Cassandra Giraldo

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Cassandra Giraldo (born May 4, 1989) is an American cinematographer and documentary filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. She was a staff producer and cinematographer for Vice News Tonight on HBO from 2016 to 2020 and has covered a range of social and political topics in the United States and abroad as a photojournalist and documentary cameraperson. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Cassandra Giraldo was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1989. She is of Mexican-American and Colombian descent. [2] She attended Skidmore College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Affairs and French in 2011. [2] In 2012, she completed the Photojournalism & Documentary Studies Program at the International Center of Photography (ICP). During her time at ICP, she started The After School Project. After working as a freelance photographer for four years, Giraldo pursued a master’s degree in investigative journalism at the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, graduating in 2017. [3]

Career and documentary work

Photojournalism and cinematography

Giraldo's career has focused on visual storytelling, with her work appearing in major publications and documentary platforms. From 2016 to 2020, she was a staff producer and cinematographer at Vice News Tonight on HBO, contributing to news segments covering social justice movements, political protests, and cultural shifts in the U.S.. [1] Her work has been recognized for its raw and immersive approach, capturing underrepresented communities and contemporary youth culture.

Notable projects and exhibitions

  • The GentlePunks – A documentary series that follows teenage punks in St. Petersburg, Russia, highlighting their counterculture identity and experiences with police intimidation. [4]
  • The After School Project – A long-term documentary photography project that captures the after-school lives of New York City teenagers. Inspired by a Brooklyn teen shooting, Giraldo sought to contrast the intimate and playful aspects of teenage life with the challenges of navigating urban environments. The project gained recognition through Instagram and was a finalist for the Getty Institute’s inaugural Instagram grant in 2015. [5]
  • Chutanacuy – A photo-documentary project documenting carnival traditions in Ollantaytambo, Peru. The series captures local customs, including Chutanacuy, a tug-of-war-style competition that determines who will harvest the ceremonial "tree of gifts." [6]

Awards and recognition

References

  1. 1 2 "Cassandra Giraldo". VICE. 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  2. 1 2 "Cassandra Giraldo". IWMF. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  3. ↑ Teicher, Jordan G. (2016-05-24). "Hanging Out After School With New York City Students". Slate. ISSN   1091-2339 . Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  4. ↑ Jan, Emily. "The After School Project by Cassandra Giraldo: Photographs of New York City Teenagers - The Atlantic". www.theatlantic.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  5. ↑ https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/news-42nd-news-programming-winners.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  6. ↑ "AI-AP Slideshow". www.ai-ap.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  7. ↑ "Awards - VICE". vicemediagroup.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  8. 1 2 "Cassandra Giraldo "The After School Project"". Lucie Foundation. 2015-12-14. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  9. 1 2 "Cassandra Giraldo". nppf.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  10. ↑ "Getty Images Newsroom - Getty Images". Getty Images Newsroom - Getty Images. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
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