Telling The Story

Last June I flew to Cleveland to cover the championship parade for the NBA's Cavaliers. I stood in a swarm of a million Clevelanders and witnessed one of the most stellar scenes in sports. I also witnessed one of the most stellar sights in photojournalism: the editing of Chad Nelson. The photographer from KARE-TV in the Twin Cities was, like myself, called to help our sister station in Cleveland. We worked on separate stories, and after I completed mine, I stopped by Chad's desk to say hello. Within minutes, I was receiving a master class in color and composition. I had always admired the care with which Nelson treats his video, but in Cleveland I gained a deeper appreciation. Nelson works at a station that prides itself on its storytelling culture, and he carries that culture in every story he shoots. Last month, it paid off. Nelson received three pieces of extraordinary news: He was named the NPPA's Central Top Region's Photographer of the Year. He was named a finalist for the NPPA's Ernie Crisp Photograph