Having fun after finishing a segment about champagne!

Stepping in as an audio technician on location.

Gratitude sums it up. Not every role lets you collaborate with such a gifted team or create at that scale. Now, I’m a producer with a little extra runway. It’s daunting, no doubt, but I’m also very excited. I’m a storyteller at heart, and I’m eager to partner with others to bring their visions to life— any medium, any challenge.

Here’s the kicker: the day I got laid off, a project I’d been working on went live. Life’s timing is wild. It’s a reminder of why I love this work — and what’s still ahead. You can see that project here:

Celebrating World Football Day

Celebrating the Inaugural World Football Day with a Special Photo Gallery

In honor of the first-ever World Football Day, I've curated a photo gallery featuring 32 images that capture the essence and joy of football from various moments and places.

What is World Football Day?

World Football Day, celebrated on May 25, was officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024. This day commemorates the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament held in Paris during the 1924 Summer Olympic Games. The day aims to recognize football's role in promoting peace, social inclusion, and gender equality, highlighting its powerful impact across the globe.

About the Photo Gallery

These images were captured over a few years and span different events and locations, presented in the following order:

  • Inter Miami CF Game (2021): The excitement and passion of professional football in Miami.

  • PSG Practice (2017): Training sessions capturing the precision and dedication of Paris Saint-Germain players.

  • Syracuse Elite 8 Tournament (2015): Syracuse's thrilling win and the emotions of competitive college football.

  • Camaguey, Cuba (2017): A lively pickup game that shows the universal love for football.

  • PSG vs. Juventus (2017): Intense action from the International Champions Cup match.

  • Barcelona and Madrid Practice (2017): Training sessions for the highly anticipated "El Clásico" at Hard Rock Stadium.

  • Miami FC vs. Atlanta United (2017): Highlights from their 2017 US Open Cup match.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos during practice at Hard Rock Stadium in 2017.

From the streets of Cuba to the professional stadiums in Miami, these moments celebrate the spirit and diversity of the beautiful game, reflecting the unifying power of O Jogo Bonito.

It All Comes Full Circle

A few years ago, I found myself at Magic City Casino Fronton, ready to photograph the electrifying world of Jai Alai for an ESPN story. I was very excited as it was a very Miami story that dealt with a sport deeply intertwined with the city's cultural fabric. Jai Alai, with its roots traced back to Spain's Basque region, was a vibrant part of Miami's history from the 1920s to the early 90s when the public's interest in the sport started to wane. At the time of the story in 2021, we covered the resurgence of the sport in Miami after it received a boost in 2018 with new branding, recruitment of players that could connect with a U.S. audience, and a new playing format.

World Jai-Alai League players are introduced before the start of the games at the Magic City Fronton on May 8th, 2021.

That story was special because it was my first assignment for ESPN, and it was a local story with a national impact. The images captured players passionate about reviving Jai Alai's legacy in Miami, infusing it with fresh energy and ambition.

Recently, I had a full-circle moment that brought me back to Magic City Fronton, but this time in a different capacity. As a TV producer at ReachTV, I had the opportunity to craft a show segment on Jai Alai. It was a continuation of the same narrative but now told through a different medium, leveraging a new set of skills and experiences I've acquired over the years.

A Look Back: The Photography Assignment

A Jai Alai ball, known as a pelota, can travel at incredibly high speeds, often exceeding 150 miles per hour. On the technical side, this meant I had to have fast lenses (usually f/2.8 when talking about zoom lenses) that would allow me to stop the action. However, it was very dark inside the Magic City Fronton for photographic purposes, so I also had to increase my ISO to increase my shutter speeds. Finding a balance between trying to stop the action and maintaining a relatively clean image without too much grain (which happens when ISO levels are too high) was a challenge. Ultimately, I compromised around f/2.8, 1/640, ISO 5000 for most of the images.

For the frames that happened before and after the games (the pre-game preparation, player interactions, and portraits), I used prime lenses that allowed me to open up my aperture a bit more as those settings outside of the fronton (a Jai-Alai court). My kit included: two Sony camera bodies, a 24-70, a 70-200, a 35mm, and an 85mm.

On the narrative side, my goal was to show the uniqueness of this sport. I wanted to capture the behind-the-scenes of how players prepared, the different actions of the game, and the overall energy at the fronton.

