Rod prides himself with gaining people’s trust and immersing himself in their lives and communities, and having a positive impact.

Whether it’s sharing Cajun recipes with a family in a small Louisiana bayou town in the aftermath of a hurricane, or in a refugee camp in Beirut during wartime and sharing dinner under a tree with a displaced family, this is where Rod loves to find himself, connecting with people and telling their stories.

Rod, a Chicago native and California transplant, began his photojournalism career in the mid-1980’s working as a freelance photographer for United Press International and Agence France-Presse in San Francisco, Calif.

In 1992 he joined the staff of the Chicago Tribune and has since then worked at several newspapers including The Oakland Tribune and The Washington Times.

Over the past 20 years, Rod has devoted his time to working on long-term documentaries affecting some of society’s most vulnerable citizens. Some of his most accomplished work includes the Israel-Hezbollah War (2006), drug addiction in rural America (2005) and the recovery of southeast Louisiana and mental health care in a post-Katrina New Orleans (2005-present).