Chris Cearnal

Thank you for viewing my portfolio in consideration for the 2021 summer photojournalism internship.

I am grateful for the mentorship and support of these references:

Beth Nakamura with the Oregonian

Erika Schultz with the Seattle Times

Jussi Lynch Grut with New Journalist Magazine

I have spent most nights since the early spring photographing the evolving Portland protest movement.

In 2014 I travelled to Cuba with a delegation of scholars from the University of Oregon to photograph the fincas and food distribution methods that helped Cuba survive the Special Period. We also spent time photographing health and wellbeing in Cuban children.

After the devastating fires in the Northwest this summer I photographed families seeking shelter at the Oregon State fairgrounds and the volunteers helping them. 

In 2019 I photographed the NYC Pride Parade with the Veteran's Association of New York.

I am interested in how families relate to one another physically.

I spent the fall of 2019 photographing and writing stories of the lives of residents of Lilac Meadows a new family shelter in Portland.

From 2016 to late 2018 I worked with the Portland Public Schools and GET UP to capture the experiences of hopeful first generation college students. 

I am currently working on a photo essay following several disabled protesters active in the Portland protest movement through their daily lives over several months to better understand the role of white allies in the movement and the impact of trauma and police violence on protester's lives.

In my video work since the COVID pandemic I have been filming a series of videos from behind glass to accompany autobiographical audio pieces by those affected by the virus.