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John Pendygraft - Photographer
John Pendygraft

Photographer

I was born in El Paso, Texas, and could sing the complete theme to the 60's Spider-Man cartoon series as a preschooler. For better or worse, something stuck and I became a photojournalist. I have been at the Tampa Bay Times since 1997. When I started in Pasco County, it was a world of film, 60's Spidey-style. Since then my job has evolved from international work, to enterprise reporter, to multimedia enterprise reporter. In 2017-2018, I completed a Knight-Wallace Fellowship at the University of Michigan and am pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of South Florida.

  1. Historic victory has Tampa Bay residents celebrating in the streets
    Nov. 8, 2020• Elections
    Alexander McGreevy, 44, of St. Petersburg, celebrates with Biden supporters at the intersection of Tyrone Blvd N and Park St N Saturday, November 7, 2020.
  2. Photos: Polls have closed in the Tampa Bay area
    Nov. 4, 2020• Photos
    Staff at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections receive and count ballots late into the night on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020 in Tampa.
    24 Images | View Slideshow
  3. Photos: Rays 2-1 over the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS
    Oct. 11, 2020• Photos
    Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Diego Castillo (63) reacts after getting the final out during ninth inning of the American League Championship Series game one against the Houston Astros Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 at Petco Park in San Diego.
    30 Images | View Slideshow
  5. Students go back to school
    Aug. 24, 2020• Photos
    Students lock up bicycles at Gulf Middle School during the first day of school for Pasco County Schools on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020, in New Port Richey.
    45 Images | View Slideshow
  6. Fire Tampa’s police chief, protesters demand; St. Pete protest ends after motorcycle incident
    Jul. 4, 2020• News
    A Tampa police officer attempts to detain a protester as officers break up a march blocking traffic on N Dale Mabry Highway on Saturday.
  7. Juneteenth Week: Artists, Marchers and Celebrations
    Jun. 20, 2020• Live Coverage
    Local artist, Cheryl "Jujmo" Weber of Tampa paints her assigned letter "B" in the new Black Lives Matter street mural in front of the Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, 2240 9th Ave. South in St. Petersburg on Thursday, June 18, 2020. Woodson Museum executive director, Terri Lipsey-Scott contacted St. Petersburg City Council member, Lisa Wheeler-Bowman with the idea who in turn contacted Wayne Atherholt with the city’s Cultural Affairs department who also liked the idea. Atherholt contact John Collins with the St Pete Artist Alliance which runs the Shine Mural project and got his team working to find artists willing to participate. 16 artists are responsible for painting 1 letter each of the phrase. The mural will be ready when the city of St Pete kicks of its Juneteenth celebrations on Friday morning.
    13 Images | View Slideshow
  8. Photos: Protesters return to Tampa Bay’s streets with renewed strength
    Jun. 13, 2020• Live Coverage
    Bayshore Blvd in Tampa fills with protesters Saturday, June 13, 2020.
    12 Images | View Slideshow
  9. Tension amid peaceful protests in Tampa and St. Petersburg
    Jun. 13, 2020• News
    In St. Petersburg, marchers demonstrated Saturday against police brutality and racism in the afternoon and at night.
  10. Photos: Rainy day protests Saturday in Tampa Bay
    Jun. 6, 2020• Photos
    Florida Highway Patrol block the intersection of Tyler Street and Ashley Drive as protestors march past Saturday, June 6, 2020 in Tampa.
    42 Images | View Slideshow
  11. Protests end peacefully Friday night across Tampa Bay
    Jun. 5, 2020• News
    Zoey Triplett, 9, left, cuddles with her mother, Amy Triplett, 49, center, of Safety Harbor, while attending a peaceful protest organized by the Bless Up organization, on Friday, June 5, 2020, at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater. At right is Byron Triplett, 53, Zoey's father and Amy's husband.
  12. Students return, if only for a moment, to clean out their lockers
