Photo by Andrew Stanfill

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

Current Residence: Gainesville, Florida

Current Occupation: Full-time journalism student, University of Florida; Freelance

BIO

I was a writer before a photographer in the journalism word. I started writing for my high school newspaper and worked my way to news editor for my junior and senior years. I had a slight interest in photography, but it took a year or two for it to really kick in.

When I was with the Patriot Press at Central Florida Community College, three photos were awarded by the Florida Community College Press Association.

When I was accepted to the University of Florida in 2006, I still was on the fence on whether to write or to take photos. When class registration came for my first semester (Spring 2007), I signed up for both Reporting and Photojournalism.

About a month after classes started, I became a contributing photographer for the Independent Florida Alligator. During the time as a stringer, I covered events such as reaction to the 2007 Basketball National Championship and had nearly 50 photos published in print and online.

All of the work helped me advance to a Staff Photographer in the summer and the Photo Editor in the fall. After the Alligator, I was an intern at The Gainesville Sun for four months.

I plan on graduating sometime in mid-2009 with a bachelors in both Journalism and Geography. I then hope to either get a job in the newspaper photography business, become a freelance photographer or go to graduate school.

With the help of friends, colleagues and the awesome photojournalism professors at UF, I have learned a lot very quickly and I am able to be where I am today in the great world of photojournalism.

WORK

I will be available for freelance work in north and central Florida starting in May 2008.

BESIDES PHOTO...

...I have an interest in atmospheric sciences and severe weather, amateur radio and communications, and politics and government.

I am a licensed amateur radio operator (call: KG4TLG) and the vice president of the Gator Amateur Radio Club at the University of Florida. I'm also a member of the Alachua County Amateur Radio Emergency Services. My main interests in ham radio include emergency communications, storm spotting and satellite communications.

I also carry student-level memberships with the National Press Photographers Association and the American Meteorological Society.

I live in an apartment in Gainesville with my girlfriend of nearly three years, Erin. I also reside with Erin's black lab, "Opie," and three cats: "Mouse," "Moo," and "Todie."

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Copyright 2003-2008 Charles E. Roop. Any image may not be duplicated without written consent.