Coming Full Circle: The TV Segment

Returning to Magic City Casino, this time as a producer, I was there to capture moments and weave them into a dynamic visual story that would engage and inform our viewers. It was great to see that in three years, the league had made substantial progress in revamping the sport in South Florida. As you'll see in the segment, there are now well-known owners of various teams (including Ray Lewis and Udonis Haslem), it's a complete experience during game nights, and it's still the fast-paced, entertaining game it has been for the past 100 years.

Since this was for The Business Traveler Show, the segment focused on the business side of the operation. We sat down with Scott Savin, COO of the World Jai Alai League, to discuss this revamp and his hopes for the league's future.

The first Jai-Alai fronton to open in Miami was in 1924. Since then, Jai-Alai has had its ups and downs in the magic city but now, 100 years later, a change in format and new ownership groups have revitalized the sport locally.

We visited them on opening night, where World Jai-Alai League COO Scott Savin, and several owners, talked about this revamp and what they hope for the future.

Credits: Johanna Gomez, Host. Bryan Cereijo, Series Producer. Georgi Hernandez, Director of Photography. Yecid Benavides, Audio. Carlos Fuentes, Head of Post. Johanan Benavides, Segment Editor.

Producing a TV segment is different from photographing for an assignment. It involves coordinating interviews, directing camera crews, and ensuring the story flows seamlessly from start to finish in the post-production process. Instead of focusing solely on capturing the story through frames, as a producer, I booked interviews, crafted questions, prepped the host, and collaborated closely with the film crew to ensure a smooth filming process. Despite the shift in skill sets, the ultimate goal remains to produce a compelling visual narrative that engages and captivates audiences.

Sharing these experiences through this blog is more than just a retrospective; it's a celebration of the journey and the growth it brings. Here's to many more full-circle moments and the limitless potential that lies ahead.

Month in Review - Best of July, 2019

For the past 10 weeks, I’ve had the privilege of working with one of the best visuals staff in the country and I am extremely grateful. 

I want to thank my editor Scott Sharpe for giving me this awesome opportunity and for the guidance and support throughout the 10 weeks. 

I also want to thank the entire visuals staff: Julia Wall, Juli Leonard, Casey Toth, Travis Long, Ethan Hyman, Robert Willet and Kevin Keister for their mentorship and help throughout. I will miss this family!

Here is the work I produced during my last full month at The News & Observer:

UNC fencing coach Ron Miller expresses gratitude after 52 years at the helm

UNC-CH Fencing Head Coach Ron Miller poses for a portrait on June 27, 2019. Miller will be retiring after 52 years of coaching the UNC fencing team.

Video: Ron Miller, UNC’s fencing coach of 52 years, is officially retiring at the end of June. He’s the only coach North Carolina has ever had until now.

USA Baseball wins series with Cuba

Cuba national team manager Rey Anglada (center) talks with coaches Miguel Rojas Rodriguez (left) and Javier Galvez Cordova (right) before Cuba’s game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Cuban shortstop Jorge Enrique Aloma (9) warms up before Cuba’s game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Team USA players pass time in the dugout during a rain delay on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team was playing Cuba as part of the 8th Annual USA vs. Cuba International Friendship Series.

USA Baseball Collegiate National Team manager Dan McDonnell talks to his team before their game against Cuba on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Cuban third baseman Raul Gonzalez before Cuba's game against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

A multiple exposure image of cuban pitcher Yariel Rodriguez on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Rodriguez pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs.

USA Baseball Collegiate National Team left fielder Tanner Allen warms up before his at bat against the Cuban national baseball team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Cuban third baseman Raul Gonzalez looks towards his dugout after striking out against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Cuba national team coach Miguel Rojas Rodriguez poses for a portrait during a rain delay on July 4, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Cuban pitcher Frank Medina faces the USA Collegiate National team on July 6, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

Durham Bulls Athletic Park celebrated Fourth of July with fireworks after the game between the Cuban national baseball team and the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team on July 4, 2019.

Experience NC's first Trump rally of election season

Video: President Donald Trump made his first 2020 campaign stop in North Carolina on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Experience Greenville's first Trump rally of the election season.

The Thomas brothers are ready to make their mark with the Wolfpack

Video: NC State football wide receiver Thayer Thomas and linebacker Drake Thomas talk about their relationship and being able to play together for the Wolfpack. Video by Bryan Cereijo More from The News & Observer: Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2PqkZ1q Twitter: https://twitter.com/newsobserver Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsandobserver Website: https://www.newsobserver.com/ Digital news subscription: http://bit.ly/2OtBg1Q

Super heroes, cartoon characters, and pop culture figures make their way to Raleigh for GalaxyCon

Video: The four-day Raleigh GalaxyCon event brings fans together with TV show celebrities, costumed characters, fans of comics, superheroes, WWE stars and more worlds of pop culture.

