Several Bulldogs have found a new passion in capturing school life through a camera lens, making it easier for everyone in the school to preserve memorable moments like football games and homecoming. With cameras in hand, a handful of students across grade levels have found a creative outlet to set themselves apart from other students.
Senior Charlotte Borley has been a photographer since she was a sophomore. Borley makes it a point to be at every football game. She also runs the social media account for the football team and runs her own instagram account.
“It separates me from other kids at Stone Bridge, like it’s something personal to me,” Borley said. “It’s something I do that not a lot of other people do.”
What originally started as a simple task for a yearbook class turned into a hobby that can set Borley up for creative success and financial independence in the future.
“I’ve always been in Yearbook since, I think, sophomore year, so we kind of learned how to use the camera,” Borley said. “I just picked it up and started going to games last year, and that’s kind of where it started.” Borley
Because Stone Bridge is able to give students access to cameras in classes like yearbook and journalism, people are able to pursue photography. It is a skill and hobby they can use throughout their lifetime.
Santiago Palomino, another student photographer at the school, owns his own photography business. Palomino also runs a social media account on Instagram. As a sports enthusiast, Palomino enjoys attending different athletic events, but his favorite is soccer-it was the first professional sport he shot for.
“Because it’s just a pastime. Honestly, I got to do what I love, which is shooting sports, but also watch the game as well.” Palomino said.
Palomino also explains not only does he enjoy shooting for the games he also gets to watch them as well.
“I would want to shoot for whatever college I go to, for their media team,” Palomino said.
Starting photography can open up opportunities like being able to shoot for college sports teams. Though it does seem challenging to pick up the hobby, there are some basics that aspiring photographers can keep in mind to get off on the right foot.
“I would say, keep working at it,” Borley said. “I just kept on going from last year, and I just kept building my profile, building my editing, and I just kept on going. And so you’ll always improve if you just keep trying.”
Junior Teagan Balda, photographer for the yearbook and Bulldog Tribune, did not always have such an eye for photography. With repetition and practice, Balda has been able to perfect her craft.
“Taking photos for both media classes helped me get better at photos, editing, and photo composition,” Balda said. “Having the access to cameras and press passes at different events allowed me to grow as a photographer in only one year.”
The photographers can be found and contacted on their Instagram pages: Santiago Palomino @paloframes, Charlotte Borley @shotbycbore, and Teagan Balda @teaganbaldaphoto.
