In focus: Poway students turn sports photography into art
POWAY, Calif. — The clash of the cleats, the arc of the ball, a team erupting in celebration鈥攆or junior Ashlee Howell, and seniors Miles Andruss and Owen Thompson, these aren鈥檛 only the sights of a Poway High School (PHS) sports game, they are the canvas for their creativity. This dynamic trio uses sports photography to inspire their creative side while delighting the community with their talents.
Capturing student-athletes in action
All enrolled in one of the school鈥檚 photography classes, these three motivated PHS students attend sports events and photograph players and teams in action. Afterward, they edit the photos and share them with the athletes they capture. They each have their own Instagram accounts with a collection of their work.
Each focus is unique when deciding which moments to capture. Andruss shares, “Photography is very personal. Two photographers can attend the same game but take different photos depending on their style. I prefer action shots, like a soccer player running next to a defender on the ball.鈥� Howell enjoys chronicling the event: “To tell 海角社区 with my photos, I focus on critical plays during a game and capture action shots.” Thompson’s specialty is sentiment: “My preference is to capture the emotions of athletes with my photos鈥攁 close-up of their face after a touchdown or the animated expressions of a team during a celebration on the field.”
Beyond snapping the shot
This initiative is not only about spending time photographing games but also putting in extra effort afterward editing their shots. Howell shares, “I incorporate different editing techniques to see what looks good. I try integrating warmer and cooler tones and add masking to make the subject stand out.” Thompson enjoys bringing out emotion in his photos. “I like going through the editing process to give the photos a dramatic effect. I research editing techniques and get ideas from students in my class,” he adds. Andruss enjoys the creative side of photography: “With sports photography, I like getting close to the action and cropping the photo. I want to make people feel like they are right there. He puts a lot of thought into the process, 鈥淚 like the journey of capturing the picture.”
Many of the techniques that Andruss, Howell and Thompson use in their photography stem from their experiences in the PHS photography class with teacher Aaron Jaffe, whose goal is to create technically sound photography students. 鈥淚 am all about technique and want my students to learn to read light, understand the thought process behind the settings used and take ownership of their work,鈥� Jaffe shares. He actively encourages his students to apply these skills in real-world settings, such as high school media days.
Another thrill for these budding photographers is when the athletes post the images to their Instagram accounts. 鈥淚 like giving people the pictures I take and when they post them on their accounts, it feels great,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淢y friends appreciate the photos I take; it鈥檚 a nice feeling knowing that I鈥檓 putting a smile on their faces,鈥� Howell added. All three students agree they found a true community in their photography class at PHS and would like to stay connected to photography in the future. 鈥淚 would consider taking a photography class in college or maybe try it as a side job,鈥� Andruss said, 鈥淚 am also interested in photoshoots for clothing brands.鈥�
Having found a personal path into sports photography, these PHS students are pursuing a creative endeavor that will serve them well in the future. The journey through the lens has begun, and the future for these young photographers is bright.
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