“In the Bed of a Truck: A Look at the Challenges Facing Seasonal Workers in Jackson Hole” is the currently displayed Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship exhibit created by William Wise, a senior journalism major at UW.
This past summer he was able to interview and take pictures of seasonal workers in Jackson Hole who were living out of their vehicles because there is a housing issue in Jackson, said Wise.
“It was really exciting first hearing about. It’s been something that’s been on my radar for a long time but I didn’t really have an avenue to do anything with it, until I heard of that project,” Wise said.
The Fellowship was established in 2008, after Larsh Bristol passed in an accident in 2006, said Cindy Price Schultz, Department Head of Communications and Journalism. As a graduate from the University of Wyoming, the friends of Larsh wanted to create something to commemorate his memory.
According to UW news, at this year’s Oct. 27 unveiling Kappy Bristol, Larsh’s sister, commented on her late brother and the fellowship that has funded students who pursue photojournalism for the past ten years.
“His main passion was people. He thought it was important that his photographs say something to everybody and give you the opportunity to really think about yourself too,” said Bristol according to UW news.
The first winner of the Larsh Bristol Photojournalism Fellowship was Joe Riis in 2008. He is now a photographer at National Geographic Magazine focusing on animal migration patterns with photos displayed on campus in the business building, Schultz shared.
The 2015 recipient, Wendy Perkins, did her piece on Denver’s women in the sex trade. Exhibiting them in a manner that was relatable to the viewer, will be turned into a book to raise funds for a project, helping women on the streets better their lives, in Denver.
Usually, there are approximately ten to fifteen students, undergraduate and graduate level, who apply to this fellowship. While this fellowship is not open to the public, it is open to any and all majors.
“They have to show their skill as a photographer,” Schultz said. “So, there is a portfolio involved and then there is also a proposal.”
The criteria focus on the quality of the photography as well as the proposal; with specific emphasis on the photojournalism aspect, ensuring that the photographs tell a story along with being visually attractive.
This year’s winner completed his project, “In the Bed of a Truck: A Look at the Challenges Facing Seasonal Workers in Jackson Hole,” this summer. During the project development, he was able to interact with an array of people; most of college age or recent graduates from the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions.
“The focus of this project is to shed light on what everyday life is like for these individuals and explore the culture that has developed amidst this underrated labor force,” Wise said. “A lot of people in Jackson don’t pay much attention to this issue, if it is discussed, it is often just dismissed as something that’s always been around or passed off as fun for the car campers. However, the situation effects many employers, the quality of visitor experience, and the overall sense of fairness and equality in general.”
Recipients of the fellowship have focused on people in everyday life or nature, with many recipients continuing to succeed beyond the fellowship.
