Semester Two
One of my favorite parts of being a photographer for The Campanile is getting to capture the events and speakers that we're fortunate enough to get at Paly. Photographing Abby Wombach's visit to our school was one such event. Admittedly, I didn't know much about her before her visit. However, through the discussions she had backstage with various girls soccer teams and reporters from different Paly publications and through her main event in the PAC, I knew that she was fiercely passionate about issues such as gender equality in sports. Listening to her speak was very inspiring and uplifting and I could tell the others around me were encouraged by her message of support. Not only was Wombach an amazing speaker, but she was also a very accomplished soccer player and also a kind and warm person. I hope that all these aspects come through in the photos I got of her that night.
Before this semester, I had never photographed nor attended a softball game, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect when walking over to the field. I had no clue how the game really worked and had to use some trial and error to find the best angles. However, I could sense the seriousness and intensity of the players in their expressions, bold swings of their bats, and the energy of their pitches. I hope that that energy was conveyed through these photos, and I was happy with the final results!
Getting to photograph Governor Gavin Newsom's surprise visit to our class was definitely one of my highlights of the year! Gavin Newsom is a great speaker who knows how to catch the attention of any crowd. This was obvious from the moment he started talking, interacting with the students, and through his hand gestures and movement in the classroom. Getting to photograph him was such a unique opportunity and I hoped to convey some of his energy through my shots!
My first photos of second semester were for Sko Globe. I have always been interested in concert and performance photography so I was excited to document the event! Due to technical difficulties, the band started late so I didn't have time to take many photos. However, I tried a variety of angles and in the end I was happy with the photos I got.
Semester One
My last photos of the semester were taken during a varsity soccer game. My sports photography definitely improved from the tennis photos. I was closer to the sidelines than I was for tennis, which allowed me to take more close-up shots and show the players' grit and determination.
When Kevin Kwan held an event at Paly talking about the Crazy Rich Asian books, I knew I had to bring my camera to capture the excitement in the room. I was sitting on the side of the stage Kwan had his back to, and considering this, I’m proud of the shots I took of him. I also took some candid photos of the student ushers afterwards when they met Tan Kheng Hua, the actress from the movie who interviewed Kevin Kwan.
This semester I also gained a lot more experience with sports photography. These tennis photos were the first sports shots I took this year. I was able to capture some interesting movement and the intensity of the players.
When taking photos of a specific person, it’s often difficult to make it look natural. However, this semester I’ve had more experience taking more candid photos of individuals, this one being one of my favorites. Since many of our photos about technology are of Apple devices, I wanted to include a person for my story on Apple products and focus on their interaction with their new device. For this photo, I asked Emily (the student pictured) to bring a friend. During the shoot, Emily called her friend on her new iPhone. Since she’s having an actual conversation, it looks more relaxed and casual, and her smile is candid.
This summer, I took a class at Jordan Middle School, now known as Greene Middle School, which was renamed due to David Starr Jordan's controversial actions. One day at lunch, I noticed workers repainting one of the signs, and I took a few photos. As a former student there, I felt sentimental because I had always known the school as Jordan. It was also a pivotal moment in our community's history.
