Interview with Michael Stocker by Shemuel Arrindell

      Mike Stocker is a photojournalist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He graduated from the University of Florida in 1986 and has been in newspapers ever since. He started with the Sun-Tattler and moved on to the Miami Herald where he worked for 10 years. He then replaced Joe Raedle as the traveling photographer at the Sun-Sentinel and had been there ever since. He is married to Susan Stocker, Sun-Sentinel photographer, and together they do wedding photography aside from working at the Sun-Sentinel. He is a three-time Pulitzer finalist and in 2007 he received the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Award.

       1. Please list your full website address so our class members can view your work online?

http://theedge.sun-sentinel.com/graphics/AIDSOrphans/

Other Works:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/broadband/theedge/specialcoverage/sfl-edge-holocaust-survivors,0,1613568.flash

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/sfl-0109israelprojectgallery,1,6095307.photogallery

2. What’s your one best piece of advice for how a college photographer can prepare now for success in the workplace/marketplace after graduation?

To become a working photojournalist today and in the future you should learn to shoot video and edit content with FinalCut. These are extremely important working as a photojournalist because our jobs now include shooting video.

3. If there was one mistake you could take back in your career path, what would it be?

While working at the Miami Herald I covered a case involving the sensitive subject of a kid being shot. From a parents perspective I should have been in contact with the parents sooner.

  4. What technical skills for photographers will be valued in the coming decades?

Everything from writing and reporting to shooting pictures and video and editing. Photojournalist that are able to do everything well will keep their jobs and get ahead.

 5. With so much devoted toward new technical skills these days, how can photographers also focus toward strong, meaningful content? 

It is very easy to get wrapped up in new technical skills and technology but we have to remember that we are storytellers and we have to focus on highlighting the subject and telling their story.

  6. What are the names of two or three photographers (and agencies/affiliations/ employers) whose work you presently admire?

Joe Raedle and Roberto Schmidt are very good friends and great photographers who's work I admire. On Friday March 18, they were reported missing while covering the unrest in Libya. It was later reveled that they were arrested by soldiers so we are hoping for their release.

Articles about them missing:

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/20/2124845_south-florida-based-getty-photographer.html

http://channel6newsonline.com/2011/03/afp-getty-images-journalists-arrested-by-the-libyan-army/

Joe Raedle's Work:

At Getty Images

At LIFE 

Roberto Schmidt's Work:

At Getty Images

At Guardian.co.uk

NOTE: We will keep their safe return in out prayers. 

7. When you look at portfolios of up and coming shooters, what do you look for?

Portfolios must have a vision. The images have to be saying something for themselves of through the subjects. Things from composition to lighting can add a lot of information and depth to an image and that's also things that I look for. 

 8. Do you think that with the emergence news organisations getting content from Eye-reporters and social networks our jobs as photojournalist will change?

Yes. And all of journalism also. It's the up and coming journalist to be able to provide better quality content and better storytelling to stay relevant. You