We asked aspiring and award-winning photographers to reflect on their careers and share some of their best work.

Whether they are parachuting into war zones or documenting local communities, check out the stunning photos taken by AAJA photographers from around the world.

A student from West Portola Elementary School makes her way down the street during the Chinese New Year parade on Saturday, Feb. 23. (James Tensuan | The San Francisco Chronicle)

May 1: Dai Sugano

May 6: Maya Sugarman

May 8: Conner Jay

May 10: James Tensuan

May 13: Charles Dharapak

May 15: Julie Jacobson

May 17: Vino Wong

May 20: Stephen Yang

May 23: An Rong Xu

May 29: Michael Schennum 

Michael Schennum is a staff photographer at The Arizona Republic. Before that he interned at the Appleton Post-Crescent and the Palo Alto Daily News. He has also taught photojournalism at ASU.Michael graduated from UC Santa Cruz and took photojournalism classes with Ken Kobre at San Francisco State University. He is an active member of AAJA, and has sat on the board of the local Arizona chapter for seven years. He has done freelance assignments for many magazines and newspapers across the country. In 2005 he attended the Eddie Adams Workshop and won the Sports Illustrated Assignment award.

Michael Schennum How long have you been in photojournalism? 8 years professionally. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? After I first took an Intro to Photography class and I was hooked. I spent a lot of time shortly after doing street photography around the Bay Area, and on vacations. What do you love most about photography? The ability to meet people of all walks of life. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? AAJA has been essential to my career. Through networking, I was able to land my current job. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Learn multimedia, and do what you want. Your future job can be anything you want it to be.

A floodlight illuminates a fire from a small plane crash in the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction on Wednesday, November 23, 2011. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

 A run-down trailer park where many registered sex offenders have moved into in Miami on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

Motti Lavyan, of Brea, CA, takes a photo of the leaves at the West Fork of Oak Creek during peak fall foliage season in Sedona on Friday, October 22, 2010. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

Surfer Mike Brumet goes “over the falls” during the first heat of the 2004-2005 Mavericks Surf Contest in Half Moon Bay, CA. During the contest waves ranged from 25 to 45 feet tall. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

A couple gets caught in a dust storm at the Burning Man festival in Nevada. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

A joshua tree at Hidden Valley Campground on Thursday, March 22, 2012. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

Lil Miss Rodeo Queen Berlinda Ben (Cq), 9, of San Carlos Apache Reservation. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

One of the students in the 3rd grade curiously looks into the camera during recess at the School for Children of Migrant Workers in Nanjing, China. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

Laronda Simmons grieves alongside family and friends at a street side memorial for her uncle Al V. Griffen, who was murdered the night before.  He is the 93rd murder this year, which Oakland City Officials believe will reach well over a hundred by the end of the year. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

In observance of Dia De Los Muertos Color Guard Staff Sergeant Ric Reynolds finishes folding the flag at a performance at Estrella Mountain Community College on Wednesday in Avondale. The flag fold is typically done for a funeral and the crosses are a symbolic representation of Arlington National Cemetery. (Michael Schennum | The Arizona Republic)

Ankur Dholakia is an award winning photojournalist and a Multimedia Producer at The Detroit News. He has covered a wide variety of assignments in and around the Motor City. He was born in England and raised in southern California. Ankur was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska with the U.S. Army and considers Alaska to be his second home. He finds the Motor City to be a fascinating place. There is never a dull moment.

Ankur Dholakia How long have you been in photojournalism? I have been in photojournalism since 2002. I currently work at The Detroit News where I started out as an intern. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? After I left the U.S. Army, I was pondering my next move. When I was in college, I joined the newspaper staff as a photographer. I then started to shadow the local newspapers’ photojournalist and I thought to myself, This would be an interesting profession. I gathered my pictures, sought advice and charged head-on. I was able to get an internship with The Detroit News through the Chips Quinn Scholarship program. What do you love most about photography? I love how the light and shadows play off each other to create visually stunning pictures. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? As an Asian photographer, it has helped me understand where I come from and how other cultures are similar. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? If you really want to become a photojournalist then put your passion into photojournalism. Learn by perusing photo books and see how they approach each assignment. Go out there and start making pictures. Find an issue you care about or look within your family or friends and document their lives. Go explore!

