As he embarks on retirement the list of work places on David Andersen’s resume is very short. The list of awards is very long. There was one employer – The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com.
In 1979 he was the new kid on the block from Kent State University joining a staff of 18, For 44 years he consistently produced work that many contest judges rated above his peers. In 1981 Andersen was the Ohio News Photographers Association Photographer of the Year.
Like many photojournalists of his generation Andersen has witnessed numerous changes in the industry. He began his career making black and white images without a motor drive and making prints at an enlarger and ended it carrying a video camera and a computer. The staff of 18 grew to over 20, but now stands at three. There were a lot of great images in between.
Andersen was a member of the ONPA board serving as secretary from 1995-99.
Cleveland.com reporter Julie Washington shares Andersen’s story recording history in Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland fire fighters disappear into the smoke as they cut holes into the boarded-up abandoned building at W. 97th St. and Lorain Ave. in Cleveland. A body of a homeless woman was found after the triple three alarm fire was put out. (David I. Andersen/The Plain Dealer)