I am Tamara Knox (She/her). I began my journey through photography 6 years ago. I love life, nature, people, and photographs. Photographs can force us to see the love, light, and reality of things. The world is filled with wonderful experiences and events along with poverty, hatred, pollution, deception, etc. We cannot begin to help others if we are not aware that the problem exists. I want to be a strong voice to help others. If something from my photographs captures my audience’s interest, and through that, causes something to be done about a disturbing situation, then I have done my part to help someone cope with his or her situation. Photography has been my healing and biggest motivator to rebuild my life with my son. It has been our blessing. And both my son and I use it to bless others. On a very positive note, if someone asks me to take part in their memorable experiences by asking me to take his or her photograph, that is a true honor as well.
As a Student Personnel Assistant, I organized guest speakers’ events and coordinated volunteers’ assignments. I oversaw lighting setups for major events, and I created and maintained the department website and social media. I marketed events through the timely display of flyers, banners, and social media. As A facilitator or speaker, I have led several events related to using visual arts like photography or other media to empower individuals that were students and/or trauma survivors.
As a passionate freelance photographer and photojournalist, I have created and continue to create inspirational and motivational photographs and multimedia pieces.
I moved to the Photography and Visual Journalism Department to support disproportionately impacted groups. I am interning with Beloved Survivors Trauma recovery center. I work at Ethical Narrative as a visual journalist and Director of ethics and Social responsibilty in media.
I have a B.S. in Strategic Management and A.A. in Photography. Currently, I am enrolled in the CSU Stanislaus State University MSW program. My goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker to facilitate workshops within the community to teach trauma survivors how to heal through photography.
I was influenced by LIFE Photographer Gordon Parks to explore photojournalism. I loved how he took very thought-provoking situations and made them beautiful in his images. My favorite quote from Mr. Parks is;
"I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty,
against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs.
I knew at that point I had to have a camera."