May 2013 UM photojournalism graduate Sam Wilson has been given an award of recognition by the National Press Photographers Association  as an Emerging Talent in the world of photojournalism.

Wilson headed to Philadelphia after graduation in May 2013, fresh off his first place Hearst Award multimedia win and began documenting life on a block in West Philadelphia.

“The reason I went to Philadelphia is because it’s so different from Montana,” Wilson said. He said he wanted to explore the reasons some people have trouble getting out of poverty and thought the city would allow him a view of that world. Wilson said when he went into the city, the story found him.

Wilson emailed a photographer, NPPA member Bettina Hansen, to show her the work. She asked Wilson to interview for the Emerging Talent recognition. The National Press Photographers Association promotes excellence in visual journalism and its value to the public.

Wilson said he will be going back to Philadelphia in January to spend some more time “on the block.” He hopes to expand last summer’s project into more than a short photo documentary.

After his summer in Philadelphia, Wilson drove back across the country to Washington where he is a photojournalism intern at The Herald in Everett.