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Mike Ritter


I graduated from Bowdoin College in May of 2002 with a double major in Art History/Visual Arts and Spanish. I had accepted an internship at the Maine Photographic Workshops for the summer; and upon moving to Boston in the fall, I started freelancing for No Sweat.

I first became interested in telling a story visually while interning at National Geographic Television in the summer of 2000. There, I met documentary filmmaker Mick Davie who concentrated on giving a voice to those who otherwise would not have had one. Mick's films brought to light topics such as young land mind victims in Mozambique, African street children, and refugees during the Bosnian War. His most poignant work was on Pakistani women living in fear of an extremist Islamic tradition known as honor killing. If judged "disobedient" by men (including sons, fathers, and husbands) mutilation was common and murder possible. When I went back to Bowdoin, I took up photography and enjoyed using the camera as a reason to be curious and get to know strangers. During my senior year, I made a documentary film on a Somali refugee living in Portland, Maine. His story of first fleeing Somalia, living as a refugee for years in Kenya, and then coming to the States was amazing; and his point of views on September 11th, being Muslim in America, race, politics vs. religion, and potential in inner city kids if they are just given a chance were enlightening. I believe in what I do because the image communicates what words cannot, and No Sweat is a great story to cover.

Describing the venture of No Sweat as a good cause is an understatement; it's necessary. Knowing that we are making the presence felt of workers who have been ignored in the past is very gratifying. I am confident that people who are passionate about what they do can make the greatest changes. At No Sweat, I'm excited looking around the table and seeing the type people who have gained my respect in the past. It's a fast-paced, independent, entrepreneurial environment where I get to do what I love to do. I couldn't have asked for a better first freelancing job out of college.