COM Student Photographers Dominate Boston Awards
Journalism
The next week became a waiting game, as well as a continuous mental gymnastics match. I monitored my symptoms even more closely. On one hand, I was incredibly grateful for finally being able to get tested. At the same time, I felt a lot of guilt, like I had taken the test from someone who needed it more than I did. For some reason, I was fearful of the test coming back negative, in which case it would feel like I was tested in vain. A close friend reminded me that if there wasn’t a test shortage, I probably wouldn’t feel this way, and that either way, getting tested was the most responsible thing to do - I think she was right.
Sophie Park, a Pardee senior and COM photography student, won Best of Show and first place for Photo Story in the annual Boston Press Photographers Association College Contest for her series chronicling illness and uncertainty during the current pandemic.
“Sophie is a talented and incisive visual person,” said Greg Marinovich, her COM photography professor. “She showed courage and optimism while going through a difficult COVID-19 experience by documenting both her illness and the sudden narrowing of her life under quarantine.”
COM student photographers took home first place in two other categories: Paola Poventud Escoriaza for Portrait and Lauryn Allen for News.
“Lauryn is a dedicated photographer, always looking for adventure. She enjoys meeting people and documenting their lives,” said Stephen Haines, who taught Lauryn and Paola at COM. “Paola takes a measured and artistic approach to photography which can result in some beautiful work.”
BPPA is the oldest press and television press association in the country. This year’s awards were judged by Jim Mahoney, formerly of the Boston Herald, John Tlumacki of the Boston Globe, and Meredith Nierman of WGBH.
