By Andrea Wach University of Nebraska-Lincoln Craig Chandler has built his ethical base from years of experience as a photographer and editor. Throughout Chandler’s career, he has strived for integrity and trust in all aspects of his work. “A photo can be taken many different ways. A photographer needs to be honest with him or herself down every road,” Chandler said in an interview at the University Communication building, where he works as the director of photography for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln University Communication. Chandler said his key to success is having an ethical baseline in all aspects of his life. “Trust is a big part of journalism. It comes in every area of our work," he said. "When people ask me to take a photo, they know I’m going to make a decent picture of them. If I want them to stand in water up to their waist, I can talk them into it. They will do slightly odd things because of their trust in me.” Chandler, 57, said trust played a major role in reporting the Von Muar shooting in Omaha nine years ago when Chandler was on staff at the Omaha World-Herald. A man with a rifle opened fire at an Omaha shopping mall, killing eight and then himself. The call came on the scanner and the staff photograhpers dropped what they were doing. Chandler was on the radio within seconds and had six photographers inside the parking lot before police shut access down. His staff captured photos of individuals walking out with their hands up. “My staff was good, and I knew what they could do. I had trust in them, and they had trust in me,” Chandler said. “We had photos everyone wanted. They ended up on front pages across the nation. Journalistically, we did what we were supposed to do.” During Chandler’s time at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, in 2001, National Guard troops were sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, shortly after the 9/11 terror attack. “It was very hush hush,” said Chandler. Six months after troops were sent in, the media was allowed to photograph the base. Chandler said the media were allowed to go up to a certain line, but no further. This created the same picture from the same spot for months as media buses came in and out of the base. When Chandler did visit the base, he and his reporter developed a relationship with an Army public information officer, and eventually were allowed to spend three hours in the tents taking photos of troops. In the tents, the troops had photos of their family and friends hung up, almost in a summer camp fashion. The photos Chandler captured were published so the newspaper’s readers, which included the families whose loves ones were serving the country, could see and experience the troop’s mission. “We weren’t demanding that we could get in,” Chandler said, “but we kept talking to people, finding other people and building relationships to get those photos for the family members.” Chandler said relationship building is essential in his work and advises photographers to build a reputation of trust and integrity. “Keep pushing. Be relentless. Don’t let people tell you what you can or can’t do,” Chandler said. “Be open to editing, but if it’s the right thing keep pushing for it.” Chandler started his career at Kansas State University in 1978, pursuing a degree in Journalism while working for the college newspaper and interning in the winter and summer. As a freshman, he was a stringer for United Press International, earning $15 a photo. In 1979, he placed ninth in the Hearst Journalism Awards Program. Then in 1981, he placed third in the College Photographer of the Year contest sponsored by the University of Missouri. In 1981, Chandler traveled Kansas as a staff photographer and pursued design and picture editing. In 1988, he joined the the San Antonio Express-News as an assistant picture editor. In 1989, he was hired as photo and graphic editor at the Quad-City Times in Davenport, Iowa, overseeing a staff of four and various interns. Fourteen years later, Chandler was hired at the Omaha World-Herald, where ten photographers covered news across the state every day. He worked at the World-Herald for five years as a photo and graphics editor, before switching jobs again. “I love that I am back to taking pictures all the time. The best part of my job is that every day is different,” Chandler said. Chandler takes photos at UNL events across all campuses. He challenges other photographers to look for the little moments, keep eyes on what's happening, try new angles and be creative and passionate. “Always have your camera on you, and always be willing to stop and shoot,” Chandler said.
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A note about the content: This site showcases the final projects of University of Nebraska-Lincoln editing students. Each semester, students pick a journalist or communications professional to profile. This is their work.
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