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Photojournalist pioneer imparts her perspective to others
In 2002, Fulbright Scholar Margarita Montealegre (M.F.A. ’04/A) arrived at Virginia Commonwealth University from Managua, Nicaragua, for graduate photography and film study in VCU’s prestigious School of the Arts.
As the first female photojournalist in her native country, Montealegre brought with her an impressive resume of accomplishments. In 1979, she was awarded the Organization of International Journalists First World Prize in contemporary photography for the coverage of Nicaraguan political events, riots and war. The republic’s president designated Montealegre as the official photographer for the visits of Pope John Paul II in 1996 and U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1999.
Montealegre readily absorbed what the VCU photography and film program offered, building on her stellar credentials. “Every day was a challenge,” she says. “I learned a great deal and was able to exchange ideas with students from different cultural backgrounds.”
While at VCU, Montealegre earned a coveted spot in the Photography Institute’s National Graduate Seminar at Columbia University in New York. She was one of 20 fellows accepted out of 91 finalists representing 46 U.S. graduate programs. “It was a wonderful experience and a great responsibility because when you attend such programs, you represent your peers and the university you are coming from,” Montealegre says. “I was able to meet photographers from different backgrounds. The experience helped me gain a diverse perspective about photography in the U.S.”
Montealegre returned to Managua after graduating from VCU. She photographed former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during his three-day visit to Nicaragua in 2006. Today, Montealegre continues to work on her own photography projects (including an upcoming retrospective of her 32-year career) and teaches photography. She organizes her classes, readings and discussions the way some of her VCU instructors did when she was a student. “My main intention is to create passion around photography,” Montealegre says. “I wish at the end of a course that one or two students will continue to work on photography as a way of life.”
While Montealegre does not dole out advice to her students, she does try to instill some of what she has learned, including the following tips: “Photograph as close as you can, be aware at all times of ethics, be respectful of the people you photograph, develop your style and pursue what you believe, and listen to and communicate with your sources.”
It is a list that has served Montealegre well. “I have been lucky in my professional career,” she says. “I have met incredible people and witnessed historical moments. The everyday people I have met during my career are the ones who have taught great lessons that I still remember.”
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