Aaron Hampson stands outside the convention center as he gets ready for lunch after a morning of being dressed up as a Pokemon at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019.

Jim Sherman, at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019.

Jim Sherman, at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019.

Members of the Comic Con Clique pose for portraits at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 26, 2019. They were cosplaying as wrestlers on the first day of the event.

Dave Lewis, cosplaying as Batman, poses for a portrait at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 27, 2019.

Christian Carpenter, cosplaying as Deadpool, poses for a portrait at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC on July 27, 2019.


Experience Wake Forest's practice as it seeks to continue its winning ways

Video: Wake Forest High School has won 45 straight games and three consecutive NCHSAA 4AA titles. With a new group and the long streak adding some pressure, Reggie Lucas looks ahead to the 2019 season.

Month in Review - Best of June, 2019

It’s already been a month since I’ve been interning with the News & Observer and what a month it has been. Assignment work is fun yet challenging, especially when trying to find the balance between photo and video. Over the past month, I’ve really been trying to hone on my daily video skills, applying all that I have learned in the past year.

Every day is different and that’s what I enjoy the most. Here are some of my favorite videos and images from the month of June:

Beaver Queen Pageant

Video: This year’s Beaver Queen Pageant had a Damilton theme. That’s a play on Hamilton, the wildly popular musical, and dam, like beavers make. As usual, the fundraiser was marked by humor and outrageous costumes.

Young members of the crowd watch one of the acts at the 2019 Beaver Queen Pageant on June 1, 2019 in Durham Park.

2018 Beaver Queen, Flat Tail Fanny, walks through the crowd on June 1, 2019 at the 2019 Beaver Queen Pageant in Durham Park.

The Islamic Association of Raleigh celebrates Eid

Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh walk into prayer to celebrate the the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide on June 4, 2019.

Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting observed by Muslims worldwide on June 4, 2019.

Video: Members of the Islamic Association of Raleigh celebrated the end of Ramadan with over 8,000 people at the Exposition Center on the North Carolina Fairgrounds on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

Garner graduates return to roots

Video: Garner Magnet graduating seniors who attended the Timber Drive Elementary school returned for a student clap-out in which they were celebrated for their achievement.

'They call me the Walrus' says racquetball champion Brent Walters

Video: Raleigh’s Brent Walters holds the national record for most racquetball state open championship wins. Recently, at the men’s open singles national championship he won his 14th and 15th national titles.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson sets his sights on Tokyo 2020

Video: U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson trains to compete in the Angel City Games, an elite adaptive sports competition. This is one of a few events he will compete in as he prepares to qualify for the paralympic games in Tokyo in 2020.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson prepares for practice on June 6, 2019 in Raleigh, NC.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson warms up before his practice on June 6, 2019 in Raleigh, NC.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson poses for a portrait in Durham, NC on June 7, 2019.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson receives final instructions from his coach before his race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson regulates the pressure in his prosthetic leg before a race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson warms up before his race in Durham, NC on June 8, 2019.

U.S. Paralympian Desmond Jackson poses for a portrait in Durham, NC on June 7, 2019.

Flooding in Wake County

Ryan Brown, 43, crosses a submerged portion of Highway 96 in Zebulon Saturday afternoon after heavy rains caused flooding in northern Wake County.

On rehab assignments, two NY Yankees all-stars face the Durham Bulls

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge signs autographs after batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Judge was playing with the RailRiders on…

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge signs autographs after batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Judge was playing with the RailRiders on a rehab assignment.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton during batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC. Stanton was playing with the RailRiders on a rehab assignment.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge watches batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton walks out of the batter's box after completing batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton signs autographs after batting practice with the Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, on June 14, 2019 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, NC.

He went missing in Korea nearly 70 years ago. Now, a soldier’s body is finally home

Funeral Director Hubert D. Pope waits for the remains of Army Pfc. William H. Jones to arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950.

The U.S. Army Color Guard salutes as the remains of Army Pfc. William H. Jones arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950.

