Rich-Joseph Facun

Award-Winning Photographer
TCC Alumnus

Rich-Joseph Facun loves showing
life through a lens.

Photography holds his passion ­— College
led him to “the best job in the world.”

Rich-Joseph Facun began his relationship with TCC as a “young punk and teen father” – to use his own words. But, feeling responsibility to support his child, he left college to work, trying a range of jobs, always interested in learning something new.

At age 26 he rose to a respected employer’s bait that he’d never finish college, and returned to TCC – this time with determination and focus. While pursuing philosophy and religious studies, he took photography to satisfy a fine arts requirement. “It was pretty amazing. I entered my final class project and won first place in a Suffolk art show – that really got me thinking of photography as an option,” says Rich.

More classes and the Truth with a Camera workshop further hooked him. “By then I knew I was in love with photography, but wasn’t sure how to make a living – until my dad suggested photojournalism. I transferred to Ohio University to study the responsibility and the theory of journalism and what it meant to be a photojournalist.” He earned his bachelor’s degree and interned throughout the United States, specifically in Ohio, South Carolina, Illinois and Arizona, landing his first newspaper job in 2001.

Rich describes himself as a “photographer who makes his living as a photojournalist,” but adds, “This is the best job in the world.”

His photography for The Virginian-Pilot just earned him first place from the prestigious Pictures of the Year International competition, held annually by the Missouri School of Journalism; second place in the National Press Photographers Association’s Best of Photojournalism competition; and six awards from the Virginia News Photographers Association – three firsts (one from his upcoming book on the resurgence of roller derby in the U.S.), two seconds and a third.

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