A villager in the Kabini area of India, sets a coracle in the water.  A coracle is a small lightweight circular boat used for fishing and transporation. (Ankur Dholakia )

A villager watches the waves go by in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India. (Ankur Dholakia )

Posh Spice, aka, Victoria Beckham, entertains the Palace crowd. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

Detroit firefighters come out of thick smoke as they climb back down from a house fire. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

Tiger Woods waits for his turn on the 18th hole in the final round of the 2006 Buick Open in Grand Blanc, Michigan on August 6, 2006. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

Actress Ashley Judd, who is married to Indy Car driver Dario Franchitti (not pictured), talks to a member of his pit crew before the start of the Firestone Indy 400 race at Brooklyn, Michigan on July 30, 2006. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

 A boy cools off in the rain during a break in action at the Firestone Indy 400 race in Brooklyn, Michigan on July 30, 2006. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

A photographer takes a picture of a model with a Ferrari in the background at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, left, levels Detroit Red Wings’ Brad Stuart during game one of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Ankur Dholakia | The Detroit News)

An Rong Xu is a Chinese-American photographer based in New York City. His work explores identity within the Chinese-American community, and the evolving social philosophy within, while photographing the transition from immigrant to American. Xu graduated with a BFA in photography from the School of Visual Arts in May 2012, he is currently the Artist in Residence at East Meets West, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a Kong Family Fellow.

An Rong Xu How long have you been in photojournalism? I have been photographing for over 6 years and have been invested in photojournalism for 4 years. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? When you start, you just worry about making one good photo; it’s easy to make one good photo. It takes a lot more to make a group of photos that tell a story and make a bigger impact. When I realized that, that’s when I decided on photojournalism. What do you love most about photography? I love that everyone sees differently. Photography allows for the ability for me to work on my own and grow as a person. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? I believe being AAPI has opened doors for me in making work. Being AAPI allows for me to put my history and my story into perspective and using that to make photographs with meaning. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Photograph what you love and don’t be afraid to go where others have not.

Helen Zia, from the portfolio The Family. (An Rong Xu | Hyphen Magazine)

Nobuko Miyamoto, from the portfolio The Family. (An Rong Xu | Hyphen Magazine)

Charlie Chin, from the portfolio The Family. (An Rong Xu | Hyphen Magazine)

Hunting for Bigfoot in the California Redwoods the cast of Finding Bigfoot. (An Rong Xu | Maxim Magazine)

Hunting for Bigfoot in the California Redwoods with BoBo, from the cast of Finding Bigfoot. (An Rong Xu | Maxim Magazine)

Emma Stone prepping for a scene, on the set of Amazing Spiderman 2.

The band, Run River North, at the New World Mall Food Court in NYC. (An Rong Xu | Run River North)

Brian AKA Buddha, at Grand Park handball courts in NYC.

Backstage with Contestant number 5, of the Miss Model Angel contest.

Mr. Wong, a funeral florist in Chinatown, NYC.

Stephen Yang has three years of journalism photography under his belt working with Bloomberg News, Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. The world traveler always has a camera in hand. He says, “The camera is a great way to document what you see in the world, whether it’s in Egypt or in East Flatbush.” Yang is an adrenaline junkie who loves the thrill of the chase, from taking photographs on news stake-outs, meeting new and interesting people, to finding a way to make a photograph look good on the fly in any location. While he covers various events, nightclubs, street scenes, fashion and food, news photography is his love because he says he can be a “faithful but perceptive observer”.

