about Ani
Welcome!
A little more in depth…if you're curious.
A homegrown San Diegan, I attended the University of San Diego before transferring to the Bay Area’s California College of the Arts to further push her artistic vision. Upon my return to San Diego, I freelanced for commercial studios as a photographer’s assistant and stylist for food, product and fashion shoots while working steadily as a custom printer at a professional lab. During free time, I continued exploring San Diego and it’s surroundings with camera in hand searching for that ever elusive perfect light.
In 1989 I joined the photo department of the San Diego Union-Tribune as a deadline color printer. My art background drew many of the staff photographer’s to me for critical feedback eventually earning me a promotion to photo editor. An early pioneer at the newspaper in Adobe Photoshop, I embraced this tool that allowed me to combine my painting, design and photographic skills to creatively express editorial content. I took several staff photographer’s under my wing and guided them on their own journey towards creative expression using this powerful program. As a features photo editor from 1992 - 2006 my charge was the vision, development and execution of all photographic content for Sunday Arts, Night & Day, Travel, Food, Street, Dining Guide and Passport sections. I also guided and aided with the management of the photographers assigned to Special Sections.
As a visual person, I'm always searching for innovative ways to push the boundaries of creative problem solving. I had the privilege to write and lead a workshop at the National Press Photographer Association’s Women in Photojournalism Conference in 2002 on Photoshop illustration techniques and keeping the creative spirit alive and was able to meet a lot of wonderfully talented women at various points in their careers.
At the end of 2006, I began a new chapter in my career at the newspaper when I was asked to consider turning my focus towards page design. Excited by the prospect of an infusion of creative energy, I embraced the challenge and quickly found a rhythm in page design.
Thank you for visiting!
Peace & good health,
Anita L. Arambula
afotogirl & red gem studio