Ross Taylor
December 10, 2023
Growing up, Ross Taylor found himself with his dad, and his dad was always developing film. They both spent hours in the darkroom together. So naturally, this is where his love for photography started.
“I learned that you can actually do it for a career. And I thought, gosh, that sounds amazing. And then I did one internship and I was hooked.”
Whether it’s through words, images, or visuals, journalism is the art of telling stories. Journalism’s crucial as it speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves. It brings light to topics that have been ignored or forgotten. Before switching to teaching, Taylor devoted his time to documentary journalism. He shared parts of peoples lives that are touching to viewers. As an individual, he affects many others simply through his generosity and kindness. He has empathy and compassion all around him, not just within his work.
He started as a local photographer for The Chapel Hill News while attending the University of South Carolina. He studied journalism and photography. He then climbed his way up to winning awards such as the photojournalist of the year from NPPA and even a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his work in Afghanistan. Taylor found that he can express stories through visuals better than words. Taylor said it took almost eight years for him to land his first position, and wasn't given many opportunities.
“But boy, when I got them [opportunities],” said Taylor.
Colleague and friend, Angie Chuang, was able to watch his work process on his short film, Mango House which was released in 2021. During a time where COVID-19 was still uncertain, refugees in Denver still had essential jobs, exposing themselves to the virus. Taylor was following an immigrant doctor who offered affordable aid to them. Even though Taylor was putting himself at risk for COVID-19, he gained important information and visuals for his story.
“Had he left that out, the story really would have been missing something,” said Chuang on Taylor’s ambition to feature shots of the sick refugees.
Taylor has now created bodies of work that capture raw and true emotions. He has covered everything from a trauma hospital in Afghanistan filled with horrifying war injuries to a recent project called the Hardest Days, which covered owners' last moments with their pets.
The Hardest Days (left), Role 3 Combat Hospital in Afghanistan (right)
Taylor is not only recognized for his compelling work, but has been described as one of the most genuine individuals some have met. Another friend and colleague, Eli Imadali, looks up to Taylor as a mentor. Imadali says that he’s always down to help and lifting people around him up. After taking a workshop with him, Imadali found himself moving to Colorado and now teaching all due to Taylor.
“He’s just a person that makes the industry better,” said Imadali
He cares for students and those around him daily. He even took extra classes with Chuang on how to be a better professor when previously winning many teaching awards. Always striving to be the best at his job, Taylor is a positive influence on CU Boulder and everything surrounding. Although he’s not in the field as much as he was, his main goal now is to help others reach their full potential by using all the knowledge and experience he now has.
“He really doesn't need to help me, he just always goes out of his way to,” said Imadali, “It just exemplifies what kind of a person he is.”