Stephen Yang How long have you been in photojournalism? I have been in journalism since 2010 when I started stringing for Bloomberg news in Shanghai. I moved back to New York in 2010 and started working for the New York Post and the Wall Street Journal 2012. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? I started off shooting film, with one 50mm lens, doing mostly abstract geometrical patterns, travel, architecture, and simple portraits. Me and my best friend from high school used to walk around New York late at night, seeing what was going on, and that inspired me to take my camera everywhere. I studied literature in college but always wanted to take pictures. After college I took a job at an architecture firm in Shanghai which led me to live there for three years, starting in fall 2007. I learned how to use a digital camera, began shooting all sorts of things as a freelancer, events, nightclubs, street scenes, products, food, a little bit of fashion and then journalism, which I liked the best. When my friend Qilai Shen got me my first gig shooting for Bloomberg News in Shanghai during the 2010 Expo, I realized I liked being outside with my cameras shooting natural light the most, not in some studio tweaking lights. Journalism was a way for me to combine all the things I love to shoot, and to be outside meeting people, the variety, and to be a faithful but perceptive observer.  I have no formal training, but I am hungry to learn about them all and while I love working as a journalist, I still consider myself to be a photographer interested in many things. What do you love most about photography? I love experiencing new things and talking to people, seeing the stories very few get to see first-hand. The camera is a great way to document what you see in the world, whether it’s in Egypt or in East Flatbush. I like the challenge of getting a specific photograph, being outside a courthouse all day looking for someone with only a vague description, finding them, getting that shot in the 15 seconds before they get into a car and speed away. The adrenaline and the hunting aspect of the job, looking for that one frame that says it all, boiling down a scene. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? Being Asian has helped me in many ways. While in Egypt I had many people come up to me, so curious as to why I was there. That curiosity on their part matched my curiosity in them and created a situation where we could share information freely, an exchange which was essential for getting good photos. By being so foreign to their lives, I was able to gain access because they wanted access to me as well. I wasn’t the only one asking questions, in other words. Giving them the power to ask me questions gave me more time and ability to ask them questions. Another example is when I go to poor neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. There is a certain fascination from Black and Latino communities about Asians. I’ve endured being called “Jackie Chan”, kung fu, Wu Tang, people shouting “ni hao,” all those, but if you can get past the reduction of a face to a trope, laugh at it, sometimes others laugh back and take you in. Being Asian, again, adds a bit of mystery. I used to envy being White, but I’ve come to the conclusion that there are many times that being a minority allows me to connect with other minorities. Having been disrespected in the past allows me to have more compassion for others who have also been disenfranchised. It’s not a 100% thing, but I have found that just being Asian allows me to walk down a street and not be thought of as a rich white kid, a gentrifier, a hipster, which some of my white friends experience. Also, this is kind of lame, but a lot of people like Chinese food. I’ve been able to connect with so many people just over the fact that we both like noodle soup. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Observe and listen. Don’t rush things, and make mistakes, but be smart enough to learn from them. And figure out where the action is!

A street fight on South 2nd street, Brooklyn, NY. (Stephen Yang | New York Post)

DOA in the subway, New York (Stephen Yang | New York Post)

The Chrysler Building, New York. (Stephen Yang)

The Highline, New York.  (Stephen Yang)

 A boy salutes in Tahrir Square, Cairo. (Stephen Yang)

Gun and Sandwich in Tahrir Square, Cairo. (Stephen Yang)

A portrait of an Egyptian man in Cairo. (Stephen Yang)

Garbageman, Cairo. (Stephen Yang)

Tahrir Square, Cairo. (Stephen Yang)

Collage, New York. (Stephen Yang)

Vino Wong is a veteran award-winning photojournalist. He moved to Malaysia in November 2012, where he works as a corporate communications manager at Majupadu Development, a commercial and real estate development company. He is also a stringer for CNN covering global travel stories. Prior to his move, he was with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution since October of 2005, and in June of 2011, he joined the WSBTV and WSB Radio as a multi-media journalist to provide breaking news coverage as part of the Cox Media Group. Before joining AJC, he worked for various publications, including: The Insider Magazine, Democrat & Chronicle, Greater Niagara Newspapers, Emporia Gazette, and The Salina Journal. For his pursuit of photojournalism, he has received awards and honors from the Associated Press, Kansas Press Association, Georgia Press Association, New York State Associated Press, National Press Photographers Association and the Asian American Journalists Association. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business communications from Kansas Wesleyan University and a proud 2009 Asian American Journalists Association (ELP) Executive Leadership Program alumnus.

Vino Wong How long have you been in photojournalism? My career has spanned over 18 years and my chosen path has driven me from the Midwest to Western New York and to the South East and now Malaysia. I’m currently in Corporate Communications and a stringer for CNN covering travel visual stories. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? At heart, I am a storyteller who sees and appreciates life from behind and in front of the lens. My calling started in 1994 while in college using my first camera, Pentax K1000. There is a powerful, emotional response to photographs, which is what fuels my love of this art. What do you love most about photography? My love of people translates to photography. Each of us has a fire in our hearts burning for something. It’s our responsibility in life to find it and keep it lit. Photography gives me a wondrous adventure that excites the very core of my being allowing me to live the story that no one else can live – the story of my own unique life. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? It gave me an opportunity to advocate and share our culture, just like some through food by inviting them to talk about or share dishes and I, creatively through the viewfinder with our audiences. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Photograph what you love. Never feel embarrassed to share your images with others because you don’t think they are “good enough.” Let’s get real, not every frame is destined for the front page, so cut yourself some slack and don’t get caught up in pessimistic self-judgement. Do what moves you. Be who you are. Explore life’s mysteries until you figure out what matters most to you. The world is your newsroom.

