Last Updated: April 14, 2018 by ritnppa

Category: Picture Story

Congratulations to the winners of the picture story category! Brittainy Newman won first place, Traci Westcott won both second place and third place, and Boris Shirman and Kaitlyn Dolan won honorable mention! Congratulations to all!

First Place: Brittainy Newman

NO FUNNY BUSINESS – After becoming the first Cuban circus clown to perform with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Joan Fernandez Cabrera, 30, saw that dream disappear this past May when he learned that the 146-year-old circus closed its curtains for good. He and 500 clowns, acrobats, and stage crew members were left scrambling for new jobs at the end of an era. Motivated by the American value system, he looks for success back in his home country of Cuba by joining the Cuban National Circus.

Joan balances a wooden pole on his nose on the roof of his home in Havana, Cuba on June 21, 2017. “My clown acts have changed throughout the years in different ways. It’s like a tree; a little seed you plant and it grows and grows. You see how it nourishes with the water, with the sun. You realize that intuitively, you’ve changed,” says Joan.

Joan plays dominos with his family outside of his home in Havana, Cuba on June 20, 2017.

Joan looks in the mirror after receiving his haircut in Santiago, Cuba on July 13, 2017.

Yunier Lopez (left) and Joan Fernandez (right) look out the window as they depart for their tour with the Cuban National Circus on July 4, 2017. “I think it cannot be ignored, that superhuman effort that they do when they leave their countries, their home, their people, their customs and come to Cuba to adapt, and even if they have here all their expenses covered they do not receive a cent for workings,” says circus director Jose Manuel (not pictured).

“I think it is extremely fascinating being able to work with my brother,” says Yunier Lopez (front). “A duo we are regenerating again, in Cuba, in our country, where we were raised, where we grew up, where we still have an audience that follows us. An audience that is anxious and eager to see the duo of Cantaleta and Petunio in the circus ring once again”. Yunier Lopez and J.F.C. put their makeup as they prepare for a show in Sancti Spiritus Cuba on July 5, 2017.

A clown is reflected in a motorcycle mirror while waiting backstage during the International Circuba Festival in Havana, Cuba on June 27, 2017.

Circus performers peak through the curtains backstage during the International Circuba Festival in Havana, Cuba on June 26, 2017.

Joan and Yunier performs for an audience during the International Circuba Festival in Havana, Cuba on June 27, 2017.

The audience laughs at the Yayabo Theater in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba on July 10, 2017. “There isn’t a more satisfying thing for a clown than seeing the audience he is performing for having a blast. It is enough energy to fuel a gasoline truck,” says Yunier Lopez.

A trapeze artist’s shadow is cast upon the audience during the International Circuba Festival Tour at the Yayabo Theater in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba on July 8, 2017. “There are cities in Cuba that don’t have the same economic situation as others. And when there’s a political, social, economic problem or any situation, the circus is the only instrument to relieve tensions,” says circus director Jose Manuel.

Yunier Lopez lifts his two-year-old nephew Lucas Cabrera while waiting backstage during the International Circuba Festival in Havana, Cuba on June 28, 2017.

Second Place: Traci Westcott

CHILDHOOD INTERRUPTED – In January of 2017, Catherine Kwiecien, a mother of two young children, heard the news that no parent ever wants to hear, let alone for the third time. On the evening of Tuesday, January 24th, Catherine was informed that her then five-year-old daughter, Kailee Kwiecien’s Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of muscle cancer, had returned for the third time.

Kailee Kwiecien, 5, looks out her hospital room door, waiting for release paperwork after an inpatient chemotherapy treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, NY on April 19th, 2017. Kailee is in her 3rd diagnosis of Rhabdomyosarcoma, muscular cancer, her first diagnosis at 2 years old.

Kailee’s mom, Catherine Kwiecien takes a moment to relax before Kailee’s inpatient treatment. Catherine found out she was pregnant with Kailee’s sister, Morgan (right) just after Kailee’s original diagnosis.

Kailee begins her morning routine of medicines shortly after opening her Easter basket, “I can’t even count the number of medicines Kailee is prescribed,” Catherine says. Kailee must take a slew of medications to combat the side effects of her chemotherapy treatment, such as nausea, but many of the medicines come with side effects themselves.

Catherine is comforted by her mother, Anita Manuele after mass at the family church in Brighton, NY. “Church is always really hard for me…it’s just one of those places,” says Catherine, frequently overwhelmed by her daughter’s diagnosis.

Kailee’s grandma, Anita Manuele rests her hand on Rose, a family friend, after a prayer in church on Easter Sunday. The bracelets say ‘Kick it Kailee’, and have been fundraisers for the family’s medical bills since Kailee’s first diagnosis.

Kailee asks for a ‘group hug’ as Catherine and Kailee head off to the hospital. Catherine’s husband, Dan Kwiecien also works full-time, many of his shifts being overnight. “Usually, we are just kinda passing each other and when he gets home, I leave and when I get home he leaves. On rare occasion,s we are home at the same time in the evening. So we see each other one day every two or three weeks,” says Catherine.

Catherine and Kailee walk into Golisano Children’s hospital for Kailee’s last chemotherapy treatment. Catherine has been by Kailee’s side through all 3 of her cancer diagnoses.

Catherine comforts Kailee as her nurse accesses her catheter port to administer chemotherapy. “It depends on who accessing her if it’s a nurse she’s familiar with, she’s fine. If it’s someone new, she freaks out. You can tell in her body language how it’s going to go before it even happens,” Catherine says.

Catherine and Kailee finish a bed-time story while Nurse, Joe Escobar (not pictured) checks Kailee’s vitals during her blood transfusion. Kailee frequently needs platelet and red blood cell transfusions in-order to replenish her blood counts before chemotherapy can be administered.

