Spencer Colby is the photo editor at Carleton University’s independent student newspaper, The Charlatan, and at The Pigeon. Based in Ottawa, his work specializes in news, sports, and events—specifically, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, his past projects include chronicling lockdown measures in both Ottawa and the Netherlands. 

Last month, Spencer was awarded as 2021 Student Photojournalist of the Year by Canadian University Press.

In this episode, we discuss how Spencer got into photography, the challenges and misconceptions of the medium, and the mentorship he has received at Room Up Front—a Canadian photojournalist mentorship program for Black, Indigenous, and Peoples of Colour. We also chat about his work covering lockdown measures due to COVID in Canada and the Netherlands, and the differences in covering a news event rather than a sports game from a photo perspective. 

You can follow Spencer on Twitter (@Spencesphotos) or Instagram (@spencesphotography).