JOSH'S DIGITAL MEDIA JOURNEY IN COMCAST'S OLYMPIC SPOTLIGHT
MEET THE AUTHOR
Josh is a Baltimore/DC-based freelance photographer and a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park where he’s pursuing his bachelor’s degree in information science. As a high school graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts, he’s honed his subject-based style to give each of his shoots for celebrities, musicians, athletes, and models, a unique “wow “ factor.” Josh typically shoots with a Sony A7Riii.
In spring 2024, Wide Angle alum Josh Nass was selected by Comcast to share his inspiring story as part of their 2024 Olympics campaign. Embracing the 'Team of Tomorrow' spirit, Josh showcased his talents in photography and video storytelling. Josh’s narrative not only highlights his personal achievements but also underscores the impact that community organizations like Wide Angle can have in a young person’s journey.
I am a former amateur boxing national champion for the USA Boxing Association who found a deeper passion for combat sports through digital photography and short filmmaking. My story has come full circle in many ways. I found boxing around the same time as digital media. Since my high school (Baltimore School For The Arts) didn’t give me an athletic outlet, I spent my after-school time on YouTube, watching training videos of the uber-talented kids my age at Upton Boxing Centre in Baltimore. This content inspired me to become a boxer myself, and eventually, I deemed myself high-level enough to switch gyms and train at Upton Boxing under coach Calvin Ford, the trainer of Gervonta Davis.
During my first summer as a boxer, I interned at Wide Angle Youth Media (WAYM), where I fell in love with digital creation and storytelling, particularly in my fields of interest; music and boxing. There, I developed an enthusiasm for documenting talent at its best, working alongside other Baltimore youth to become well-rounded in media production. For that summer, WAYM put a camera in my hand and taught me how to use editing software.
Back at the gym, I started to notice that photographers would frequently pop in and out, but I began to see a disconnect between them and the sport. When I first saw what was going on in the gym on YouTube, it ignited a fire under me that changed the course of my life. But these artists were just coming there to see a fight and didn’t seem to notice the underlying moments that I thought needed to be shown to the world. So out of a desire to tell the compelling stories around me, I decided to buy my first camera and become a creator to pay homage to what inspired me to box in the first place; youth in media. Being the guy in the gym who documented everything only grew my passion for the sport. I felt a natural inclination to “capture the moment” in the gym because I wasn’t just seeing it, I was living it. I was able to build my photo and video portfolio while fighting my way to a national collegiate boxing title as a freshman at the University of Maryland. Now a rising senior, I've taken a step back from competition to focus on my photography and videography business, which has become an attraction for talent in music and fashion, in addition to sports.
Filming with Comcast was so awesome! It was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be a part of such a big project, especially out of my comfort zone as an actor. I had a blast working with the director and the cast, who were just as nervous/excited as me. Shooting the scene was truly lots of fun and it was so cool to be at the center of such a high-budget production.
“Joy of Achievement” Creative Content
Behind-the-scenes photos from the Comcast shoots
