Hi! I am Samantha Madar, a photojournalist here at The Columbus Dispatch. I was born and raised in Michigan, and before you panic: No, I’m not from Ann Arbor.
I grew up in a rural town north of Lansing, Michigan, called St. Johns. It’s your typical Hallmark movie small town where everyone knows you, and if you get pulled over by a cop, it is probably your teammate’s dad wondering why you are out so late.
I was always the girl with a camera in her hands. I was always using my first camera, an orange Kodak EasyShare M753, to take photos of my friends and me goofing around before basketball practice to snapping pictures of my star-athlete older sister hitting home runs at the ballpark.
Though I do call The State Up North my first home, I’ve always considered myself a bit of a nomad. Photojournalism has taken me across the country, having lived in nine cities and five states. But Columbus has always been one of my favorite cities.
After completing an internship at The Dispatch in 2018, I knew I wanted to work here again one day. That dream came true last year when I was hired as a staff photojournalist, and it’s been a thrill ever since.
What made me want to be a photojournalist
In 2010, my yearbook teacher sent me to a Michigan Interscholastic Press Association workshop. That’s when I heard the word “photojournalism” for the first time. I remember sitting in that auditorium, seeing these incredible storytelling images that made me feel all of the emotions, and I said to myself, “That, I’m going to do that.”
Before I knew it, I was accepted to Central Michigan University, which has one of the top photojournalism programs in the nation. I had no idea what I was signing myself up for, but I am so grateful it’s the path I chose. From there, I learned the depths of photojournalism, the impact it can have on communities, and the immense responsibility of being a good journalist.
Passionate about sports photography
Some might say my brain is full of two contradictory passions. On one side, you will find art supplies, a sewing machine, glass cut into pieces for a mosaic, and plants. Lots and lots of plants. On the other hand, there’s a basketball, running shoes, golf clubs and too many WNBA, NFL and Big Ten team shirts to count. I always thought I would have to find a career that would match one or the other, but younger me was wrong.
Photojournalism allows me to combine my creative pursuits and love for sports. Nothing quite compares to capturing the Buckeyes lifting a National Championship trophy in the air as confetti falls around them or meeting living legends on Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
But some of my favorite moments have taken place on the smaller stage. There is something so special about photographing high school athletes, seeing their drive and witnessing their early successes. Recently, I covered an Olentangy Liberty boys’ lacrosse game at Ohio State with two brothers playing together on the same team for the first time. I took a photo of them celebrating, and their dad reached out to me after the game to thank me for capturing the moment.
My favorite thing about my job
I love the chance to meet people who are extremely passionate about their job, their faith or their volunteer work. It’s inspiring to meet someone who believes in something so strongly that they are willing to do anything to do it. Finding a way to illustrate their passion and reflect who they are through photography is a fun challenge.
Photojournalism has also allowed me to broaden my worldview and witness both the highs and lows of humanity.
I’ve learned about Mormonism at the annual LDS church’s conference in Salt Lake City. I once covered a Pride parade in the morning and Eid al-Fitr celebrations that night in Pennsylvania. I’ve witnessed dreams come true at Little League World Series and hearts break at city council meetings. I’ve witnessed democracy in action at the Wisconsin State Capitol and justice served at the Jackson County Courthouse in Jackson, Michigan. I’ve worked on stories that had me holding back tears while documenting the aftermath of shootings and natural disasters.
I do all of this for the communities I work in and to bear witness for others so they can experience and learn for themselves.
Dispatch photojournalist Samantha Madar can be reached at smadar@dispatch.com.
OHSAA boys basketball state finals: Westerville North, Olentangy Orange
Westerville North (DII), Columbus Academy (DV), Reynoldsburg and Olentangy Orange (DI) compete in the OHSAA Boys Basketball State Championship title games at University of Dayton Arena.
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2025-06-15 10:15:03