Student Profile: Scott Odell

Scott Odell is taking photojournalism classes this semester here at NIC. Odell decided to learn more about photojournalism after he witnessed several historic events first-hand and was unprepared to document them through photography.  

Odell and his wife were in Hong Kong when the anti-government protests started in the spring of 2019. Odell said that he regretted not knowing the ins and outs of photojournalism. He felt that he missed an opportunity to record history because he did not know what he could and couldn’t do.  

Odell said that he and his wife were also in France last December when the “yellow jacket” riots started in protest of high taxes and the high cost of living in Paris. Odell and his wife talked to marchers and saw what was going on first–hand. After Odell returned to the states, he said he knew he wanted to further develop his photojournalism skills at NIC so that he could be prepared to photograph these historic events when they happened. If history ever happened right in front of him again, he said he wanted to be prepared to capture the images that would tell the story.  

This photo of an early winter in Coeur d’Alene was taken by Scott Odell in stunning black and white

Odell certainly seems to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. A few months ago he attended a town hall meeting, and having just signed up for the photojournalism class at NIC, he decided to take his camera with him. Halfway through the meeting, Idaho’s Governor Brad Little walked in and Odell took pictures of the Governor and the representatives who were also present. Odell sent his photos to the press and one of them was published

“If there are world events going on, I want to be able to capture them to the best of my ability and in a way that would tell a story.” Odell said. “The goal of any photojournalist is to tell a story through pictures.”

Odell said that it’s very difficult to be a photojournalist because, unlike commercial photography, you cannot edit anything. The images you capture must be true to the scene because photojournalists must have integrity and capture only what is real.

“This thing in Hong Kong may lead to a whole freedom movement in the whole of China.” Odell said. “You never know where these movements are going to start, you never know how fast they’re going to grow. The Chinese government is scared to death that this might be the start of something and like most people they just don’t know what to do, they’re just playing it by ear, but to say I was there when this thing started is like seeing history–and that’s exciting.”   

Odell has taken pictures of everything from landscapes around the area to exclusive photos in the German parliament building. 

Scott Odell took this futuristic-looking photo of a hallway in the building where the Bundestag, Germany’s Parliament, meets.

Odell hopes that more of his photos will be published in the future and is glad to be practicing his skills here at NIC that will help him to photograph whatever historic events he may encounter in the future.