Photojournalism
Photojournalism in high school newspapers is like magic with a camera. It helps tell stories through captivating pictures that grab your heart. You get to see and feel the exciting moments and emotions of school life. It's not just about pictures; it's about understanding the world through a different lens and making ordinary things look extraordinary. In the high school newspaper, photojournalism paints a vivid picture of what's happening, making stories come alive.
"Vibrant Atlanta LGBTQ+ community confronts modern struggles"
Capturing the vibrancy and spirit of a pride parade is an exhilarating experience that goes beyond mere photography; it's about capturing the essence of celebration, unity, and unapologetic self-expression. Being amidst the colorful array of flags, costumes, and exuberant faces is like stepping into a kaleidoscope of diversity and acceptance. The palpable energy in the air, the contagious enthusiasm radiating from every participant, and the sheer joy of individuals embracing their true selves creates an atmosphere that is both empowering and inspiring. As I focused my lens, I felt a sense of responsibility to encapsulate not just the visuals but also the emotions that permeated the parade—an indescribable feeling of liberation, solidarity, and unbridled happiness. It's in these moments that the power of photography truly shines, freezing in time the exuberance and resilience of a community proudly marching forward.
"Virginia-Highland Elementary School opens for first school year"
After many district changes and a contentious divide of a neighborhood into two elementary schools, it was a gift to see kids and parents sprawled across the landscape of the newly opened Virginia-Highland Elementary School. Utilizing many camera features, I was able to capture that “first day feeling” spreading hope for the new building and possibilities of the school. These were later posted on social media and in a feature story.
"School Board Election Series"
Few students know who is making the regulations for their school area. But even fewer can establish a connection with those in change. Luckily, a photo can do just that. While attending school board meetings, I diligently worked to capture the essence of each candidate, along with the body of the story including more concrete facts. This had the unique power to not only inform but also motivate students to be more involved. When doing this though, I had to consider and work against the bias that every photo can create in a story. To counter this, I created a structure where online a photo of each candidate standing and smiling was at the top of the body, along with a talking, candid photo embedded into the story.
"Fulton County takes national stage with historic Trump indictment"
My co-staffer ran up to me at cross country practice. “Trump will be here in 3 hours. We can leave now. My father offered to drive us.” Speeding to the Fulton County Jail 15 minutes from my house, I held two things: a recorder and my camera. Arriving at a chaotic landscape, it seemed like something out of a movie that needed to be captured as a testament of the impact of the Indictment cases on the area. These scenes were those that mattered for reporting at a high school level - depicting community members and different actions on local streets rather than just a mugshot or press conference of the former president. These were later fundamental to an in-depth news story that was posted online and received a Best of Sno award.
"Chick-fil-A opens doors on Ponce, works to control traffic"
A deemed “disaster in the making,” this Chick-fil-A garnered a lot of backlash from community members when it first underwent construction, due to its tricky location in a busy intersection in Midtown Atlanta near our school. When arriving on the first day, it was a privilege to approach people beaming with a smile eating their new chicken and ask them about their experience. Additionally, I worked to photograph all of the security measures in place to avoid traffic problems, and included them in the story to ease community members about potential issues. These photos and interviews accumulated to a Photo Essay posted online during the summer.
"Superintendent Battle visits Midtown, connects with students and staff"
A lot of higher officials in school systems often hark on their connections with students and teachers, but it is hard to ever find that visibly. On the new interim superintendent’s visit to Midtown, I knew it was essential to capture any visible connection with students. The smiles in these photos ended up being a token of the superintendent’s wonderful leadership and intentional connections fostered by this superintendent.
