Eddie Adams Workshop XVII, October 2014

When the annual Eddie Adams Workshop approaches, one can feel the excitement and anticipation in the creative photo community. That’s because, for four intense days, 100 talented student photographers from around the world and about 150 industry professionals converge on a beautiful farm in Jeffersonville, New York. The students are selected based on portfolios submitted through an application process. And the teachers come from all over the world to inspire, educate and mentor the next generation of visual storytellers. Here are a few images from the experience - this time as a volunteer.

National Geographic Student Expeditions - Prague Photo Workshop

This summer, I had the honor of co-leading a photo workshop in Prague with National Geographic Student Expeditions. Since I had learned photography on a National Geographic Photo Expedition several years before, this new opportunity was special to me – I was able to give back. 32 high school students from around the world joined us in the Czech Republic. Here is a glimpse at their experience.

National Geographic Student Expeditions - Paris Photo Workshop

Six years after learning photography on a National Geographic Photo Expedition in India, I had the privilege to lead a 12-day photo workshop in Paris for National Geographic Student Expeditions. Alongside National Geographic photographer Matthieu Paley and three other co-leaders, 30 students joined us from all over the world to learn photography. Here is a look at what we saw and the students' experience.

Photo District News (PDN) Photo Annual 2014 Contest

Eric Kruszewski photographs a male silverback mountain gorilla in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

There is something profoundly special about an encounter with a wild gorilla. I created this winning series of images while on a journey throughout Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The gorilla families whom I visited contained 29 and 24 members, respectively. Each day, I was allowed only one hour with the highly social, and mobile, diurnal animals. During that timeframe, the gorillas’ unique personality and behavioral traits fascinated me, and I wanted to capture the variety of expressions.  Some gorillas would be docile, others playful, a few curious and several even somewhat aggressive. With such an abundance of activity, it felt possible to get figuratively lost in the moments. At one point, a ranger approached me and whispered in my ear, “Eric, look around you right now. You are completely surrounded by gorillas.” Upon hearing this, all one could do was try to relax, observe and enjoy the enlightening experience.

The PDN winners gallery is here. National Geographic Creative also shared my experience on its website here.

Portrait - Edward Smith, Jr. for The New York Times

Edward Smith, Jr., a lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, recently defended Roy Lee Clark. Mr. Lee, tried for trafficking 1-kg of heroin, took a chance at trial instead of accepting a plea bargain. He lost big when the court found him guilty – a decision that came with a life-in-prison sentence. Mr. Smith, a litigator for 4 decades, and an actor in his spare time, is astounded at such harsh judgements placed on criminals. He accommodated me for a brief portrait session in his office. The full story is here.