Wat Phan Tao Buddhist temple in the Old City, Chiang Mai Jan. 24-28, 2013

Hmong Village of Doi Pui, located near the top of the mountain, high above Chiang Mai. (Vino Wong)

One of the most beautiful areas in Roswell is the City’s Old Mill Park. A 30-foot dam and millrace were constructed on Vickery Creek in the mid-to-late 1830s to supply power for the mills. (Vino Wong)

Fall scene at one of the most beautiful areas in Roswell is the City’s Old Mill Park. (North of Atlanta) (Vino Wong)

Snorkeling in the aquatic freedom of beautiful Ko Samui, Thailand. Shot with the Canon S100 in the WP-DC43 underwater housing. (Vino Wong)

Over 100 Atlanta-area ballerinas glide, leap, pirouette with the hopes of becoming the next rising star during the School of American Ballet’s 2012 Summer Courses at Atlanta Ballet. (Vino Wong)

A temple in Siem Reap… Cambodia’s genocide of 1975-1979 resulting in two-million deaths. (Vino Wong)

The owner of this car, Ira Young, was consumed by the sinkhole early Saturday and told a reporter vandals cut the seats and stole his radio, causing more damage to the vehicle near the corner of West Liddell Road and Club Place in Duluth. The driver of the was uninjured according to Brian Kelly, spokesman for Gwinnett County Police. (Vino Wong)

Julie Jacobson is an AP staff photographer based in Las Vegas who has covered major disasters and dramatic events in the United States and overseas. Her assignments have included floods in the Midwest, hurricanes in Florida, the wars in Iraq war and Afghanistan, and the Haiti earthquake. A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Jacobson graduated from the University of Kansas, worked as a staff photographer at the Kansas City Star before joining AP.

Julie Jacobson How long have you been in photojournalism? I’ve been in photojournalism for 22 years. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? Like most college students, I thought I knew what I wanted to do. I started out pre-med but still needed an actual major. Through the process of trying to find a major (didn’t want biology) I found that I liked science a lot but didn’t have a passion for it. But I really enjoyed learning about different cultures and places, people and their histories. I’d never considered journalism or even photojournalism even though I was always playing with my SLR camera and making candid photos of my roommates and friends. Then one day paging through a National Geographic magazine reading a story about an ancient site in Egypt under excavation, I realized that someone had to be there to make the photos. That was a decisive moment in which I realized I could combine my love of learning about a variety of subjects and share that knowledge and those experiences with others through images. I enrolled in the J-School for the next semester and the first black and white print I ever made was a magical moment watching the image slowly appear in the developer. I was hooked. I never looked back to pre-med again. What do you love most about photography? For me photography is sort of a personal journey in which the more I learn about others by observation and interpretation, the more I learn about myself and grow as an individual. I also always find it a privilege to be invited into someone’s private life not only to get a glimpse of it, but also to have permission to respectfully share it with others. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? It’s not something I’ve ever really considered. I’m half Jewish (eastern European), too, and rarely think of myself as either an AAPI or as Jewish. To be honest I don’t know that it’s hurt or helped in any respect. People only bring attention to my ethnicity because they can’t tell what I am. If it has hurt or helped, I’ve been blind to it. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Find ways to pursue the stories you are passionate about. Work hard at being good at the things that you have less enthusiasm for. Either way, always find a way to enjoy what you are doing or at least learn something valuable from the experience. Embrace the process and the pictures will reveal themselves. When you like what you do it shows in your work. And when that happens, good things come.

