Annie Barker

One of my favorite pieces of advice from a professor, and coincidentally O.A.R. (the rock band), is to turn the car around. Oftentimes when looking for features or going about my day, something strikes my curiosity. Instead of passing by and missing a potential moment, I circle back and pull over.

Following this motto, I've met Pat, a metal worker, and his feline friend Eight Ball (“[He's] hard to corner and black”). Stopping for ducks meandering in a yard resulted in meeting Spencer's family of six and the extended brood of many ducks, chickens, and other fowl. Collecting my thoughts in a cemetery led to a rambunctious group of kids and their hardworking mother and father making ends meet after his open-heart surgery.

The power of human connection from these interactions helps me as a person and as a photographer. I am grateful to see a slice of someone's life and hear their story.

Photojournalism is a way to discover and visualize what is important to ourselves and the people we have the privilege to cover. I am thankful to be a part of this industry.