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Award winning photojournalist shares his story By Ryan Haas
Billy Weeks, an award-winning photojournalist and adjunct professor at Southern for over 20 years, came to speak to the students of the School of Journalism and Communication at a convocation held on Thursday, January 17. However, Weeks didn’t talk about new photographic techniques. He focused on personal life and how he became the photographer he is today. Weeks has a career in photojournalism that spans nearly 30 years, and he has photographed everything from the World Series to small villages in Central America. Raised in the Chattanooga area, he received his first camera from his father when he was young, and would sometimes spend his whole paycheck from working at K-Mart on film. He began his photography career as the photo editor at his college’s newspaper, but the jumpstart of his career came early one morning during the week of Thanksgiving. Weeks was filling his car with gas when he saw a turkey wandering around the
front of the convenience store. He immediately pulled out his camera and managed to capture a few frames of the turkey next to a sign that read, “We will be open for Thanksgiving.” “It’s one of the most imBilly Weeks teaches Photojournalism in the SJ&C. Photo by Stephen Ruf portant photos I’ve ever taken,” senior mass communications/phoadmitted Weeks during convocation. tography major, who appreciated The Associated Press picked up seeing the more personal side of her the photo, and wired the image all professor. “He is one of my favorite over the country—resulting in the professors and getting to view his launch of his career. Eventually, life story and work is a great inspiraWeeks became the director of tion to me as a photographer.” photography and graphics at the Weeks recently left the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Chattanooga Times Free Press to Many students attended the continue his own freelance career convocation and were impressed by and to make more time for his wife Weeks’ presentation. “I think he did and two daughters. a great job,” said Courtney Beckwith,
Easter Vespers draws crowd by elizabeth camps
This April, the Communication Club hosted an Easter Vespers event. Students participated in an Easter egg hunt, worshipped with songs and ended the night with a worship thought from Professor Stanton Lee. According to Janita Herod, the advisor of the Communication Club, more than 100 sudents attended the event. Ryan Haas, mass communication photography major and Communications Club officer, says this is significantly more than the amount that attended last year’s event. Bianca Istueta, sophomore family studies major, said, “Vespers was great, the egg hunt was so much fun, and all of the professors were so nice!” Students line up for refreshments at the Comm Club Easter Vespers. Photo by Ryan Haas