Interviewed by Takara Small

Our second interview was with Rick Carroll - a frequent photo contributor to CBCnews.ca. We asked Rick to tell us a bit about himself:

"First and foremost I am a Canadian and I carry that label with an incredible amount of pride.
I love this country, its people and all of its diversity. In every sense of the words, I am your Average Joe.

For years I worked as a technician in Ottawa, my hometown, while constantly tinkering in photography. Eventually, photography and my passion for it ... became a priority. I am a self-taught photographer with over two decades of learning, yet there's still so much to learn.

In recent months I've been focusing on poverty and people on the streets. It's a daunting task that is often not well-received.

At 51, the clock is ticking. Ideally, I'd love to be able to live off my photography but
I'm not certain if that's possible. My hope is that, at some point, people realize that what
I do has little to do with me and that they have at least some understanding of my love and passion for life."

Q: What would you consider to be the biggest news story of the year/decade?

Year: "Obama has had a tremendous impact on everyone. His election was an incredible indicator of hope for the year.

Decade: "It has to be 9/11. Watching the two towers fall on live television was outrageous -- you just sink inside when you think about it. I think everyone was crushed that day."

Q: Who would you consider to be the biggest newsmaker of the year/decade?

"Obama. I still think that story is a winner for the year and decade. I can't think of anyone more important in the world right now. I think he has charisma, which doesn't necessarily make him a good politician but does make him a good newsmaker."

Q: What would you say is the most interesting or strangest trend of the year/decade?

Decade: "Cellphones have to be the worst trend of the decade. I hate cellphones with a passion. I remember you used to be able to hop on a bus and communicate with people and now that doesn't happen at all.

"Cellphones may have made things more efficient but it's closed off people from those around them. People seem so concerned with smartphones that they forget to enjoy the world around them.

"I don't think its an advancement as far as society goes, I think it's a step back. If someone calls me and I'm not home they'll leave me a message and I'll call them back when I can."

Q: If you could use one word to describe the past year/decade what would that word be?

"Average."

Q: What moment of the year/decade was your favourite?

"Obama winning the election is my favourite moment. I don't remember where I was when it happened but I remember the feeling I got when I heard the news. It was in total awe.

"Obama means so many things on so many levels."

Q: What news story or event of the past decade had the biggest impact on your life?

"I think Stephen Harper's election was the biggest news story of the decade. I think he's a good man and I trust him more than I would any other politician.

"I was happy that he was elected and still happy that he's our prime minister."

Q: How do you think the next decade will differ from this one?

"Canada's presence in Afghanistan will continue into the next decade because this is a country that doesn't have any stability and, as peacekeepers, our job is to stay until the job is finished.

"I think people in Canada and the U.S. will have to get used to the idea that this will last for decades."

Q: Weirdest event (pop culture moment)?

"I was surprised that Michael Jackson died. He was a very strange character and a tragic type but I grew up listening to him and surprised that he died so young."