Michael Blackshire
Photo by: Shaban Athuman
Born in Louisville, Kentucky. I am currently studying Visual Communication at Ohio University. I have an undergrad degree in Photo Journalism, Film, with a minor in African American Studies from Western Kentucky University. I am immersed in the communities that are not seen on the news. I enjoy photojournalism and many forms of video. I enjoy the landscape of Bluegrass that my forefathers built and the mountains that shape our nation. I love how photojournalism can introduce you to people that are from different perspectives, backgrounds, states, and countries than your own, but will eventually have a lasting impact on you. I love the stories of the old timers and the people who never have their voices heard. A lover of the South, the rural West, and countries that I have yet to see.
Journalism Scholarships and Awards:
Los Angeles Press Club’s National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards
First Place - Best Journalistic Use of Social Media to Tell or Enhance a Story for Their Video
2025 Foot in the Door Fellowship Program
Missouri Photo Workshop:
Full Ride Workshop Scholarship Recipient 2024
Hearst Journalism:
2nd Place Picture Stories 2021
1st Place Team Project Multimedia 2018
6th Place News and Features 2019
7th Place Picture Stories 2019
9th Place Picture Stories 2018
College Photographer of the Year:
Portfolio - Runner-Up 2020
Portfolio - Third Place 2023
Bronze - Domestic Picture Story 2020
General News - Silver 2020
Award of Excellence - Features 2018
Bronze - Team Online Project 2018
Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar:
Rich Mahan Student Portfolio 2019
First Place in Features 2019
Getty Images
Getty Inclusion Scholarship 2020 through National Association of Black Journalists
Getty Inclusion Scholarship 2021 through National Association of Black Journalists
National Press Photographers Foundation:
James Brown/Frank Folwell Story Telling Scholarship 2025
Bob East Scholarship 2022
C. Thomas Hardin and Mary C. Hardin Scholarship 2021
Fuji Film Scholarship 2020
Jimi Lott Scholarship 2019
Bob Lynn Grant 2020
James Alan Cox Foundation:
Student Photojournalism Scholarship 2019
Kentucky News Photographers Association Student Contest:
First Place: General News, Spot News, Feature, News Picture Story, Feature Picture Story 2020
Judges Award 2020