A United States Marines CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with the 3rd Marine Air Wing’s HMM 268th helicopter unit, passes over a herd of camels as it heads back to base after dropping off some troops at a forward position in Iraq Monday, March 31, 2003. (Julie Jacobson | AP)

An Iraqi boy offers some water to a United States Marine of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, while he was out on patrol Friday, April 11, 2003 in a neighborhood near central Baghdad. Marines patrolled through streets in search of any remnants of resistance as well as intelligence on weapons caches or hiding places of enemy forces. (Julie Jacobson | AP)

An Iraqi man, suspected of involvement in attacks on coalition forces, is questioned in the living room of his home during a raid by the 82nd Airborne Division Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 near Fallujah, Iraq.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

Britney Spears, left, and Madonna kiss during the opening performance of the MTV Video Music Awards at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, on Aug. 28, 2003. On Aug. 1 MTV marks 25 years on the air.   (Julie Jacobson | AP)

 Cuba’s Dayron Robles, left, races ahead to win the men’s 110m hurdles race at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, on July 28, 2007.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

A woman stands in line with about 2,000 other people as U.S. Army soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division distribute one liter of water each at a camp set up on a golf course in Port-au- Prince, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010. International aid flowing into Haiti after last week’s earthquake has been struggling with logistical problems, and many people are still desperate for food and water.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

In this multiple exposure frame taken at one-sixth of a second intervals, Anna Li performs on the balance beam during the preliminary round of the women’s Olympic gymnastics trials, Friday, June 29, 2012, in San Jose, Calif.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

In this Friday, Aug. 10, 2012 photo, South Korea’s Son Yeon-jae performs during the rhythmic gymnastics individual all-around qualifications  at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

San Diego Padres center fielder Dave Roberts leaps for a ball hit by New York Mets’ Mike Cameron during the fourth inning Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at Shea Stadium in New York.  (Julie Jacobson | AP)

  Russia’s Yelena Isinbayeva reacting as she breaks the world record as she wins gold in the women’s pole vault final  during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium  at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva has been voted female European athlete of the year. (Julie Jacobson | AP)

Charles Dharapak was born in New York and studied print journalism and economics at New York University. He joined the Associated Press in 1995 as a staff photographer based in Southeast Asia. While in Bangkok, he covered the Cambodian civil war and the pro-democracy movement in Burma and later became AP’s chief photographer and photo editor in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he covered the unrest in the archipelago that led to the fall of Suharto, East Timor’s independence, various communal and religious conflicts, and the rise of Muslim extremism. In 2002, he spent considerable time photographing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since 2003, Dharapak has been based in Washington, D.C., covering national politics, including the Bush administration, the 2004, 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, and the Obama White House. His work in Gaza in 2002 was recognized by the Associated Press Managing Editors, and he has received awards for his Washington political coverage from the National Press Photographers Association and the White House News Photographers Association. He was named the 2012 White House News Photographers Association Still Photographer of the Year.

Charles Dharapak How long have you been in photojournalism? I started my photojournalism career with the Associated Press in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1995. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? It happened by accident, really. Coming from a family of doctors, I was naturally pre-med and had already been accepted into New York University School of Medicine. But I was doing a print journalism major which led to taking one photojournalism elective class. There we discussed the potential effectiveness of still images and how they communicated. My science background also allowed me to quickly excel in the darkroom! What do you love most about photography? Having a camera in hand and the title of “journalist” allowed me to be up front and close to history as it happened. In covering conflict I wasn’t a combatant, but a witness. In chronicling politics my lens was partisan and tried to show public figures as who they were. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? I grew up in New York City with Thai parents who always instilled the importance of retaining my heritage. Language was a big part of that. Having that skill and understanding of the culture was instrumental in landing that first job with AP in Bangkok. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? You are a journalist before you are a photographer. Anyone interested in getting into journalism must be voracious consumers of news and current events. It’s a total commitment. You have to live it and breathe it.

Indonesians run out of a ransacked ethnic-Chinese owned store with goods in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, May 14, 1998. Rioting continued in the capital as people vented their anger and frustration over the country’s worst economic crisis in decades. Dictator Suharto would resign after decades of authoritarian rule the following week. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

Khmer Rouge soldiers who split with leader Pol Pot ride on a tank to join other breakaway Khmer Rouge factions in Phnom Prouk, northwestern Cambodia, Friday, August 16, 1996. Spirits were high as the men were to join their peace desiring compatriots since after their Khmer Rouge loyalist commander fled his stronghold on Thursday. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

Fabian Charles, an indigenous Dayak, stands in front of two Madurese settlers he said he and his gang killed and beheaded just half an hour ago, on the outskirts of Sampit, central Kalimantan province, on Borneo Island, about 800 kilometers (480 miles) northeast of Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2001. Thousands of refugees fleeing ethnic slaughter by Dayaks are being evacuated from Sampit by naval ship after violence which has claimed at least 270 lives this week, according to officials. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

