Community photojournalist Tom Hawley still has what it takes

Tom Hawley
Updated ·3 min read

DETROIT — “Yay! One for the old guys,” Scott Park jokingly said Saturday at the Michigan Press Photographers Association awards in Detroit.

The contest chairman, 54, is a photographer at MLive's Jackson Citizen Patriot MLive.

Tom Hawley The Monroe News
Tom Hawley The Monroe News

Park yelled out as I was walking to shake the hand of MPPA President Katy Kildee of the Detroit News, as she handed me a first-place award for a feature single picture. I felt touched.

I'm 67 and have been a photojournalist for 46 years and part of MPPA since 1979. I started my career at The Monroe Evening News in 1979 and worked until 1990. Then, I freelanced for the magazine in 2010. I officially returned full-time in 2012.

The single feature picture was of Kody Fitch, 11, of Maybee who could not hold back the tears after he won his Division 2 medium-size steers in the Monroe County Fair 4-H steer show Aug. 2, held by his father Tobie Fitch and with his sister Jordyn Fitch.

Tom Hawley 2023 feature single picture titled "Tears of Joy" took first place in the Michigan Press Photographer Association. Kody Fitch, 11, of Maybee could not hold back the tears after he won his division 2 medium size steers in the 4-H steer show at the Monroe County Fair Wednesday, August 2, 2023. Held by his father Tobie Fitch and with his sister Jordyn Fitch. Kody is a member of the Barnyard Clovers 4-H in Maybee.

Kody is a member of the Barnyard Clovers 4-H in Maybee.

I myself held back the tears with joy when I found out Friday evening on Facebook with my good friend, David Olds, at his home in East Lansing. I was on a road trip for two assignments in Saginaw and East Lansing.

This feature picture captured my heart the day it was taken and will always be a favorite of mine.

Lisi, 4, the daughter of Maricella Ramirez, 34, runs between the bucked beds Tuesday, February 21, 2023 before moving to the Salvation Army shelter temporarily as Oaks Homeless Shelter was shutting down for a month. The photograph was part of Tom Hawley's feature picture story.
Lisi, 4, the daughter of Maricella Ramirez, 34, runs between the bucked beds Tuesday, February 21, 2023 before moving to the Salvation Army shelter temporarily as Oaks Homeless Shelter was shutting down for a month. The photograph was part of Tom Hawley's feature picture story.

It was the first time in 45 years with MPPA that I won a first in feature single picture. There were 114 entries in feature pictures; 45 newspaper photographers entered the contest.

My goal in 2023 was to create great community images still at my age, that I still have what it takes to be a photojournalist.

I also took an honorable mention with a feature picture story (12 images) out of 36 entries when I returned home.

The story title: “I Want to Live!"

I can remember the day of the interview with Maricella Ramirez, she was upstairs in the library of the Oaks Homeless Shelter in Monroe, Michigan. Maricella sat in the corner and sobbed. “I don’t want to survive. I want to live,” she whispered, wiping tears from her eyes.

Tears flowed down Maricella Ramirez, 34, cheeks as she talks about her years of mental illness at the Oaks Homeless Shelter. "I am putting my life together, I have goals," said Ramirez April 18, 2023. The picture was part of the feature picture story by Tom Hawley that earned an HM in the MPPA contest.
Tears flowed down Maricella Ramirez, 34, cheeks as she talks about her years of mental illness at the Oaks Homeless Shelter. "I am putting my life together, I have goals," said Ramirez April 18, 2023. The picture was part of the feature picture story by Tom Hawley that earned an HM in the MPPA contest.

The 34-year-old has struggled with mental illness more than half her life. She was diagnosed with depression at age 13. Ramirez and her daughter, Lisi, 4, moved into the shelter in January 2023. They had nowhere else to go.

“My goal is to get my life together and find our own place,” said Ramirez. “Lisi is my rainbow baby.” After a few months, Maricella moved into her own place and has made a life for herself and her daughter.

When I found out about that award for feature picture story, I had to share this with my buddy, David Olds.

“Good for you, Tom! You deserve all the accolades you get. I’m amazed at the energy and commitment you put into your work,” texted David.

Tom Hawley 2023 feature picture story "I Want To Live" took a honorable mention in the Michigan Press Photographers Association contest. It was all smiles as Lisi, 4, daughter of Maricella Ramirez to place the star on top of the Christmas tree and decorate it in their own apartment on December 5, 2023. "This is the first time Lisi was able to decorate her own tree," said Maricella. The mother daughter have been living in homeless shelters as Maricella is fighting mental health issues.

It was not until last Monday following the conference, I found out from photographer Jake May of MLive's Flint Journal (he's also the MPPA assistant contest chairman) that the three judges had my portfolio ranked in the top five. They were impressed with the versatility and heart that reflected the community well. The portfolio consists of seven single images and three picture stories.

Reading the text message from Jake May, I felt that I had proven to myself that I could still take the photographs that tell the stories.

“I have always loved community journalism and the small-town feel is one reason I have made Monroe my home.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Community photojournalist Tom Hawley still has what it takes