ABOUT US
We are photojournalism students at Central Michigan University who were eager to share the stories of the forgotten and neglected victims. Many people's lives were severely affected by the flood and we wanted to shed light on their lives after the flood.
Our original assignment was to photograph anyone adversely affected by the disastrous flood that hit Mid-Michigan last spring. After the first few students came back to the class and explained how the majority of victims were forgotten, we quickly realized that we needed to turn the assignment into the extended project you see here.
One of the first quotes we heard was from Carol Bogan, who is recovering from her second Midland flood. She said, “It’s one damn thing after another.” When Alanna Hunt, who told Carol’s story here, shared that quote with the class, we quickly realized we had our headline.
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We hope you enjoy reading all of the stories and thank you for visiting our website.
Meet The Team
OLIVIA
ALEXANDER
I will be graduating from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism at the end of May 2021. My hometown is Battle Creek, Michigan, also known as “Cereal City,” because it is also home to Kellogg and Post Cereal.
I only began taking photos a few years ago when I was offered an internship with a local photographer my senior year in high school. Immediately, I fell in love with the art and have been shooting photography ever since.
After graduation, I hope to earn a position at a lifestyle magazine or company somewhere out west, Colorado or Utah would be ideal. I plan to use my skills to capture moments in time that can connect with viewers on a deep level.
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KEARA
CHAPERON
I was born and raised in Chugiak, Alaska. I am senior who is majoring in Photojournalism with a minor in Sports Management at Central Michigan University.
I started taking pictures of landscapes my freshman year of high school, but I soon realized my passion was in sports photography. I like taking pictures of sports because I get to capture the crucial moments in the game whether that is a winning goal or losing a game by one point and everything in between.
My plans after graduation is to either intern or work for one of the hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey League with the hopes of eventually working for a National Hockey League team as their photographer. I also want to photograph the men and women’s hockey in the Winter Olympics.
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GRACE
DOWLING
I am a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in photojournalism.
When I graduate, I plan to find a job in either graphic design or photography.
I love helping people and am so happy that I have been given this opportunity to help the people affected by the flood. A little about me is that I love glitter, animals, and people. I grew up in a small town in the middle of nowhere and I love anything country. I hope you are moved by our project. Enjoy!
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MEGAN
DOYLE
I am a senior at Central Michigan University and will be graduating in December 2020 with a Bachelor's degree in Photojournalism. I was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan.
I have always enjoyed taking pictures of nature and wildlife. I love going to concerts, so I love taking pictures when I am in my element. I only recently found a passion for fashion photography and so I hope to do a mix of all of these after I graduate.
After graduation I plan on moving to a bigger city and working for a magazine or music venue, working in fashion photography or concert photography.
I would like to give a special thanks to Kent Miller and all he has done not only for me, but for all of my classmates as well.
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MALLORY
FINI
I am a senior and Broadcast and Cinematic Arts major at CMU. I am from Caro, Michigan and plan on going into broadcast production after graduation.
I enjoy shooting important moments in people’s lives and capturing their emotion and the gravity of their situation. I also enjoy concept photography and plan to broaden my conceptualizations as I move forward after graduation.
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LAUREN GARCHAR
I am a senior at Central Michigan University studying Photojournalism.
My passion for photography stemmed from my obsession with rock n' roll. I began my business; Motorcity Metal at the age of 16 and since then have found my true passion for concert photography and music documentary style multimedia.
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After graduation I hope to continue my journey as a touring concert photographer. The opportunity to document life on the road is a new avenue of photojournalism that I am excited to expand on.
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This class/project was a true test of photojournalism and am glad we as budding photojournalist can make an impact.
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Portfolio
LAKEN
HOODY
I am a senior majoring in photojournalism at Central Michigan University. I’m from Imlay City, Michigan. I’ve always loved taking photos, but the idea of being a photojournalist was something I realized I wanted to seek out seriously after taking my first photo course at CMU. I’ve been passionately telling people’s stories to the world through my photos ever since.
After graduation, I want to try out many types of photography, such as concert, sports, wedding, and wildlife photography, but my main goal is to eventually travel the world finding unique, unheard characters and telling their stories through photographs. Every person has their own story no matter how long one has lived on this earth, and I want the opportunity to tell it. Someone’s story could easily impact another person’s life from all the way across the world, they just need someone to capture it.
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CONOR
MCELROY
I am a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in Photojournalism. I am from Plymouth, MI and have been living between there and Mt. Pleasant during my final semester here as a college student. I like to shoot events, nature, and action shots like skateboarding.
After graduation, I would like to move out of Michigan to get into photography in a new location; there is a whole world out there I want to explore.
ALEXANDRA NORTON
I am a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in Photojournalism and minoring in Multi Media Design. Though I have lived in several cities across Michigan, I have most recently lived in Wixom, and consider that area to be my hometown.