“She refuses to fall asleep by herself. I have to lay with her every night until she falls asleep,” Catherine says. After she puts Kailee to bed, she normally does lesson plans to prepare for her full-time teaching position as a special education teacher.

Third Place: Traci Westcott

Honorable Mention: Boris Shirman

SARA MCLAUGHLIN – In 2012, Marigona Beadini, after a life of professional boxing and karate, joined the now 14% of women who make up the Kosovo police force. Beadini grew up in Prishtina, and after 18 years of martial arts and boxing she entered the police academy in Kosovo. After the academy, Marigona fulfilled the requirements by spending two years as a patrol officer before she applied to the Special Operations Unit where she is currently working for the past 3 years. In her view, “If you give maximum effort you will see results regardless if you are a man or a woman.

Officer Sabin Macastena picks up Officer Marigona Beadini in the police transport van to take her to the Special Operation Police base near Prishtina, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. Beadini gets picked up almost every day to go to the base, at an always changing schedule.

Officers Sabin Macastena, left, Edmond Jakupi, center, and Marigona Beadini, right, take a moment to drink coffee before heading to the Special Operations base, near Prishtina, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. Sitting at the coffee shop the three officers debate about conflict strategy.

Officer Marigona Beadini stands and talks to some of her colleagues in front of their room at the Special Operations base Vrella, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. Beadini has a separate room at the other side of the hallway, that she occasionally shares with the other three women in the Prishtina division of the Special Operation’s unit.

Officer Marigona Beadini usually starts her day’s training with a run before continuing to work out in the gym at the Special Operations base in Vrella, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. Beadini believes that “If you have the willpower to do something, no-one can stop you”

Officer Marigona Beadini trains during her shift at the Special Operations base Vrella, Kosovo on July 20, 2017. Before joining the police force Beadini spent 18 years doing karate and boxing, winning many championships.

Officer Marigona Beadini sits alone watching T.V. while waiting for a call at the Special Operations base in Vrella, Kosovo on July 20, 2017. Even while her entire shift is surrounded by the men in her unit, Beadini will find moments of quite to spend time alone. She will watch T.V., read a book, and on nice nights sit outside looking over the city.

Officer Marigona Beadini sits at a roadside restaurant with four of her fellow officers, (left to right) Bardhyl Bylukbashi, Nexhmedin Vllasaliu, Sabin Macastena, Edmond Jakupi, and restaurant employee, center right, near Prishtina, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. “We are a family… you work and train with them, you have to have faith in them,” says Beadini.

Getting ready to leave for the night, Officer Marigona Beadini puts her uniform back on, at the Special Operations base in Vrella, Kosovo on July 23, 2017. Officers are supposed to be in uniform while on shift and off of the base.

Officer Marigona Beadini departs the Special Operations base as the night winds down to run a quick errand in Vrella, Kosovo on July 20, 2017. “One of the things that I like most about this job, it is a humanitarian job, and even though it is dangerous, I help people and am close to the people,” says Marigona (translated from Albanian).

Honorable Mention: Kaitlyn Dolan

MY TEAM – The RIT women’s lacrosse 2017 season was vastly different than the previous years. The team came together like a family, in spite of low rankings, small numbers, family tragedies, injuries, and a history of losses. Though the record may not indicate it, this team was truly special and these images document my experience as a member of this team.

(From left to right) Maddi, Kat, Cass, and Bekah, discuss their high school lacrosse teams while preparing for a game against Union College. The three were all freshmen during this season and contributed to the team’s renewed sense of family and friendship that had been previously lost.

Emma Siefert sings and dances to “Love Story” by Taylor Swift as part of an annual tradition where the freshmen pick a song and perform for the rest of the team.

Nearly every member of the team has some form of injury; bad ankles, bad backs, bad wrists. Before each game trainers tape, wrap, heat, and stim a majority of the team so we can be ready for play.

Bith reads a note from teammate Sammy Ward before a game against Union College, the second to last game of Bith’s college lacrosse career. This week, Sammy was Bith’s ‘stick sister’ so it was her job to make Bith feel prepared and excited for the game. Sammy wrote a heartfelt note about what it would take to win that game. We lost 10-13.

Sammy is about five feet tall. You would never know from her bellowing voice. Before each game Sammy is our hype man, infecting everyone with her energy.

Bith sleeps on the floor of the Tampa International Airport baggage claim while the team waits for rental cars during the early hours of the morning. The team didn’t arrive at their hotel until nearly 1:30 in the morning, with practice at nine the next morning.

(From left to right) Gwen, Syd, Cass, Rebekah, Kat, Gover, and Maddi watch Neighbors 2 while taking turns straightening Rebekah’s hair in Syd’s hotel room during spring break, in Venice, Fla. Most nights, after the team eats and showers, the women go to various parts of the hotel to do homework, watch movies, call significant others, and otherwise entertain themselves.

Jard and Julia do homework on a late bus ride home from Schenectady, N.Y. With travel days starting as early at 6 a.m. and ending as late as 11 p.m., players need to get work in whenever possible.

When each starter is called, we run a gauntlet through the rest of the team, smashing our sticks together and screaming with excitement.

The annual “Rookie Party” celebrates the end of a season and the underclassmen who made it through their first year of collegiate athletics.

Bith, Syd, and Tink cry while reminiscing about their years playing college lacrosse, and how hard it is to be a senior. Each player is in a different situation. Bith has completed her NCAA eligibility but is in a five-year program, so she will spend her last year at RIT not being able to play. Syd is graduating and moving back to Connecticut to start working in her father’s interior design company. And Tink was unfortunately cut from the team as a player during 2016 fall ball, but came back as the manager for Spring; only completing one year of NCAA eligibility before graduating.

Category: 2018 What We Do