NATCHEZ — Jay David Sowers has joined the staff of The Natchez Democrat as a news photographer.

Sowers is a native of Delaware, Ohio, and earned a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Sowers comes to Natchez after working for three and a half years as a staff photographer for The Lima (Ohio) News, where his work earned numerous awards in the Ohio Associated Press contests.

Prior to his work in Lima, Sowers completed an internship at This Week Community Newspapers and Columbus Parent Magazine in Columbus, Ohio.

In his free time, Sowers enjoys traveling, cycling and running. He completed his first half-marathon last month in New Orleans.