Palestinians show young boys how to properly hold their assault rifles during a rally organized by the Palestinian Public Resistance in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip Monday, Feb. 25, 2002. Headbands read: “Friends of Martyrs” and “Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.” (Charles Dharapak | AP)

East Timorese nuns walk during a candlelight vigil for peace in the provincial capital of Dili, about 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, May 13, 1999.  Hundreds of East Timorese on Thursday held a peaceful procession in the capital of the troubled territory to commemorate the victims of recent clashes between pro-independence and pro-Indonesian groups.   A year and a half later East Timor would vote for independence from Indonesia. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

President Bush and graduate Theodore Shiveley from Plano, Texas, bump chests at the United States Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo., Wednesday, May 28, 2008. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

President Barack Obama shakes the prosthetic hand of U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Leroy Arthur Petry of Santa Fe, N.M., who received the Medal of Honor for his valor in Afghanistan in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Petry lost his right hand as he tossed aside a live grenade during a 2008 firefight in Afghanistan, sparing the lives of his fellow Army Rangers. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

First lady Michelle Obama, wearing a hat and sunglasses to avoid being identified, pushes a shopping cart as she walks from the checkout lane after shopping at a Target department store in Alexandria, Va., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

President Barack Obama drops his BlackBerry while heading to greet well-wishers in Memphis, Tenn., Monday, May 16, 2011. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

Marine One helicopter kicks up snow and ice as it lands on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011, prior to President Barack Obama’s departure to Cleveland, Ohio. (Charles Dharapak | AP)

James Tensuan is a Sophomore at San Jose State University studying journalism. His interest in photography began with a book by Dorothea Lange and a film camera. Since then, he has worked for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the PBS NewsHour, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Courier-Journal as a Chips Quinn Scholar. SFBAPPA recently honored him with the Luci S. Williams Houston Memorial Award as the runner-up to the Student Photographer of the Year.

James Tensuan How long have you been in photojournalism? I’ve been working for newspapers since I was 16-years-old. I got my start in photojournalism while working for the Mountain View Voice–my town’s weekly paper. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? I recall looking at Dorothea Lange’s work and being completely captivated by her style. I didn’t know at the time that it was photojournalism, but I knew that was the type of photography I wanted to do. What do you love most about photography? I get to take pictures every day! It also allows me to explore my community and be out in the open. I really enjoy challenging myself every day to become a better photographer. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? Being an AAPI has really helped with access while working in the Bay Area. There have been a number of times where families have been hesitant about talking to the media, but once they find out that I’m half Filipino then we immediately have something to bond over. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? Set your personal standards high–higher than what your editors might expect of you. Really push yourself to make interesting images and really be confident in what you’re doing. Fake it ’til you make it!

A scene from the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (James Tensuan | PBS NewsHour)

A scene from the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (James Tensuan | PBS NewsHour)

The line to Ben’s Chili Bowl wraps around the block prior to the Presidential Inauguration. (James Tensuan | PBS NewsHour)

An officer watches as a flag is put up at the in front of the HP Pavilion on Thursday, March 7.  A memorial for Sgt. Loran “Butch” Baker and Elizabeth Chase Butler was held at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. (James Tensuan | The San Francisco Chronicle)

A mourner looks on at a memorial site in Santa Cruz, Calif.  (James Tensuan | The San Francisco Chronicle)

A student form West Portola Elementary School make her way down the street during the Chinese New Year parade on Saturday, Feb. 23. (James Tensuan | The San Francisco Chronicle)

Gus Lease blows out the candles on his birthday cake. (James Tensuan | Spartan Daily )

A nurse tends a premature baby at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA. (James Tensuan | Shift Magazine )

Shelly Martinez gets dragged off by Alexis Doreuko as they go head to head in the ring on Friday, March 1.  Hoodslam takes place on the first Friday of every month at the Oakland Metro Operahouse. (James Tensuan | The San Francisco Chronicle)

Boxers connect during a match in Havana, Cuba. (James Tensuan | San Jose State University)

Conner Jay believes in the power of images and their ability to inspire change. His pursuits through photojournalism have lead to a love for social documentation and narratives. Although born in California, Conner has lived in Saudi Arabia, England and Italy. In the future, he hopes to continue his migration, exploring every continental facet of humanity and eventually work in areas of conflict.Currently, Conner is a photographer at the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, working on projects combining layered media, utilizing audio and video with still images. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and The Star- Ledger, while being recognized by the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Press Photographer’s Association and San Francisco Bay Area Press Photographer’s Association. Conner is based in San Francisco California.