Army Pfc. William H. Jones remains arrive at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019. Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War on Nov 26, 1950. Several decades passed before his body was recovered after North Korea turned over 55 boxes containing the remains of American service members killed during the Korean War.

Family members of Army Pfc. William H. Jones commemorate him at RDU Airport in Raleigh, NC on June 20, 2019.

North Carolina Secretary of Veterans Affairs Larry Hall, Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray and members of the U.S. Army honor guard commemorate U.S. Army Private First Class William "Hoover" Jones at the North Carolina State Capitol on June 21, 2…

North Carolina Secretary of Veterans Affairs Larry Hall, Brigadier General Arnold Gordon-Bray and members of the U.S. Army honor guard commemorate U.S. Army Private First Class William "Hoover" Jones at the North Carolina State Capitol on June 21, 2019. In 1950, Jones went missing-in-action during the Korean War. Last year, North Korea turned over 55 boxes containing the remains of American soldiers. He was one of them.

A hope for reclamation and preservation at an old African-American cemetery in Durham

Video: The Friends of Geer Cemetery hosted a Reclamation Celebration at the Geer Cemetery and part of the event was dedicated to re-erecting a gravestone that was toppled and buried long ago.

Brothers on the Pitch

The Premiere

The FedEx Global Education Center welcomed over 300 attendees for the premiere of Uprooted. Photo Credit: Tenley Mae Garrett

Last night was special.

Four months of hard work culminated in a successful presentation of our project, Uprooted.

Over 300 members of our community came to campus to watch the live presentation of the short documentaries that told the stories of Venezuelan migrants in Medellín, Colombia. It was a surreal experience to see the impact the films had, and I’m grateful to have been a part of this amazing project.

The ‘Economy’ team. From left, journalist Brooklynn Cooper, visual storytellers Bryan Cereijo and Abby Cantrell, and designer Kailee Akers.

Celebrating after the premiere. Photo Credit: Alex Kormann

To the Vinotinto FC family, thank you so much for allowing us into your lives and sharing your story. The world now knows how special you all are.

Laurenti Velasquez and Alvaro Junior Cardenas of Vinotinto FC.

The Process

After filming for 10 days in Colombia, our team had a little over a month to edit the films together. We would share our radio cuts, scenes, assemblies, and rough cuts in class and give each other feedback. It was a long and tedious process, but it proved worthy.

Here’s what our final timeline looked like:

Scenes are coded by different colors, natural sounds make up the first three audio tracks, the interview audio makes up the fourth track, and the music bed is in the fifth and sixth track. Having this coordination is definitely helpful during the polishing phase.

While the video team worked on editing the short documentaries, the developers, writers, designers and photographers worked on making sure the website was coming together, the stories were polished, the interactive graphics were functioning, and the photo journey was edited.

The Final Product

And here is my team’s final video:

Most Venezuelans who have the fortune of making it to Colombia find the things that they lack in their home country: food, safety, employment and the list goes on. But sometimes, even when life’s basic necessities are fulfilled, you can still feel a void. This is the story of how an immigrant from Caracas filled his void through sport—and helped dozens of other Venezuelans fill theirs too in the process.

You can explore the rest of the project at http://uprooted.unc.edu - where you will find the four other documentaries, the written pieces, the interactive graphics, and the photojourney.

Eu Sambo Diferente

About a month ago, Brazilian artist Caique Vidal allowed me to document his busiest week of the year, as he prepared for his Carnaval show. Vidal, a native of Salvador da Bahia, is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music educator. He stays true to his Afro-Brazilian roots by creating samba-reggae music, which is also a way of staying connected to home despite being 3,000 miles away. For the past six years, he’s been promoting Brazilian culture in the Triangle area while trying to strengthen the community.

Getting Through Finals Month

It’s finals month and that means there are a few all-nighters coming my way. It means I am going to be under an immense amount of pressure to get done. It also means that by the end of it, I’m going to be a better visual storyteller.

So, while I am stressed, I also try to stay calm and positive to make sure I continue to work while enjoying the journey.

Earlier in the semester, my Branding of Me professor, Gary Kayye, gave us a book titled Rules of the Red Rubber Ball. It starts with the following quote by James Michener:

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. 

He hardly knows which is which. 

He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. 

To him he's always doing both.”

It’s become my favorite quote because it’s about pursuing your passion and enjoying what you’re doing while always striving for excellence. 

Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing news and work from this semester. 

Thank you all for following along and supporting.

