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Photojournalism student wins top honors in the nation

Jake May shoots aerial photographs over the campus of Central Michigan University.
Central Michigan University student, Jake May, of Grand Haven has won first place in the nation for photojournalism students in the National Press Photographers Association’s Student Quarterly Clip Contest. May won handily accumulating 390 points surpassing second and third place entrants by 190 points. The competition encompassed one year’s worth of entries, which was judged on spot and general news, features, sports, portraits, illustrations and photo stories, between August 2010 and July 2011.

His award was announced on “The Visual Student,” the NPPA blog for photojournalism students, as well as nppa.org, the organization's nationally-recognized web site.

“My photography is about storytelling. It’s finding what makes us human, what makes us different, unique, yet the same," May said of his work. "Waiting for the offbeat, the usual, the unusual, the doldrum. Finding the small moments, however brief they may be. Capturing life - real candid life - that is my ultimate goal. It’s what I strive to achieve every time I make an image.”

The work awarded in the competition was published in Central Michigan Life, Midland Daily News, Jackson Citizen Patriot and The Herald in Jasper, Ind. Through working with professional photo editors like Dave Weatherwax, J. Scott Park and Nathan Morgan, he has learned a lot about community photojournalism, and molded his mentality around the ideals that it is most important to gain access to interesting, intimate stories that matter to your readership.

As former photo editor of CM Life, May said all of the photojournalism majors have shown an enormous amount of growth and talent in the photojournalism program through classwork, freelance opportunities and working at the thrice-weekly collegiate newspaper.

"The photojournalism program is growing exponentially, not only by sheer number of students, but the talent as well. Every photographer I've worked with at CM Life has a future in photojournalism," May said. "Though, I have to mention three people who deserve recognition, just as much. Neil Blake, Libby March and Sean Proctor. They are three of my closest friends, my best friends. We can resolve problems together, mold story ideas and just talk shop with ease. They are top-notch photojournalists, and I wouldn't be where I am today without them."

Assistant Journalism Professor Kent Miller, who is May's photojournalism adviser, has enjoyed having May as his student.

“I am very proud of Jake, not only for being the big winner, but also for how much he has contributed to the lives of his friends and fellow photojournalism students," Miller said. "His passion and enthusiasm is contagious. He embodies the concept that happiness and success can only be enjoyed if it is shared.”

May was named runner-up College Photographer of the Year in 2009 and 2010 by the Michigan Press Photographers Association, and has also won awards in the Hearst Photojournalism and national College Photographer of the Year competitions. He will return from his highly-coveted photojournalism internship in Jasper, Ind. this winter to complete his last semester at CMU graduating in spring 2012.