First frame in Clara Town

by 08.06.2011

Shooting the first frame is always the hardest. I find every time, no matter where in the world I am, I have to drum up the courage and, fearing rejection, walk up and say “hi.” Usually that leads to pictures; rarely do people say no. But there is something about human nature, or maybe just something about me, that wants to avoid that rejection at all cost.

After it has all played out and I”m looking through the images at the end of a hard day, I can”t imagine having not shaken that first hand, said that first hello, made that first frame.

Today, in Clara Town, a section of Monrovia across the bridge from the town center, I said hello to Prince, the barber, and the day began.

categories, Blog
Tags, , , , ,
About Chad Stevens

Chad A. Stevens joined the school in 2009. Most recently, he was an award-winning documentary producer/editor at Mediastorm, a multimedia production company based in New York City. Stevens has also been a faculty member in the visual communication programs at Western Kentucky University, the International Center of Photography and Ohio University. Currently he is working on a feature length documentary film on the conflict over energy extraction in Appalachia.

Stevens has received two Emmy nominations, one Webby Award and many photography and multimedia awards in the Pictures of the Year International and NPPA Best of Photojournalism competitions. While teaching at Western Kentucky University, Stevens won the University Faculty Award for Public Service in 2006.

With a professional foundation in photojournalism and multimedia storytelling, Stevens’ career spans the spectrum of newsroom environments, multimedia production and international experience. While living in Africa, he produced multimedia projects for Save the Children, AIDchild and Literacy and Basic Education.

He is a 1999 graduate of Western Kentucky University and a 2009 graduate of Ohio University, and has interned at National Geographic Magazine, The Hartford Courant, the Muskegon Chronicle and the Jackson Hole Guide. During his time as a student at Western Kentucky University, he traveled to Palestine and other Middle East countries. He was named 1997 College Photographer of the Year.