Ethan Swope is a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker in Los Angeles covering local and international news including the war in Ukraine, immigration in Mexico and Lebanon, wildfires in California, and civil unrest in the United States and the Middle East. He strives to tell stories that make an emotional impact. Ethan has been on assignment for the Associated Press, Getty Images and Bloomberg, and was the 2022 WHNPA Student Photographer of the Year. His work has appeared on the cover of The New York Times, in National Geographic, Time and international news outlets. Ethan was the 2022 summer visual intern for the San Francisco Chronicle, and earned his B.A. in film production at UCLA. 

About

Clients

Associated Press, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Telegraph, San Francisco Chronicle, Marin Independent Journal, Anadolu, AT&T,  H&L Partners — Toyota, Marin Tourism, Logan and Bernard Realtors (Sotheby's), Archangel Ancient Tree Archive

Awards

  • CPOY: Spot News: Gold 2024

  • CPOY: Spot News: Finalist 2024

  • CPOY: General News: Award of Excellence 2024

  • CPOY: College Photographer of the Year: Award of Excellence 2023

  • CPOY: General News: Gold 2023

  • CPOY: International Picture Story: Finalist 2023

  • CPOY: International Picture Story: Award of Excellence 2023

  • CPOY: Feature: Finalist 2023

  • CPOY: Spot News: Finalist 2023

  • CPOY: Spot News: Award of Excellence 2023

  • WHNPA: Student Photographer of the Year: Award of Excellence 2023

  • WHNPA: Student Photographer of the Year 2022

  • CPOY: Interpretive Eye: Finalist 2022

  • CPOY: Interpretive Project: Finalist 2022

  • CPOY: International Picture Story: Award of Excellence 2022

  • CPOY: College Photographer of the Year: Runner Up 2021

  • CPOY: International Picture Story: Award of Excellence 2021

  • CPOY: Spot News: Silver 2021

  • CPOY: Spot News: Bronze 2021

  • CPOY: Spot News: Award of Excellence 2021

  • CPOY: General News: Award of Excellence 2021

  • CPOY: Interpretive Eye: Bronze 2021

  • Mill Valley Film Festival: Official Selection Migrantes short film 2019

  • Telly Awards: Migrantes short film 2020

  • International Independent Film Awards: Gold Winner Migrantes short film 2019

  • NPPA Student Quarterly: 3rd quarter Photo Essay 2019

  • Columbia Scholastic Press Association: 1st Place Feature Photo 2018

  • Columbia Scholastic Press Association: 1st Place Photo Story 2018

Testimonials

  • "Ethan’s photographs are amazing, and we loved working with him! He is so incredibly talented and captured all of our expedition’s magical moments perfectly. You can feel the heart and soul in each one of his photos, and we couldn’t have asked for a better photographer. We are so looking forward to working with him again!"

    - Marianna Archibald, Archangel Ancient Tree Archive

  • “Amazing. I feel like you captured the complete essence of our spirits, and I couldn’t be happier. Love, love the ones of us together. But I mean seriously.... [the] pics are to die for. My family will be astonished and just adore him even more.There will definitely be more shoots in the works. You are very talented, mature and accomplished."

    —Aja, Mill Valley, CA.

  • “These photos are WONDERFUL!!!!!  You totally captured our family, the color and lighting is amazing, and it feels like I am back at the party when I look at your shots.  THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!”

    — Lauren, Portland, OR.