Staff profile: Meet Greg Wohlford of the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com
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Meet Greg Wohlford
Hi, thanks for reading. I've been a staff photographer for the Erie Times-News since Jan. 1, 1990. I primarily photograph news, sports, features and portraits throughout Erie County and our local region.
I was born and raised in Christiansburg, Virginia, a small town near Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. My father helped build roads and bridges as an inspector for the Virginia Department of Transportation and my mother taught third grade in a small rural school in nearby Snowville. My sister and her family live in Tenn. I spent a lot of time as a kid playing sports, riding my bike and roaming the hillsides of two small family farms nearby where both sets of grandparents lived. My first camera was a blue Polaroid that I used at age 10 to shoot snow-sledding on Christmas Day.
Why I became a journalist
After high school, I had no concrete idea of what career to pursue so I worked part-time at our local newspaper office, doing odd jobs and answering phones. I watched the photographers leave each day with their cameras, return to work in the darkroom and then their pictures appeared in print the next day.
My photo friends at the Roanoke Times & World News pointed me to Ohio University and their visual communications program where, once again, I answered phones and did odd jobs for the staff. I was alone in the school office one day when Rich Forsgren called from the Erie Times-News, looking for a summer intern. We arranged a meeting (no Zoom calls then) and my dad and two uncles drove me to Erie, eventually driving the wrong way on Sassafras Street to get to the Times-News building. I hung around for two summers, was hired full-time and have called Erie home ever since.
What I like best about my job
Definitely all of the interesting, inspiring people I've met. I usually visit 3-4 locations each day and take as many decent photos as I can in a short period of time. I'm continually amazed at the kind, intelligent, skilled and talented people I've been fortunate enough to meet and the stories they share. I've learned that all people possess a spark of beauty. It is my job to see it and share that with the current community and future generations. I imagine a youngster at some moment in the distant future, looking at my images of Erie and gaining a glimpse of how we lived and thrived.
A story I worked on that has had a lasting impact on me
Unfortunately all of the many fires, car accidents or deaths that I've covered taught me early in my career to take no day for granted. I often wondered if accident victims left their houses that day at peace or in conflict with friends or loved ones.
What is the biggest challenge I face
Honestly, not having enough time to produce the images I gather. At most sporting events I shoot 300-500 photos and maybe five to ten will ever be published. I could spend every waking moment scanning and editing photos but there are always new people and places to see.
What I like to do when I'm not working
I enjoy being with my wife and three adult children at home in Girard Township. We walk our two dogs every day near grape vineyards between Route 5 and Middle Road. I like to exercise, read and do house chores. Yep, they call me Captain Excitement.
Favorite event or Erie-area tradition
We enjoy all of the outdoor summer activities like fairs, festivals and hanging out at Presque Isle. I've worked evenings and weekends for years, so when possible I try and take my wife to all of the fun events we cover. There is always something interesting happening around the county.
Why journalism matters
My friends here at GoErie.com and the Erie Times-News live in and care about our community. They question those in power and provide a voice — however small — to all members of society. This happens while most folks work at their jobs, raise their families and go about their lives. We try to provide context and reflect a broad range of opinions so that we can learn more about each other and better understand our neighbors.
See more work from Greg Wohlford
Meet more of the Erie Times-News staff
Contact Greg Wohlford at gwohlford@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ETNWohlford
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Staff profile: Meet Greg Wohlford of the Erie Times-News and GoErie.com