Sunset as seen from the back of my truck during last weekend’s trail ride in Mebane, NC. I am currently working on a video/photo story with a cowboy club in North Carolina.

Sunset as seen from the back of my truck during last weekend’s trail ride in Mebane, NC. I am currently working on a video/photo story with a cowboy club in North Carolina.

Opening Day in Syracuse

It’s Opening Day for the Syracuse Mets - previously the Syracuse Chiefs - and on this #ThrowbackThursday, I want to share a photo story on Rafael Bautista that I photographed two years ago, as well as some of my favorite images from the 2017 season.

During my junior year at Syracuse University, I knew I wanted to work on a baseball story, but in Syracuse, we don’t have a Major League Baseball club. I started brainstorming story ideas and thought it would be interesting to document one of the players who was projected to be called up during the season.

I did some research before Opening Day and found that Dominican centerfielder Rafael Bautista was one of the top prospects expected to play in the big leagues during the season.

I reached out to the Syracuse Chiefs and they were very accommodating in allowing me to talk to Rafael and giving me a season pass to photograph as many games as I possibly could.

Rafael was awesome and he had a great season with the Chiefs. One day, he called me and lets me know that he was about to go to the mall to buy a suit in case he got the call. I picked up my camera to document the moment. Seven days later, he makes his debut for the Washington Nationals.

Starting this year, the Syracuse Chiefs are the Syracuse Mets - the Triple-A affiliate to the New York Mets. The Triple-A team for the Nationals is now the Fresno Grizzlies, where Rafael hopes to play after he recovers from a season ending injury that he sustained last year.

My time photographing Rafael and the Chiefs is one of my fondest memories of my time in Syracuse. The organization is all class, and I am so appreciative of the opportunity they gave me. 

Most importantly, I will always be grateful because they helped me surprise my dad with the throwing of the first pitch during one of the games. It was a special day.

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Thinking Like a Visual Storyteller: Seeing Light

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Back in October at the Eddie Adams Workshop, Visual Journalist Tom Kennedy gave a presentation in which he said, “photography is writing with light.” Though I knew light was the most important element in photography - because without light, there is no photo - I had never thought about it so poetically.

In the last year, I’ve been documenting light any time it catches my attention. This has made me appreciate it much more while also learning new and interesting ways in which it interacts with objects and people. 

To do this, I’ve been using one of my favorite Instagram features - Stories - where I am able to quickly share snapshots of light when I see them. Doing this over a period of time has helped me build a mental archive, allowing me to control light in my professional work.

I was recently talking to a professor who told me that what he appreciates most about photography is that it taught him how to see light, and in-turn appreciate the world in a different way.

Even if you’re not a visual storyteller, I would challenge you to start paying close attention to light everywhere. The intensity, the color, the shape it creates, how it interacts with the world. There is gratification in understanding this small part of life.

Here is my current light journal, which you can also find on my Instagram page:

The Return of My Favorite Sport

It’s Opening Day Weekend and I’m excited for the return of baseball. To commemorate, here is an ongoing portrait series that I started during the 2017 season:

During my internship at the Miami Herald, I photographed several Miami Marlins games. It was a lot of fun but also very repetitive, so I was constantly thinking of frames I could make throughout the season so that by the end, I could put together some sort of photo essay.

Earlier that year, I had worked on a story with Syracuse Chiefs (now the Syracuse Mets) Outfielder Rafael Bautista - The Major League Dream - where I had taken a portrait that I really liked. I thought about emulating it with visiting players - because access to Marlins players after practice was nearly impossible - and creating a series of portraits of players before the games.

Players were usually open to the idea once I explained it would take just a minute. It was fun, stress-free, and an awesome experience because I got to interact with some of my favorite favorite players. 

I was able to take about one portrait per game and finished the season with seven portraits. I’m looking forward to continuing this project every time I photograph a game!

Ten Days in Colombia

The past couple of weeks have been busy. There’s been filming, working on midterms, more filming, getting ready for Colombia, more filming, traveling to Colombia, more filming, and now I am finally back in the States. 

It’s taken me a couple of days to regroup - and I’m still working on it - but I’ve finally have been able to gather myself enough to sit down and write a bit about my experience.

Traveling to Medellín, Colombia with the Uprooted UNC group was an amazing experience. I’m grateful for this opportunity because it was inspiring and meaningful: we traveled, met awesome people, and documented important stories.

