“Do not go gentle into that good night.” – Dylan Thomas
In July of 2019, I took a photo of the Grand Teton Mountains as sunlight streamed through a post-storm mist. It is that moment that I often credit for the journey I have since traveled. My favorite definition of photography describes it as “painting with light,” which is really its fundamental meaning. In an effort to fulfill my camera’s inherent “purpose,” I have now spent my entire high school career seeking out every fissure of light that I could and harnessing it with a click. Of course, as I’ve learned throughout the years, the process is so much more than a simple button being pressed—it is planning, patience, composition, angles, and often, a little bit of luck.
From my initial love of landscape photography came a desire to capture more. Freshman year, I got my first real camera for Christmas. From then on, I took every chance I got to go out and use my Nikon, starting out exclusively at sporting events. They were easy to get into, packed with palpable emotion, and I always came away with a few shots that bolstered my confidence as a photographer and my drive to keep showing up. Although I started out almost entirely self-taught, I quickly realized the wonderful opportunities that State High had to offer.
During my time here, I took both Photography and Advanced Photography, which were amazing intro courses on the camera side of photography. Still, I knew I wanted a deeper understanding of the other side. My sophomore year, under the guidance of my friend and mentor Jacob Will, I signed up for Journalism. I never looked back.
Journalism, from the very first day of sophomore year, showed me a whole new world, and in doing so, gave me a clear direction for the rest of my life. I was constantly surrounded by creative, constructive, intelligent minds that are all so talented and driven to capture and share the world around them, each in their own way. It is from those people that I learned that photography is not the only medium in which you can capture light; it’s journalism too. So, in lieu of being torn between them, I found a compromise: photo journalism. I became enamored with telling stories through photos. My realm of coverage began to expand beyond sports and to academics, community, music, theatre, and more. I learned through my own experiences, but I learned even more by teaching underclassmen as they took their own journeys through the program.
In all of the time I’ve spent here at State High, I have fallen deeply in love with the power that my camera holds. It allows me to do what I love, to chase the light. It has shown me over and over that the light we all chase is in every corner of this beautiful world, and it always will be; just waiting to be captured, just waiting for that click.
For those who haven’t yet found their passion or feel like they never will, remember: not all who wander are lost. There are endless pathways to be discovered, countless journeys that you will inevitably take. Our earth is full of undying beauty. I will spend my whole life chasing it.
Dear reader, go out and explore. Seek out what you love, and don’t let it slip through your fingers. Be intentional, take your time, but don’t forget to keep moving. Leave everything better than you found it. And above all else, rage against the dying of the light. Thank you, State.
