Dear PPAGLA members and Nikon sponsors:  I am beyond grateful to be recognized and awarded by the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles. I am appreciative of the scholarship received along with my amazing brand new camera sponsored by NIKON. Having the opportunity to have my name and work showcased in a platform attended by amazing journalists incredible. I feel truly blessed to be part of this association. 

Brenda Elizondo 

Video Student Photojournalist of the Year

Hi!

I wanted to thank the whole PPAGLA organization, president Apu Gomes and the PPAGLA board for the recognition of student photographer of the year. I have been sitting with this award for a couple of days now, and I feel incredibly honored. Knowing that the photographers that I look up to and want to emulate in my career selected my work for this award have made it an extremely humbling few days.  

I plan to use the scholarship money and camera to continue to chase my creative visions. I have wanted to upgrade my light kit for several years now and recently eyed the Profoto B10 flash heads. The scholarship money would significantly aid in purchasing a professional quality flash head like the B10, and I look forward to the photographs I can create with these powerful light units.  

I wanted to specifically thank the PPAGLA members that contributed to the scholarship money, Nikon USA, and all the previous guidance I have received from PPAGLA members before being recognized. In the past few months, I spoke with Apu and Patrick Fallon, who were both incredibly gracious with their advice and helpful in focusing my career while I am still a student.

In late February, I covered a warehouse fire in downtown LA  and was the first photographer on the scene. I had gotten into a fender bender on my way to the fire, so I was already bummed out and extra determined to come away with something special. About 30 minutes into the shoot, Ringo showed up, and I could barely contain my excitement that I had beaten an AP photographer to the scene. He represents who I want to be and what I want my work ethic to look like, and it was a thrill to watch him work while I tried to get my own images.

Thank you again to the whole PPAGLA, and I am looking forward to chasing the news alongside y’all in whatever job or opportunity comes my way in the future. 

Cheers,

Yannick Peterhans

Still Student Photojournalist of the Year