Taking photos on your phone can be a good way to capture a moment, but senior Ben LaFreniere has discovered that there is much more to photography than just that.
With the help of the Rosoff Fellowship from KO, Ben participated in a program through the New York Film Academy this past summer. “I was in the city for a week this summer just working with a photographer named John Henry,” he said. “It was a small group of us, and we went out across the city and shot [photos], and also worked on editing and composing the photographs.”
This unforgettable experience taught Ben skills about photography that, according to him, are irreplaceable. “It was a really hands-on teaching experience, and it was cool to explore so much of the city since there are so many unique cultural things to photograph,” Ben said.
At KO, Ben has been able to explore this passion in a multitude of ways. “Since my interest is pretty specific to photography, I’ve had Mr. Scranton for three semesters now, and I’d say he’s been a pretty impactful person in my journey and has always been really supportive,” Ben shared. “So I would say I’m really grateful for Mr. Scranton and how he has shaped my experience.
Through exploring lots of different photographers in class, Ben came about the work of Ansel Adams, a famous photographer and environmentalist who focused on the natural beauty of the land. Ben found his work to be especially inspiring. This might have inspired Ben’s love and appreciation for landscape photography that he developed over the summer.
With many different art mediums available to explore, Ben found photography to be especially interesting as it allows for you to explore all kinds of things. “I think photography is a really good skill, because you can use it in so many ways,” he explained. “I feel like I’ve built a good baseline, and can use that in all areas of my life.”
Outside of the art class, you can find Ben playing basketball or hanging out with his friends and family. “I’d say I’m pretty passionate about a lot of things!” Ben said. “I also write for the KO News, and am in the investment club; [I’m] probably looking to pursue business in college.”
Although Ben doesn’t plan on pursuing art as his career, he looks forward to seeing the opportunities that his photography will provide him with.
For any other artists, one piece of advice that Ben would share is to not to be afraid of trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone. “I kind of had a vague interest in photography and had taken some photos on my phone before,” he said, “but then I tried Mr. Scranton’s class and through the support that KO has offered, have been able to do a lot with it!”
