Authors

The talented photographers and writers behind Down in the County.

Eleazar Yisrael

My name is Eleazar or "El" for short and I recently graduated UNC Chapel Hill in December. I'm from a small town in eastern North Carolina named Farmville and I'm passionate about journalism that serves rural and southern communities. Growing up as a Black American, the only stories I saw involving people who look like me, were those of others committing crime. I now strive to tell ALL stories, but especially those that have been historically left out of the picture.

Abigail Pittman

Photographer and occasional writer. Focused on North Carolina and the American South.

Andrea Bruce

Andrea Bruce is a photographer, educator, artist and writer whose work focuses on ideas of democracy and the aftermath of war. She is also the publisher and creator of the hyper-local, visual-first publication Down in the County serving Pamlico County, NC, where she grew up.

Quamori Miller

Hello everyone! My name is Quamori Miller aka Chop, and I’m a Junior at Pamlico County High School. I started my journey with photojournalism under Andrea Bruce as part of the YNTO Snapshot program, which sparked my passion for photography and writing . Since then, I’ve continued covering community events and launched my own photography business, Chop’s Photography, during my freshman year of high school. Throughout high school, I’ve built on my skills by earning an Adobe Photoshop certification, interning with local newspapers, and taking on several leadership roles. I currently serve as Chief Photographer for North Carolina’s Youth and Government (YAG) program and as the 2025–2026 State Reporter for SkillsUSA North Carolina. Both roles allow me to mentor others and help expand opportunities for students across the state.

Lara Manetta

I'm excited to join DC, contributing stories and helping sponsors support our work.