One of the best parts of doing this podcast is the never ending inspiration I see from amazing photographic talents. Sometimes, the guests I get on the show are photographers I stumble upon while browsing the web, sometimes they are part of some bigger organization that introduces me to them, and on a rare occasion they are a suggestion from a someone that watches the show. That last one is the case today.
M L Adelman filled out my contact form and wrote:
“Please consider interviewing two time Pulitzer Prize winner, Essdras M Suarez. He retired from photojournalism several years ago and is now giving back teaching others to take their photography to the next level. He is a delightful personality and a very giving photog.”
One look at his website and I knew I needed to get Essdras on the show.
Essdras Suarez is a two-time Pulitzer Prizewinning photojournalist, and being a photojournalist isn’t what many people think. In one interview, Essdras explained that “as a newspaper photographer you were expected to wear many hats. In addition to being a photojournalist, you were expected to be a travel photographer, documentary photographer, food and product photographer, and a portrait photographer, among other things”.
With that background, he can shoot pretty much anything. If you ask him though, his favorite overall subject is people. It’s in that space I think his superpower lies. He has an ability to make that which is normal look extraordinary.
His career has included covering the war in Iraq, the Columbia Shuttle disaster in 2003, a U.S. backed military coup against Haitian president Jean Bertrand Aristide, the Indonesia Tsunami in 2004, the Gaza Strip Evacuation in 2006, the Newtown Elementary school shooting in 2012, and the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013. Essdras has seen a lot in his over 20 years in the field. He continues to work for outlets such as the Washington Post and ZUMA Press Agency, and his images have been published in publications such as Mother Jones, The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Boston Globe, New York Times.
Essdras’ list of awards is long, and fully reflects his talent in telling a story in a very special way. This also explains the two Pulitzers.
As a sought after speaker and educator, he now also shares his knowledge with others through his EMS Photo Adventures LLC, where he is focused on creating and leading educationally geared, on-site and virtual custom photo programs including educational webinars, and short- and long-term mentorship programs.
Join photographer, photojournalist, educator, and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Essdras Suarez and me as we discuss his captivating image of Islamic Jihadists in Gaza City, and as we chat about the challenges of photojournalism today, on this episode of Behind the Shot.
Connect with Essdras
Website: essdras.com
Facebook: @essdras.m.suarez
Instagram: @essdras_001
Twitter: @essdrasmsuarez
Essdras’ Photographer Pick
Dominic Chavez: dominicchavez.com
