My Photo Taking Process
When I'm taking photos the question I always try to ask myself is "what's the perspective people want to see?" If we have the same variation of a picture throughout the book with the only thing differentiating them are varying subjects then I haven't done my job as a photographer. I want my viewer to be able to see a perspective they haven't seen before. If that means marching a two mile homecoming parade in 95 degree heat with two cameras then so be it, or following the senior class for three hours in their gap and gowns while they travel to four different schools then that's what's got to happen. Capturing the stories of my school is a privilege and a goal that a strive to meet everyday, and photography is just one of the several mediums that I try to do that with.
When I'm taking photos the question I always try to ask myself is "what's the perspective people want to see?" If we have the same variation of a picture throughout the book with the only thing differentiating them are varying subjects then I haven't done my job as a photographer. I want my viewer to be able to see a perspective they haven't seen before. If that means marching a two mile homecoming parade in 95 degree heat with two cameras then so be it, or following the senior class for three hours in their gap and gowns while they travel to four different schools then that's what's got to happen. Capturing the stories of my school is a privilege and a goal that a strive to meet everyday, and photography is just one of the several mediums that I try to do that with.
My Photos
Ready or Not Here I Come Eyes covered by a blindfold, Benjamin Trussell, 11, listens for the sound of his fellow opponents. Trussell had taken part in the games at the annual Red Ribbon Week pep rally. "Being blindfolded in front of the whole school was just weird. I couldn't see and I had to play a game. It was so hard," Trussell said.
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Hot Diggity Dog While wearing a hot dog costume, Rebecca Robinson, 11, walks up to the doors of the East End Cafe. After losing a game of ping-pong to Mackenzie Avant, 11, at a deadline night. Robinson was forced to wear the costume in public. "I didn't feel too embarrassed by the hot dog outfit because it was mostly old people there," Robinson said. "If there had been more kids I knew, I would've felt a little awkward."
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Scream and Shout With his hands in the air, Noah Day, 11, chants the fight song alongside his fellow band members. The band had kept the tradition of playing the fight song after their pregame performance for more than 7 years. "It's a good way to cool down. We always have to run off the field and do our quick march to the corner, so being able to just stand there and play helps me cool off," Day said.
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Perfect Fit As they practice outside the band hall, Caleb head, 12, Dawson Brown, 11, and Brayden Thompson, 10, make sure that their beats are timed correctly. The drum-line had gotten new drums with harnesses fitted to each person. "The custom harnesses really elevated the drum-line. We feel and look prepared to play," Brown said.
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Peace and War At the second annual student tailgate, Jesse Scarlett, 12, and Jonathan Scott, 11, play a game of tug of war. JROTC had been in charge of putting on this tailgate to encourage the football team before the game. "We decided to play against a few kids who challenged us at the game [tug of war]," Scarlett said.
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Holding My Breath Back pressing against the floor, Ashton Archer, 12, holds her the final pose at the end of a routine. Being one of the four seniors on the team, Archer took learning the routines seriously. "We had spent months learning and practicing the dances," Archer said. "I just want us to look perfect."
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One Final Walk On the senior walk, Madison Greene, 12, smiles at her former teachers. The senior walk was a tradition which allowed graduating seniors to visit their old schools and past teachers. "It made me so happy to be able to see all my old teachers. I'm excited to graduate, but seeing my old teachers made me kind of sad," Greene said.
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Bent Won't Break Hands reaching for her toes, Madison Holloway, 12, flies through the air at a the first football game. Holloway's size was what qualified her to be a flier. "I'm the shortest girl on the team, which really helps with being a flier," Holloway said. "My stunt group is always able to hit our stunts."
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All photographs taken by Mackenzie Avant