Photojournalism
I am absolutely addicted to the click of the camera and the satisfaction that comes with the perfectly crafted portrait. Photojournalism explores the power of the visual. I love challenging myself to craft a story with a photo.
Work with Levitt AMP Music Series
As a junior in high school I was selected as one of 10 photojournalists to work under professional photographer Bob Adamek. For eight weeks in the summer, in collaboration with Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, I shot photos of the Levitt AMP Music Series.
My work on the Levitt AMP Music Series is seen below. It was my first dip into concert photography, but my favorite part was the way it allowed me to interact with my community. Photojournalism is different than other forms of journalism. You are able to capture moments of joy, sadness, real emotion in a photograph. The photograph oftentimes feels more tangible than the written word.
Protest Coverage
With the increase in political activism and social justice movements, taking photos has been the one way I have been able to capture societial changes as they happen. Below you will see photos from two protests I have shot in the past year.
The first six slides are from a student walkout in response to a Harrisonburg City Public Schools lawsuit. The lawsuit claims parents are being stripped of their constitutional rights in relation to high school student's current freedom to go by their preferred name in the school environment without parent approval or notice. The last two slides are from a Free Palestine student-led protest.
In both scenarios I was at first hesitant to shoot. The lawsuit and the student-led protest both experienced pushback from parents, students and administration on both sides of each argument. Nonetheless, I feel priviledged to have been able to shoot such important events especially alongside other talented high school photographers and local medias: DNR and WHSV.
More photos!
In addition to taking photos for my community I also take photos for the school. I enjoy taking photos of everything from classrooms, to guest speakers, to dance concerts, to sporting events. Below you can see some of the photos I have crafted over my years in high school. You'll find that some of my best photos even have captions!
Mentorship
Though I still love taking photos, I have found a new love in teaching photography. Specifically, I have seen how excited first year students get when they get when they get their hands on a camera. I have made it my mission to teach my mentees the art of the photograph. The first quarter of the school year I focused on teaching photography through in-person lessons. I teach three main things:
- Action shots: No shot should ever be posed. The best photos capture real emotion and tell a story in a single shot.
- Basic Settings: Camera settings are oftentimes overly confusing. I teach aperture, ISO and shutter speed.
- Composition: The very basics of composition make or break a photo. Rule of thirds, leading lines and repetition are the three biggest compositional strategies I teach.
***See below for a presentation one of my staffers made regarding photography and a video I created showing staffers how to properly upload photos onto monarch avenue to the right.
Community Photo Exhibition
My work was showcased at the Harrisonburg, VA Arts Council of the Valley January Exhibition: AMP'd - Friendly City Photo Corp Top Shots. It was a big step for me in the world of professional journalism; my work was even purchased!
