Nic Czarnecki: Capturing Babson from Behind the Lens
Nic Czarnecki knew he was going to be a photographer when he was 10. He would take his Olympus 35 mm camera everywhere: hiking Bear Mountain in New York, vacationing in Florida, or even skateboarding. It was the beginning of a life behind the lens. A graduate of the New England School of Photography, Czarnecki was the photo editor and chief photographer for Boston Metro for 10 years before moving to the Boston Herald. Along the way, he photographed some of the nation’s biggest news stories. In August 2023, he joined Babson as a staff photographer in College Marketing, quickly becoming a recognizable figure at campus events.
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The Q&A
How did you first get into photography?
“I am one of those individuals that remembers the exact moment when they knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was 10 years old, and I was flipping through my father’s Newsweek, as I did regularly. It was an issue on the L.A. street riots of 1992. As I looked through the imagery, I vividly remember thinking, ‘That’s it!’ That’s what I want to do.’ I wanted to photograph and document events for those who are not able to be there to witness the events themselves and have viewers of my photography live vicariously through my lens.”
Which events stand out from your time as a photojournalist?
“I’ll never forget photographing the Dalai Lama or meeting Yo-Yo Ma. Paul McCartney playing Fenway Park was a memorable one. I covered a major breaking news story in New Jersey, and my images were on the covers of all the major newspapers and cable news channels. I’ve covered events with each of the U.S. presidents since George H.W. Bush. I traveled to cover major national stories like tornadoes, wildfires, Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. One of my photos of Hurricane Sandy was selected for Time magazine’s year in photos in 2013. I still get goosebumps when thinking about covering the Boston Marathon bombings and the manhunt that followed. And I will always remember covering the pandemic from its early stages in Boston. I sometimes feel spoiled by the access carrying a camera has granted me.”
NIC’S PICKS: See some of Nic Czarnecki’s favorite photos from 2024.
What attracted you to Babson?
“I was drawn to the creative challenge of capturing a large community. There are so many news stories going on here that it’s just a great place to capture more happy, positive elements of life. Personally, I enjoy it more than covering breaking news and always running to things. I enjoy the challenge of finding new ways to capture the same things. I have photographed Tomasso Hall, I would say, hundreds of times. So, when I look at it now, I’m trying to see it differently. It’s fun. I also learn a lot here, attending an event or a lecture. It’s really enlightening being on the Babson campus.”
Which events that you have photographed at Babson stand out?
“I’ve already had so many memorable moments that I’ve captured here at Babson. Getting the chance to photograph Arthur Blank (‘68, H’98) during Commencement was pretty special. Also, photographing Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan give a talk to students was memorable. I’ll never forget how Mr. Moynihan stayed well past his scheduled departure time to speak with nearly all the students who surrounded him. I documented the construction process for the HELV (Herring Family Entrepreneurial Leadership Village), and being there for the grand opening was so awesome as well.”
What are your favorite assignments?
“I really enjoy portrait sessions when I can be one on one with my subject. I enjoy having the chance to connect with the subject, helping them feel comfortable and at ease with me and in front of the camera. At Babson, I often find myself so interested in their stories that I spend quite a bit of time just chatting with them. I do also enjoy just roaming the campus and seeing what I see. I try to find new angles of new light. I also like days that have me shooting a variety of different types of subject matter, such as covering a speaking program, doing a portrait, and later doing long exposure night photography.”
“I do feel like there’s an importance to my work at such a historic moment. Sometimes, I see old black-and-white photos of what life was like here 100 years ago, and I’ll think one day that will be my image, and 100 years down the road, someone’s going to stare at it and think, ‘Wow, that’s what it was like.’ ”
Nic Czarnecki, Babson photographer
What reactions do you get from students when they see you and your camera?
“I often have students stop me to chat about my equipment or what I am shooting. Just the other day, I had three students stop to chat with me within 10 minutes. It’s great to see their natural curiosity and interest in what I am doing. I tend to chat with them for a bit. I often run into students that I have photographed in the past and we share a smile or a laugh.”
How do you discover unique and personal moments?
“Simply being present and observing the moments in your surroundings. When I am at an event, I will often be watching the scene, waiting for a moment to capture. I’m always paying attention. I’m hearing the crowd, listening to the lecture, seeing what’s going on and, at times, anticipating what’s next. Maybe there’s going to be a good crowd reaction here, so maybe focus on them, or the professor might make a statement with some nice gestures that will make for a good photo. Always keeping an eye and an ear open and looking and listening to the event.”
What responsibility do you feel photographing such a momentous time in the College’s history?
“I really appreciate having the opportunity to document this historic time at Babson. I take pride in being a visual storyteller for Babson, helping capture and share what I see happening on campus. I do feel like there’s an importance to my work at such a historic moment. Sometimes, I see old black-and-white photos of what life was like here 100 years ago, and I’ll think one day that will be my image, and 100 years down the road, someone’s going to stare at it and think, ‘Wow, that’s what it was like.’ ”
Two More for Nic
What does Babson mean to you?
“To me, Babson is where the future begins. It is a place where students come to grow into the leaders of tomorrow and their ideas into the businesses of the future. I am so excited to be able to document and capture these moments. My entrepreneurial 7-year-old sees my work, and I tell her all the exciting things the students are doing, she always replies that maybe I can photograph her when she goes to Babson.”
Right now, what are you …
- Reading? The King and the Cowboy: Theodore Roosevelt and Edward the Seventh, Secret Partners by David Fromkin
- Watching? “I’m watching ‘Narcos’ on Netflix. The only live TV I really watch is Formula One racing.”
- Listening to? “I love NPR’s ‘Marketplace’ and ‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me’ on Saturdays. I am still a bit of a news junkie, so I often have the news on in the background. Otherwise, it’s classical music on WCRB.”
- Doing in your free time? “I like to keep an eye on the stock market, and I do some trading. I am in the stage where I spend much of my free time shuttling my two daughters between school activities and lessons like tennis, dance, and cheer. I am often creating a weekend adventure to share with them to help them grow and see the world as enlightening and educational. I do like to have a trip on the horizon to look forward to. I just bought tickets for a trip to Portugal. And I spent eight days in January riding a motorcycle around Costa Rica.”
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