These stories and images, from witnessing the Presidential Inauguration of Barack Obama, to reporting on undocumented immigrants in El Paso, Texas, to capturing tears at the Polish presidential funeral of Kaczynski represent my travel side to photojournalism. My accounts from these events were published in the Augustana Observer Newspaper and the Quad City Times.

Presidential Campaign of Barack Obama and John McCain:

From fall 2008 to early 2009, I followed the presidential race through the Quad Cities to Washington, D.C. I photographed John McCain at a rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Barack Obama both at a small rally in Davenport, Iowa and finally at his presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C. The feature report on the inauguration published in the January 23, 2009 edition of the Augustana Observer won first place in the Illinois College Press Association for best photo essay.

Polish Presidential Funeral of Lech Kaczynski:

While interning with the U.S. Department of State in Krakow, Poland, Polish president Lech Kaczynski's plane crashed over a field in Russia carrying 97 government and cultural figures. In the days after, Polish flags waved from every building and candle shrine- an uncommon expression for Poles. When the funeral came through Krakow, I photographed and wrote from the side lines outside of the main church where the president's body rested. The spread won third place for 2010 best features story and a photo won first place 2010 best news photo in the Illinois College Press Association