For some BVH students, photography started as a simple hobby but quickly turned into a passion. Students capture high-level sports movies and document personal experiences outside of school.Student photographers are developing their skills both inside and outside of the classroom. For some students, photography starts as an interest and grows to a hobby. Junior Quinn Niekrasz described how his small interest quickly expanded over time into a larger passion.
“It started off by using my phone. I really liked the composition and editing aspect. Then from there, I saved up and got a point and shoot camera, and then from there I got a full frame, spectrum lenses, then from there it all came along.” Niekrasz said.
As students such as Niekrasz gain more experience, their motivation often grows beyond the enjoyment of something small and turns into something more meaningful. Niekrasz explained that his interest in nature and sports along with other opportunities to earn money pushed him to continue improving.
“I started out mainly doing kind of nature stuff. I have always been kind of attracted to nature, as well as sports. I also saw an opportunity to make money from it so that definitely motivated me as well.” Niekrasz said.
While some students pursue photography on their own, others develop their skills through both personal practice and others influences. Sophomore Marc Espina shared how his passion began through his father and continued through his consistent effort.
“I first got into photography because my dad helped influence me. It started when I went on an international trip and he let me use his camera around the airport. I found this enjoyable and felt [like] I wanted to learn more as my dad was also a photographer.” Espina said.
As students continue practicing and developing they begin to find their own style and approach to photography. Espina expressed how his work is shaped by both inspiration and personal creativity.
“I feel my style is influenced by a lot of inspiration I get from fellow photographers, friends and my dad who gives me pointers. With the influence I get from external sources, I always try to add my style to my photos, like emphasizing contrasting colors, shutter drag, and use of negative space.” Espina said.
Other than personal growth, photography classes on campus provide students with technical skills and exposure to new ideas. Sophomore Dominic Curiel described how learning editing techniques has significantly improved his work and entertainment in his photography class.
“Something new I have learned in [photography] class is how to edit using photoshop and photopea. Mr. Lim taught us many important features like layering, cropping for composition, and enhancing photos which can make your photos look 10 times better.” Curiel said.
Photography also allows students to express themselves creatively and capture meaningful moments. Outside of class, Cruiel also uses photography as a way to explore and practice on his own.
“When I first started taking pictures, I went to my little brother’s soccer game to practice by taking pictures of him. Although they did not come out the best, it was an overall great learning experience that helped me with my future photos.” Curiel said.
As students continue to grow, photography becomes more than just a class you take during high school and it begins to open up new opportunities. Niekrasz emphasized how his work developed into both creative and a professional opportunity.
“Photography is one of my creative outlets that is something I can enjoy but it isalso a business for me and for something that I can make money out of.” Niekrasz said. “I definitely want to get more into the advertisement space in September. I am going to be going up to Oregon for an Ad with Toyota. That is definitely exciting. Just getting more into those larger productions is a goal for me.”
Despite different experiences and goals, students share similar interests and challenges as they continue to grow. Espina reflected on overcoming self doubt and improving through continuous practice.
“Every photographer cannot deny this feeling of not being good enough or in their place when taking photos. Taking photos is not as easy as just clicking the shutter, it involves a lot of critical thinking and timing. For me the main way I have overcome this feeling is by staying true to using my camera at least once per week. Also something that really helped me is never shying away from asking advice from other photographers, especially my dad.” Espina said.
Photography continues to shape how students view the world around them. They capture moments both big and small. Their work reflects on not just their skills but also their growth, creativity, and passion.
“For me to capture [a difficult] photo, I [had to be] in the right place at the right time: he was coming to the exact corner I was walking to and everything just came together. To me the stars aligned in that photo.” Espina said.
