PHOTOJOURNALISM

I have learned that photojournalism is one of the most impactful things for high school students. Not many teenagers are willing to sit down and read my 1,000-word argument article, but an emotional photo can intrigue everyone and simultaneously tell a story.

I have started going to events alone, learning things myself through trial and error. Although it is my senior year, my last year of many things, I enjoy capturing the first’s, last’s and everything in between for other people. I have tried covering many events out of the “norm” of varsity football. It was difficult because I had no advision and no helpful tips. I had to feel it out for myself. It was completely rewarding.

I have learned a lot about cameras on my own too. I now don’t necessarily need to edit my photos. Although Photoshop is a great tool, I have learned the settings of a camera well enough to get a good picture where I may only need to use photoshop to crop. With a staff as large as MVM’s, as an editor I must realize that the staff members will need more help than anything. I make it my priority to help staffers get to events. Before I set up my camera and settings, I make sure each staffer knows what to do, how to adjust and get the best photos possible.

I’ve run into some sticky situations with photojournalism. I've learned that getting the stunning photo is 100 percent worth the "hassle" of forgetting a battery and having to sprint through the school to go grab one with seconds before the game started, accidentally letting my flash go off during a school play or getting slammed against the wall by a six-foot tall basketball player.

STUDENT LIFE

Taking pictures of memorable moments has been my favorite thing to shoot. It is special to capture simple moments that encompass high school beyond sports. A majority of students at my school won't go on to play D1- or Olympic-level sports, so they look to Student Life photography to find the true moments of their high school career. It's moments like this that I get the privilege of capturing what it is like to be a current high school student.