Conner Jay How long have you been in photojournalism? I’ve been working as a photojournalist since late 2008. I got my first gig working in Jersey City covering crime and the dense, urban community. After that, I took my first real newspaper job came from an opportunity in the small agricultural town of Salinas, CA. I have been working around Northern California ever since and am currently a staff photojournalist at the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa. How and why did you decide to become a photojournalist? When my family moved to the Middle East when I was 13, a camera gave me a license to explore my new home. Ever since, I knew I wanted to tell visual narratives and explore the world in a deep, meaningful manner. Journalism is my excuse. A camera is my tool. What do you love most about photography? I love that photography can marry pure storytelling with surrealism. It can hang in a gallery, or be viewed over your cheerios, or seen in almost any platform. It’s still one of the most powerful mediums for its pathos. How has being an AAPI helped/hurt your photojournalism career? I’m HAPA, so having a Cantonese father and Irish American mother has given me an ambiguously ethnic look. This has been a huge advantage working as a photojournalist as I feel comfortable in almost any community. While I grew up in Saudi Arabia, most people thought I was Arab. When I was working in Salinas, a lot of people thought I was Hispanic. Having a diverse background has always helped me relate to the communities I cover. What advice did you wish someone gave you when you were starting out? I would tell any aspiring photojournalist to pursue the issues and themes that you are passionate about. Truly caring and having an interest in what you cover translates to an image.

Salinas police officers and investigators mark evidence around the body of Francisco Hereida, 20, who shot and killed in the parking lot of an apartment complex Tuesday night along the 500 block of John Street night in Salinas. Hereida is the cities ninth homicide of the year and was one of four gang related shooting victims in the last five days in Monterey County. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

The pallbearers for Rogelio Serrato carry his coffin to carry him into Greenfield Holy Trinity Cemetery on Thursday in Greenfield. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Police officer Jose Rodriguez conducts a search after a traffic stop with a car occupied by active gang members September 18 in Soledad. The four cities of Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City have a combined population of close 64,000 — and about 1,500 of those people are gang members, say police. The largest city in the valley, Salinas, has a population of about 145,000 people and  3,500 gang members. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Rita Serrato, center, screams at officers after discovering that her son Rogelio Serrato died during a Monterey County Sheriff’s SWAT operation January 4 in his home along San Antonio Drive in Greenfield. The sheriff was searching for the suspects of a shooting at the Mucky Duck bar in Monterey. While Rogelio Serrato was a registered gang member with connections to the Norteno criminal organization, he was not a suspect in the shooting. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Family, friends and Norteno gang associates of Rogelio Serrato begin his funeral procession towards Greenfield Holy Trinity Cemetery on January 13 in Greenfield. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

US Attorney Melinda Haag, on the right, listens to Salinas police chief Louis Fetherolf whisper details about a recent operation seizing nine military-style assault rifles in Salinas during a press conference December 25 at City Hall. The operation was spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and incorporated over 70 federal, state and local law enforcement officers. Because of the large gang presence in the Salinas Valley, joint operations between agencies are common. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

The Soledad police department listen in to their evening briefing before going out to patrol the streets September 18 in Soledad. The small police force makes combatting gangs difficult, so the the four cities of Soledad, Gonzales, Greenfield and King City have implemented the Four Cities For Peace initiative that brings officers from each city together for joint suppression operations. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Flora Cristobal holds a picture of her 15-year-old son Rodolfo Cristobal while her daughter looks at a picture of her late brother during a peace rally August 1 in Salinas. Rodolfo was shot and killed in a gang related shooting last Oct. 14 on Archer Street in Salinas. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Kayla Armenta, 5, rides next to the coffin holding her uncle Rogelio Serrato during his funeral procession Thursday at Greenfield Holy Trinity Cemetery. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)

Joel Aguilar reflects about the night he shot in a gang related shooting April 14 at his home in Salinas. Aguilar is paralyzed from the waist down with limited mobility in his arms after he was shot five time in the neck and head. The injury has been hard on Aguilar’s parents, who both left their jobs to care for their son. His mother wakes up every four hours at night to change his position in the bed so he doesn’t develop bed sore. “I don’t think she’s had a full nights sleep since this happened to me,” said Aguilar. (Conner Jay | The Salinas Californian)