Nina Zhito Photographer
Battalion Chief Mike Haberski 1957-2016 portraits and personalities events news observations first responders law enforcement Au Revoir, Madame Petaluma Music Festival

 

The goal of my work is to invite its viewers to slow down for a moment and to look carefully at our world.My camera helps me to learn and better understand my own world, and I want to share what I have discovered. My images strive to distill complicated events into pure and accessible elements. 

I learned the basics of photography during high school, using my father's beloved Rolleiflex and the campus darkroom.  After college, post-baccalaureate studies in biochemistry, and an evolving series of research and strategic communications jobs, I found a niche working with advertising agencies. Starting with the healthcare division of Foote, Cone and Belding, I began to learn about visual communications, and how to make them memorable, impactful, and successful.

I started shooting professionally as a weekend apprentice to a busy Bay Area event and portrait photographer. Two years later I became a full-time staff photographer at a community newspaper. Wanting to grow professionally by working for a daily and for larger audiences meant trying bigger, deeper waters, and I left the paper's staff. Today, I freelance full-time, offering event, news, portrait, feature and documentary photography for editorial assignments and licensing, and for private clients. 

As a news photographer, I enjoy working collaboratively with reporters and writers on community journalism projects. I also pursue independent documentary interests. I have been known to abandon an evening's plans to chase down a breaking news story.  I love being outdoors and spend a lot of time exploring Marin County open space with my dogs --and my camera.

But I wish my father -- a career journalist educated at the University of Missouri --  were alive, and that he could see how much the loan of his treasured camera so many years ago means to me today.

PROUDLY represented by ZUMA Press


  san francisco bay area    (415) 858-8410