Soooo, I saw this amazing guy speak last night as part of a guest lecture series. Ashley Gilberston is a photojournalist for The New York Times and he spoke in Tishman lecture hall about his work during the Iraq War. He is currently working on a project documenting the childhood bedrooms of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. As an aspiring journalist, I got the chance to speak to him one on one for a few minutes.
Me: I was wondering logistically how you ended up going to Iraq, before you ended up getting commissioned by The New York Times.
Him (paraphrased): Well it was really easy. First, you want to have connections before you go overseas. So about six months before I went, I started making connections with Iraqi’s who were in America and knew people in Iraq. The first time I went over I had to be smuggled in and then I just drove around taking pictures. There was one picture that got me my lucky break and really launched my career and I wasn’t even trying to take that picture.
So now I’m thinking-should I go to Iraq and just start writing stories and taking pictures?! Check out Ashley here, he really was an incredible guy to hear speak and think about venturing out and making change not only after college but right now!
Bennington Students
Ari
Kaitee '11
Rachel '10
Jason '13
Julia '13
