Andrew Laker

Channel Surfer

Posted in Photos by Andrew on May 17, 2009

 

5 17 D8My pictures from the English Channel swimmer story published today, and I’m pretty happy with the way everything turned out. I realized a couple of things while working on this story: 1) I need to do essays more often, because I find them really gratifying; 2) I forgot how much I missed designing my own pages.

And, speaking of photo essays, yesterday I won another first place for a flood photo package in the IAPME contest. I’ve said before what I think about awards, and the banquets are painful at times (my threshold for hooray-for-everything biz chat is rather low). But I’m beginning (kinda sorta) to see the good in them. If nothing else, they might help me prove myself. The more work I’m recognized for, perhaps the more leeway I’ll be given for future pieces. Or maybe that’s all just bunk, and awards are nothing more than junk that collects in your desk drawer. Whatever.

What I find more meaningful is building friendships — I got to know this amazing young man during the course of this story, and I’m rooting for him to complete this crazy adventure. He just called me and told me about how he tried something a little different today during training, and that it worked great. I could hear the excitement in his voice, and it made me sad that my part in this story is over. It has been a while since I’ve felt that way about this job. I wish it could always be like this.

5 comments

5 Responses

Subscribe to comments with RSS.

  1. Andy said, on May 17, 2009 at 2:02 pm

    Congratulations on your awards and this great looking layout, Laker. Very well done!

  2. Andrew said, on May 17, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Thanks man! Hey, when are you headed back this way? Memorial Day weekend maybe? Maybe we can talk Chris into a 500 party, eh?

  3. Andy said, on May 17, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    Yeah, I’ll be up Memorial Day weekend. I might be back as early as Friday afternoon, depending on if I can swing not coming into work Friday. I’ll give you a call.

  4. katie barnes said, on May 21, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    great story… beautiful layout. the only thing i sort of wish i could see is a really tight shot of his face, but maybe that’s because i’m looking at a smaller version online. i love that sunscreen back shot… and the overview dominant.

  5. Andrew said, on May 21, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    Thanks Katie. I had a silly close-up of him stretching a swim cap onto his head, but I just couldn’t squeeze it in. We did use a portrait of him on another page though.


Leave a Reply