Ann Arbor, MI, June 23, 2009: While its bright neon lights and outdoor seats look out of place along the residential East Ann Street, this Jimmy Johns outlet provides late night supper snacks to homeowners of the region. (Photo: Ted Chen)

One year at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism was such a whirlwind. For financial reasons, I would not do it again if I could turn back the clock, but during that year I did nurture a passion for photography that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Taking Advanced Photojournalism class was among the best decisions I made in that school, and in taught me how to be an effective shooting machine for the press. Although technicality and vision cannot be taught, cold-blooded tenacity and a grittiness to grind out the  best images in the toughest situations usually come from photojournalism training. Even though I’ve graduated, no offers for permanent positions await me, and I am stubbornly holding out for only photography work. My 10-day post-graduation, Alaska trip was an excuse to put off a serious sit-down session to evaluate how I can become a successful, money-making photographer, and to utilize the 1-year work permit fully.

The puzzle is still a messy box of pieces, but I’m piecing them day by day. First priorities is to get this website back on track, update the blog frequently, find clients, and most importantly, keep shooting to raise my skill level.

Ever since the Omnilogy Concert (mentioned in the last post), I had a couple of other paid assignments in New York. Now that I’m back in Ann Arbor, I’ll have to find new clients. That, to me, is the toughest part of running a nascent and independent business.