I started photographing my junior year of high school and fell in love with the language of light, as they call it. Entering college, I started as a Biochemistry Major, but quickly realized it was not what I was passionate about. I love taking photos to control light, and to show how I see the world in my own artistic way.
After I graduate, I hope to either work at a large publication, ideally National Geographic or Vogue, or one day have my own studio photographing weddings.
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RICKEY
PORTIS
I am a senior at Central Michigan University Majoring in Photojournalism and minoring in Multimedia and design as well as art. I am from Ypsilanti Michigan. I wasn’t born there but it is the place where a grew up. The thing about Ypsilanti there’s always something strange going on if you know where to look. I spent most of childhood exploring the woods, dirt roads and small lakes that surrounded my parents home as well as downtown Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor whenever the chance came up.
For me photography is a way for me to show people how I see the world, like a quick look through my eyes. I shoot because I enjoy sharing adventures and experiences with others through the photos I take. Photography my way of sharing my life with other people.
ISAAC
RITCHEY
I am from Howard City, Michigan and I am expected to graduate in May 2021. I specialize in both the writing and visual aspects of journalism. I am the editor-in-chief at Central Michigan Life, CMU's award-winning student newspaper,  where I was the previous  photo editor.
After graduation, I would like to envelope myself in a community where I can tell stories of individuals.
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MATEO
SALLADE
I am a senior at Central Michigan University. The major I choose to study in was photojournalism. I am from Tinley Park, Illinois and live with my two parents and brother. Being near Chicago, I grew up looking enjoying taking photographs at the zoos and city buildings. This is possibly where my passion for taking wildlife photography grew. After visiting Yellowstone National Park, my mom got me a camera for my birthday so I could start shooting more often.
I believe in giving our planet and wildlife a voice since they do not have one. Photos can speak louder than words and showing people what we do to our planet through photos is a very important action.
After graduation, I would like to work for a national park or zoo to continue practicing my photography.
MAKENZIE SHUBNELL
I am a third-year student pursuing a degree in photojournalism from Central Michigan University. Growing up in Rochester Hills, Michigan allowed me to explore Detroit and its metro area with my camera, where I would frequently take day trips to walk around the city and capture whatever I found most interesting.
Working for my high school newspaper granted me access to the world of photojournalism, where I found a passion for making photos outside of my own creative enjoyment.
While I know what and where I love to photograph, I don’t have a clear-cut path for after graduation. Until I’m completely confident in what I’d love to do for the rest of my life, I’ll consider any and all possibilities.
KAYLA
SODNEY
I’m a junior studying photojournalism at Central Michigan University. I am from a small farming town in Michigan’s thumb called Brown City.
I’ve always loved the outdoors, and had a passion for photography and writing. My grandma, mom, and cousins all worked in photography studios, and my dad had his own videography business, so I guess you could say it runs in my veins.
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After graduation, I plan to photograph national parks and tell people's stories through photos.
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ALANNA
HUNT
I am a senior at Central Michigan University from Harper Woods, Michigan majoring in photojournalism. I enjoy taking photos because they capture special moments in time that are then frozen forever.
After graduation, I hope to work for a church in their media department.
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DONTAE
SUMPTER
I am a senior at Central Michigan university, majoring in Photojournalism and minoring in Multimedia Design. I’m from Mount Clemens, MI a small town in Macomb County.
I like to take shoot a bit of everything, photography I feel calm and like I can see the world as it really is through my lens. I plan on using some alternative process of photography as well as DSLR, like photograms and pinhole photography.
After graduation, I would like to travel and broaden my photographic skills.
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ANDREW
TRAVIS
I am a hometown kid from Shepherd, MI, just about 8 miles south of Mt. Pleasant and CMU.
I’m a senior studying photojournalism who plans on being either a freelance nature/wildlife photographer or a club photographer for the MLB.
With those lofty goals in mind, it’s important to note that I simply enjoy taking photos. There’s a certain connection that you feel with the moments that you capture that in many ways is indescribable - but to me, they’re slices of time frozen from my perspective, and it makes me feel at home in this big, wild world.
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BRICE
TUCKER
I am a senior from Linden, Michigan, studying Photojournalism at Central Michigan University.
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I enjoy using my ability as a photojournalist to explore the world and the important issues happening in it, while also telling stories that would otherwise go unheard without a photojournalist present.
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After graduation, I plan to continue to cover protest, social issues, militia activity and extremism in Michigan as a freelance photojournalist until I can find a more permanent job as a photojournalist.
RACHAEL
YADLOWSKY
I am a photojournalism senior from Grand Rapids, MI.
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I like taking photos because it allows me to freeze a moment and document it to share to the world.
After graduation I will be entering into the U.S. Navy as a photographer for five years.