There were a lot of moments of reflection during the trip in which I just thought about how incredible it was that I was in another country, doing what I most care about, and working with my peers to shed light on the struggles that Venezuelans face when they are forced to flee their country.

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite moments and images from the trip as my peers and I start putting the entire project together for an April 23rd premiere date.

The view from Medellín’s recently inaugurated ‘Metrocable.’ The Miraflores station became the fifth gondola lift station in the city, making Medellín one of the cities with the best sustainable public transportation in the country.

The view from Medellín’s recently inaugurated ‘Metrocable.’ The Miraflores station became the fifth gondola lift station in the city, making Medellín one of the cities with the best sustainable public transportation in the country.

Docs in the Dome: Tales of the American South

Last semester, Nathan Klima and I produced two short docs in the span of four months on the American South. 

For our local story, we traveled to the nearby town of Siler City. The population of Siler City, North Carolina has increased by 20% since 2000. Along with the population growth, there’s been a demographic shift in which Hispanic residents now make up roughly 50% of the town. Fourteen years ago, Jose Juan started an independent soccer league, La Liga Sabatina de Siler City, which he organizes to this day. Soccer is now what unites this town in the American South.

For the second film, we traveled to East Atlanta, which has become one of the most significant regions for contemporary hip-hop music in the United States. We filmed rap duo Osei & Armani, from Bouldercrest Road, home to some of the most popular rappers to come out of Atlanta. In the short film, Osei & Armani reflect on the what it takes to be successful in the most popular music genre today.

Both films will be screened at Morehead Planetarium today at 6pm along with eight other films produced by our peers. At the end of the showing, we will host a Q&A where we will answer questions about the stories and production.

Hope to see you all there!

Also, go ‘Cuse!

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Portrait Preparedness

In January, I started working for Morehead Planetarium and Science Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. As a production assistant, I’m responsible for filming and editing promotional videos and assisting the creative department with research and editing for planetarium shows. But perhaps the coolest perk is being able to photograph some of the awesome people who come to visit.

On Friday, Astronaut Charlie Duke came to talk about the various Apollo missions he participated in, including the one that took him to the moon. General Duke is one of only 12 people to have walked on the moon and was the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for Apollo 11, the first moon landing. It was incredible to hear him talk about some of his experiences in person.

Because he was on a tight schedule, I did not have a lot of time to make a portrait. I thought about what I wanted it to look like and arrived early to set up. I knew it had to be simple because of the time constraints so I took my reliable and efficient Yongnuo YN360 light and had Sam - a gentleman who was working the event - help me out and stand in so I could have an idea of what my exposure would be. 

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Hurry up and wait.

About 10 minutes later, General Duke walked in and I quickly introduced myself, directed him to the spot where I wanted him to stand, and fired off six frames in 10 seconds.

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Mission Accomplished.

Professor Greg Heisler at Syracuse University always stressed the importance of working with intention, having an idea, and then being prepared. Though this was a simple setup and thankfully everything went seamlessly, this shows the importance of all these tips - especially in larger, complicated shoots.

Year Twenty-Two

I was talking to one of my mentors this past week about my recent struggles. He listened. Then he reminded me of what we do as storytellers - we seek to document and share stories. But what makes a good story?

In its most basic form, a good story includes a person who has a goal and overcomes struggle to achieve that goal. During the journey, there is change that comes from overcoming said struggle.

As Donald Miller says, “somehow we realize that great stories are told in conflict, but we are unwilling to embrace the potential greatness of the story we actually live in.”

Though we strive for a perfect life, not only is that something that is unachievable, but it’s also something that would cause us to plateau, to stop growing.

Year 22 was probably the most challenging year thus far. I experienced the highest of highs in graduating from Syracuse University and returning home for a bit to spend time with my family.

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I also experienced real lows in moving to another state by myself, trying to acclimate to a new space, starting all over, and dealing with the physical and mental effects that this stress caused.

Through this, Year 22 taught me the importance of allowing myself to seek help when I realize that I cannot do everything all by myself. I’m so thankful for my supportive family and all that they’ve done and continue to do to ensure I continue on my path. It taught me struggle and it has been slowly showing me the growth that stems from it.

Year 22 made me realize the importance of truly understanding my passion. This has allowed me to expand the amount of things I can do with it - learning to use different mediums, mentoring, and further enjoying what I do.

Year 22 reaffirmed the golden rule. The rule that tells us to treat others as we would wish to be treated. The rule that my mom has told me to live by since I can remember. When others don’t abide by it, remind them of the rule. I’ve come to understand that not everyone is going to like me, but they have to respect me.