    May 26, 2020• Pasco
    Sunlake High School senior Anna Nelson, 18, returns textbooks after cleaning out her locker Tuesday. Students hadn't been inside the school since spring break in March because of COVID-19.
  13. Bringing food to the fields
    May 18, 2020• Hillsborough
    Isaret Jeffers-Chávez, founder of Colectivo Arbol, an organization dedicated to helping Florida farmworkers.
  14. A canceled party, an awful fire, a new purpose
    May 4, 2020• Health
    Cindy Organtini poses with donated clothes in the burned-out home of longtime friends.
  15. Grandfather’s actions in 1929 inspired 2020 donation
    Apr. 27, 2020• News
    Denise McCabe with her gift, for a member of Vincent House, a nonprofit clubhouse that provides help for people with mental illness.
  16. Isolation, frustration inspired action for Gulfport woman
    Apr. 13, 2020• Health
    Michelle Murphy, 51, (right) and her niece Stephanie Fortner, 46, (left) pose in their front yard "Lending Hope Library" Sunday, April 5, 2020.
  17. Introducing ‘The Helpers’: Meet the people lending a hand during dark days
    Mar. 26, 2020• Long Reads
    John Riesebeck, owner of Smokin' J's BBQ, poses in front of his smokehouse in Gulfport.
  18. A quick trip to the library, and suddenly, all is right with the world
    Mar. 19, 2020• Narratives
    Isadora Pendygraft carries a few books out from the Gulfport Public Library. She checked them out before the library shut down due to the coronavirus.
  19. An autistic child melts down. An officer makes a decision. A family suffers the consequences.
    Dec. 8, 2019• Long Reads
    Staci Plonsky holds art from her autistic son, A.J. Plonsky, depicting his memory of being taken by the school resource officer to a mental health facility under Florida's Baker Act law. The incident took place on A.J's first day of middle school. Photo taken November 17, 2019.
  20. ’My hands were tied. I couldn’t do anything about it.’
    Dec. 8, 2019• Long Reads
    Ann Corzo and her son Kristopher.
  21. She doesn't care if you accept her, as long as you respect her
    Jun. 26, 2017• News
    “When I hit my low points in life, I go the graveyard,” says Mary Jane Taylor, 18, at Oaklawn Cemetery in downtown Tampa last week. “Do I want to leave this earth being another transgender woman that was . . . not taken seriously?” 
  22. Before you curse at someone in traffic, consider this story
    Dec. 29, 2016• News
    Pamela Block, 53, gives her dog Mishu a kiss as Anna Block, 11, (right) and Lily Block, 9, (rear left) get ready for School Tuesday, December 13, 2016. Anna was born with Bladder Exstrophy Syndrome. Her bladder was inside out and poked out of her belly. Since being adopted by Block in 2009, she has had two corrective surgeries. Lilly, who adopted by Block in 2008, was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, a cardiac abnormality. Recent genetic tests have begun to explain a host of subtle symptoms; she runs out of breath quickly, has low muscle tone, always seems to have headaches and stomach aches. ?ˆš’When we leave the house, as far as the neighbors are concerned, we look like a family without a care. Because the kids are so outgoing and have these great personalities, our struggles are pretty much silent. But medical issues and medical appointments define our lives. When most kids are going to camps for vacation, we?ˆš•re going to hospitals,?ˆš“ Block says.
  23. All Eyes Gallery, John Pendygraft's favorite photos of 2016
    Dec. 22, 2016• News
    The Mosley Motel has filed for bankruptcy, and stakes are high for three-year-old Lawrence E Pratt (left), his sister McKenzie Bell, 10, (right) and all the families that live there. Altis Cardinal Storage of Miami owns the Skyline Fifth apartment complex, which neighbors the Mosley. They are the hotel's main creditor and recently filed an emergency motion to prohibit the motel's use of cash collateral. The Mosley could close and all it's impoverished residents will have to find new homes.
  24. Holiday Hopes: This St. Petersburg family has the drive, just not a car
    Nov. 27, 2016• News
    Willie Hairston, 29, gets his three youngest children, Avery, 1, Madison, 3, and Aiden, 2, ready for the ride to day care with the help of their mom, Zeneta Jackson, 37, while Trinity, 4. Aliajh, 8, and Zeneta’s mother are on the porch.