I climbed the journalism ranks exclusively as a writer and left the photography and design to our talented team of photographers and media editors. That changed when I began covering our city's teacher strike. Covering these powerful picket lines and rallies, I felt compelled to capture images that would convey the intensity of what I was trying to describe in words. By doing so, I grew to appreciate the way photos can make a more complete story than words alone – by showing the emotion, the crowds, and the humanity of these newsmakers. Since then, I've continued to shoot photos that complement our stories because I feel it helps me be more attentive to my surroundings.