Year 22 reinforced the idea that it truly takes a village to achieve success. I’m so grateful for everyone that has supported me in my endeavors during the past year.

Year 22 taught me that I define what success is for me. Everyone’s path is different. Coming to terms with this has helped me stay focused on the path I’m blazing. I know that if I constantly work hard, results will surely follow.

Year 22 showed me that I can set goals and then follow through by doing everything in my power to meet my own expectations. This year, I competed for one of two TEDxUNC student spots, and though I ultimately wasn’t selected, I finally put together a presentation that I was proud of and that I feel can inspire others. I’ll just think of it as practice for next year.

Year 22 helped me realize it is important to live in the present, in the moment. Trying to take it all in because life moves so fast. Acknowledging small victories is important.

Year 22 highlighted the importance of friendship – especially when one is going through challenging times.

I appreciate you, Jackie, for always being just one phone call away. For always listening. And for always giving me the best possible advice. See you soon.

I appreciate you, Manny, for being the best brother I never had. I know that you’re always there for whatever I need and that means a lot. I also want to thank you and Geo for taking time out of your day and meeting up to celebrate my birthday.

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Year 22 confirmed my love for mentorship. Over the past couple of months, I’ve used several opportunities to talk to students about the importance of what we do and share all that I’ve learned about visual storytelling.

Facilitating a class in video journalism at Randolph Community College. Thank you to Khadejeh Nikouyeh and Jay Capers for the opportunity.

Facilitating a class in video journalism at Randolph Community College. Thank you to Khadejeh Nikouyeh and Jay Capers for the opportunity.

Year 22 taught me the importance of understanding emotions, learning how to control them, and working toward growing my emotional intelligence. Because “intelligence can come to nothing if emotions hold sway.”

Year 22 proved to me that Year 23 will be what I make of it.

Thinking Like a Visual Storyteller: Connecting

Yesterday I shared a story that I worked on with the Southern Durham Football team. It was an in-depth look into their season. For four months, the team allowed me to be present at every moment. They trusted me - for which I will forever be grateful.

Southern Spartans head coach Darius Robinson celebrates with his players after winning the last game of the season against Millbrook High School, 21-14. On the first day that I met Head Coach Robinson, he took me to the team locker room and introduc…

Southern Spartans head coach Darius Robinson celebrates with his players after winning the last game of the season against Millbrook High School, 21-14. On the first day that I met Head Coach Robinson, he took me to the team locker room and introduced me to his players: “this is Bryan, he will be photographing our season. He is now part of the family.”

How did this come about? As visual storytellers, how do we make this connection, gain this trust, and tell the story to the best of our abilities?

Though it varies by story, the one common factor is being human.

Let me explain.

My favorite quote throughout my time as a photojournalism student at Syracuse University says:

“We tell stories of people - not ‘subjects.’ Honor their humanity. Our language sets the tone.”

I think it’s very important to always keep this in mind because this is the level at which we connect with those whom we are fortunate to photograph. It is not a photographer-subject relationship but a human one. We gain trust by being genuine, listening, being present, and by truly caring about the story.

Telling these stories is a collaborative process. Explaining this is a good way of building these relationships. Don’t take control of a story that isn’t yours. You’re simply helping share this narrative with your storytelling ability. Ask the people you are photographing “what do you think your story is?” and be prepared for the answer. Chances are it might not be what you thought it was - it’s much more meaningful.

Be respectful and feel situations out. Go with your gut instinct. Sometimes the best move is to put your camera down and be present. This is still hard one for me too, because I don’t want to miss a frame. But when the situation calls for you to be present and you are, this goes along way in the trust you are building. Being present and asking questions is good way of making images - even though you are not pressing the shutter button - because you will be constantly learning about the person and the different layers to their story.

Once the story is complete, maintain that relationship. Whether that’s through social media, mail, text messages, etc. These are human beings that entrusted you, allowed you into their lives, and shared with you. Don’t take this for granted. Honor those relationships.

Even if you’re not a visual storyteller, I would challenge you to start thinking about the relationships you create and how you honor them. As I mentioned earlier in this post, we connect not as subjects-photographers but as humans. Meet new people, ask questions, listen, and most importantly, be genuine and care.

Care.

Listen.

Be Genuine.

Be Present.

Be Respectful.

Honor the Relationship.