From The Photo Desk

Photo Credit: Franklin Pham

From The Photo Desk is a weekly column that appears every Monday and is written by Spartan Daily Photo Editor Carlos A. Moreno, where the subject is photography and seeing the world visually with different eyes in today’s fast-paced society. Commentary is accepted from readers, as well as contributions when requested. Stay tuned for more.

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Thanks for the opportunity, on to bigger and better things

by Carlos A. Moreno

May 4, 2009

Photo Credit: Sandra Santos / Spartan Daily

If I would have to sum up my experience as photo editor of The Spartan Daily for an entire year (which hasn’t happened in a while with photo editors), it would have to be a wild roller coaster ride of work, laughter and growth.

It wasn’t always like that for me. I remember when I was a freelance photographer in bottom of the totem pole of the staff, working my way up to become editor, I would see how hard the editors would work and say hey I could do that.

And I did, but it wasn’t easy.

When I started training for the job, it seemed easy. But as my first semester progressed, I saw the challenges and advantages of being photo editor. There was a lot to fix in a year, the department was left in shambles and there need to be a tough guy to get it done.

Surprisingly, I had to become that person.

Do I regret it? Not really.

After struggling to get the photo department up to speed, I got lucky with a team of  talented photographers that made my job easier. Even with a well-rounded staff, though, there were communication problems and power struggles of what is more important in a newspaper – visuals or words.

I won a couple of those battles, and  I feel good about it. I can say with great ease that I put my all into this position and carried the tradition of great photojournalism through the paper’s print and online editions in this long, yet rewarding, learning experience.

If I could go back I would definitely of been more patient, but besides that I believe I prepared my staff to work as best as they could in the real world. I only hope that the next incoming photo editor, Joe Proudman (former senior contributing photographer) could keep that going.

Since the beginning of my workings with Joe I saw a leader ready to take charge, it was Joe who has been patient through this long tedious process of training and I feel that he will be as calm and rational during decisions that will test him more than anything as a leader and as a person. He has many good ideas and I can’t wait to see them in action next Fall.

As for me, on Thursday, May 7, I’m moving on to greener and better pastures and asserting myself as a professional photojournalist -  and maybe even taking a nice well-deserved vacation after that.

I thank all my photographers for their hard work and  honored to have worked with such a great team of photographers who made me laugh and even reflect when I most needed it from someone else besides myself.

Thanks for following me on this journey and I hope you follow Joe in his.

Thanks for the opportunity, on to bigger and better things.

Sincerely,

-Carlos A. Moreno

Spartan Daily Photo Editor, Fall 2008-Spring 2009

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This will be the last appearance “From The Photo Desk” by Carlos A. Moreno, the Spartan Daily Photo Editor.

*The new incoming photo editor, Joe Proudman, will have a introductory column on the photo blog coming Monday, May 11th about his new ideas and new incoming staff for the fall.