By Sam Cohen, University of Maryland | ISI Florence Spring 2026

Hi! I’m Sam, and I’m a student at the University of Maryland pursuing a career in photojournalism and wrapping up my semester abroad at ISI.

Last semester, I worked in the U.S. Capitol Building, photographing politicians and national news for a Maryland audience. I really loved political photojournalism and grew a lot as a journalist, photographing Capitol Hill for 16+ hours a week. Working on Capitol Hill pushed me to work under very restricted conditions. I’m also a photo editor for the student newspaper, The Diamondback, so I’m used to covering 3-4 assignments per week across news, sports, and culture.

This semester, I had the privilege of taking the Street/Travel Photography course with Alessandro Galatoli. After falling into a rhythm of photojournalism work, this class disrupted my routine in the most delightful way. Galatoli’s assignments encouraged me to go back to the fundamentals – composition, lighting, and general approaches to photography.

I had time to go out and take my own photos without limitations, which scared me at first – I do much better with strict guidelines than with complete creative freedom. Photographing in a low-stakes environment served as a reminder of why I fell in love with photography so many years ago and why I continue to follow my passion.

Thank you, Alessandro, for all your guidance and support. Stepping outside of my journalism bubble and wearing the hat of a portrait or street photographer has impacted me in so many ways. I know I’ll return to the U.S. as a stronger journalist because of this class and this semester. I’m proud to share some of my favorite shots from my time studying abroad.