Journalism students at Florida Gulf Coast University , in collaboration with The News-Press and Naples Daily News, are creating "then and now" videos using Hurricane Ian archive photos.
The photojournalism class, led by Professor Judd Cribbs, started meeting on Aug. 19, the beginning of the fall semester at FGCU. There are 12 students in the class.
Each student is being assigned a selection of different photos to study. These are mostly photos near and on Fort Myers Beach that were taken in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian . Ian slammed SWFL on Sept. 28, 2022. Part of the student analysis is to look at angles and composition. In some cases, Google Earth is being used to zoom in and take closer looks at the specific places, like buildings and other landmarks.
The challenge for the students? Return to Fort Myers Beach during the semester with their cameras and attempt to replicate their images as close as possible to how they were framed two years ago. The next step is to produce a video package like the one at the top of this story that was edited by senior Cristina Pop, and the video a little further down on the page produced by journalism major Matt Civale, who is from Seymour, Connecticut. Pop is from Morton Grove, Illinois.
More: Photo essay: Hurricane Ian two years later. 'We've never seen a flood event like this.'
A big does of reality for the students
"When I first heard about the project idea in class, I thought it was cool. But when I finished my first video with the two original pictures from 2022 dissolving into my photos from 2024, I couldn't believe the difference," Pop said. "I almost got emotional. So much devastation from just one storm, and now there's brightly colored buildings in place like it never even happened."
Pop, for her first assignment, focused on two locations: the Margaritaville pedestrian bridge over Estero Boulevard and the Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel shop, which is also located on Estero Boulevard not far from Margaritaville.
"It (Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel) looks way different from its pre-Ian design, but my class agreed that while its original charm is gone, we have a new look that fits our modern age," Pop said. "It seems that a lot of Fort Myers Beach underwent that same 'cosmetic surgery.' "
What has been the biggest challenge for Pop and her classmates?
"I've only gone once to replicate the pictures, and I've already learned a lot," she said. "Using landmarks for proper framing is key, even if it's just a palm tree that survived Ian. But some landmarks weren't there anymore to use, so I struggled finding locations and getting the shots just right. But replicating a shot is a different animal. It takes precision and attention to detail. And A LOT of patience and trial runs."
Pop said she is looking forward to the rest of the semester and the challenges − and rewards − that will come as she produces more content.
"I think this project pays proper tribute to what happened two years ago when so many people lost so much. I'm happy for the recovery, but I don't want to forget what it's taken to get there. And we aren't even fully there yet," Pop said.
The News-Press and Naples Daily News award-winning visuals journalist Andrew West, who took many of the images being used in class, recently visited with Cribbs and his students in August. He provided context for an assortment of the photos as well as his tips on the best way to replicate those photos two years later.
Here is one of Andrew West's Hurricane Ian photo galleries
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian two years later: FGCU photojournalism class produces 'then and now' images
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