Last Year's Winners

We heard from last year's Virtue & Vice Student Photography Competition winners. Read the Q+A's below to find out how the competition influenced and affected these talented young photographer's lives.


Nathanael Turner, 1st place
Rochester Institute of Technology

1. What did you win last year? What did you do with the prize(s)?
I won a Nikon D300s, a spot at the Eddie Adams Workshop and CS5. The workshop was pretty amazing. I am not a journalist, but I learned a lot and was forced to think about photography in a slightly different way. I mostly shoot film, but the Nikon has come in handy for small jobs that need a quick turn around. The video has been great as well.

2. What was the best part about the Eddie Adams Workshop?
Our team assignment was great. Each team member had a person to work with at the Jeffersonville Adult Home. We only had two days to make pictures, which was really difficult for me. I have a hard time making photographs of someone before I have spent some time getting to know them and building some sort of trust. I don't want people to feel like I am using them.

3. How did winning this prize get you closer to realizing your goals as a photographer?
Motivation is always needed. Being recognized by an organization such as SPD was encouraging, especially because it happened as I was graduating. It was a much appreciated graduation gift.

4. What are you doing now? Still taking pictures?
I am currently living in Brooklyn. I have been assisting here for a few photographers. I am doing an artist residency program in Finland in April, so I am planning for that trip and getting ready to go to LA and Mexico next week.

5. Do you have any advice to student's entering this year's competition?
It's always hard to represent what you do as a photographer with a single photograph. I was really excited that my image was chosen last year, and not just because it is mine, but because its a fairly simple photograph. I am not as concerned with flashy techniques as I am with making images that have a strong emotional base behind them. So if I were to give any advice, it would be to submit the photographs that you feel strongest about. I think judges can tell when people are genuinely invested in their work.


Yusuke Suzuki, 2nd place
New England School of Photography

1. What did you win last year? What did you do with the prize(s)?
I had an opportunity to have a portfolio review with Stephen Mayes, the director of VII Photo, and also Adobe CS5.

2. What was the best part about the portfolio review with Stephen Mayes at VII Photo?
He gave me a lot of advise, which make my motivation higher, I think. Because VII is the photo agency that I respect their members from the bottom of my heart.

3. How did winning this prize get you closer to realizing your goals as a photographer?
The prize made me feel really confident about my work. In fact, this was my first time to submit my works to competitions.  And It was just 4 months since I moved to America to learn photography in serious way. Therefore, when I heard that I got the prize, I couldn't believe that at all.  But I realized that I might be able to catch my dream if I just keep walking.

4. What are you doing now? Still taking pictures?
I'm a second year student at New England School of Photography.
And now, I feel like there is no way to escape, so I have to be a photographer as a professional. I just believe myself and keep doing what I want.

5. Do you have any advice to student's entering this year's competition?
I just submitted the image that I like the most. So, what I can say now is do not think too much.
Of course, I am going to enter this year's competition again.


Kelsey Wolf, 3rd place
Messiah College

1. What did you win last year? What did you do with the prize(s)?
I won a subscription to Aperture Magazine, an internship with Magnum, and Adobe CS4.

2. What was the best part about the summer internship at Magnum photos?
Being able to experience what it is like to live and work in New York City.

3. How did winning this prize get you closer to realizing your goals as a photographer?
It helped me to realize how important photography is to me and that I really want it to be a focus in my life.

4. What are you doing now? Still taking pictures?
Right now I am spending all of my time working on my senior show. I have the semester to complete an amazing piece of artwork that will be the culmination of my studies. I'm constructing and designing packaging and products for a line of accessories.

5. Do you have any advice to student's entering this year's competition?
Take photographs that interest you and then find one that fits the theme of the contest.
Don't make the contest your primary motivation. If your love of photography is priority, you will end up with a stronger photo.

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SELF-PORTRAIT, SPD's Student Photography Competition is right around the corner, so don't forget to submit your work! The deadline for entries is April 1st.

--- interviews by Kimberly Sall