How we told the visual story of a 5-year-old girl’s traumatic bus ride
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This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Candace Dane Chambers.
What makes this photo great
This week I covered multiple stories about the first week of school, and most were happy pieces featuring excited kids. But this story about a kindergartner left on a hot bus was heavier. On her first day, Zoe Fernandez was rushed to the hospital with a fever after a 90-minute bus ride without air conditioning or water. She thankfully stabilized quickly, and I visited the family a few days after the incident. Her mother, Sarah, was still shaken but welcomed me into their home to capture some images of their after-school routine. I spent some time chatting with Sarah and her girls, and then just observed their dynamic — waiting for quiet moments that captured their connection like this shot of Zoe lying in her mother’s lap as she reads. I appreciated the vulnerability and trust they offered me while telling their story.
How I got this shot
Shooting against a window can be difficult because you risk blown highlights and heavy shadow on your subject. But I used the light to create a rim effect that highlights both their faces nicely. I also did my best to fade into the background and not distract Zoe, which allowed me to capture this organic interaction between the two.
Technical details
Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with an EF 28-70mm f/2 L lens
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Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
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