Beginning my first year of The Feather as a photojournalist taught me valuable skills that I now use every day. I learned how to write, shoot and process great photos and interview people.

Looking back on my photos from the beginning of the year as opposed to my photos now is shocking. I see such a stark contrast in my skill level. I exceedingly

grew as a photographer over the last few months in terms of camera settings and finding my style.

Before gaining experience, I never thought about lighting before I took a picture; I just shot in direct sunlight. Now I’m constantly aware of my lighting and how it will affect the shot. Covering events really pushed me outside my comfort zone, and challenged me to get the shots I wanted without hesitation.

Becoming a member of this team means becoming a member of The Feather family. This team has grown my friendships closer together in a way that I never saw coming. Due to an unfortunate and unexpected schedule change, Aubrey Graham, ‘23, and I were placed in Kori James’ period five APUSH class as independent Feather students.

Throughout the year we did everything side by side. Graham, being a year ahead in the program, improved my skills and constantly pushed me to become better. I learned how to work as a team and reach deadlines in a professional environment.

The FCS Auction was the main event that brought on a challenge. There were many things to cover in little time, forcing me to work under pressure. I learned to quickly adjust my settings from inside to outside lighting. Initially, I was nervous that I wouldn’t cover the event well. However, as I looked over my pictures expecting blurred, dark images, what I found instead made me proud of my work. I learned to have confidence in my photography skills without overthinking.

Another event that challenged me was boy’s soccer games. I accidentally brought the short lens instead of the long one, forcing me to adapt. At first, I was scared I messed up the assignment, but I decided to do something a little different. I went behind the goalie box and took shots through the net. The resulting pictures focused the camera on the goalkeeper, showcasing the field in the background.

Not only am I going to take these skills to my college courses and career later in life, they are in use right now. In English 11, I have noticed a huge shift in my writing skills from this year to last year. I love to share the love of God with others, so I plan on using my knowledge to write devotionals in the future.

The advice I would leave for students joining The Feather as a photojournalist is to prioritize your time. Joining this class gives you responsibilities and makes you accountable to your teammates. Even though this class may be a lot of work, it is also fun and beneficial. Try your best and put in the hard work, you will see results in your skill levels. The Feather has shown me what it means to have a job and job-like requirements. People who join The Feather get real-life experiences that most people don’t get until they get their own job.

At the start of the year, I did not expect my love for this class to grow as much as it did. I am very thankful for Kori James, who constantly pushes us to become better photojournalists, and gives us the “feel better” hugs when we need them most. I want to thank the more experienced people in The Feather for taking your time to read everyone else’s articles when you had one of your own to post. You are appreciated and valued.

For more photos, visit the media page.

For more articles, read High school teachers part way with school, leave final messages.

Below is a sample of my portfolio throughout the year.

Gallery • 12 Photos