Behind the Lens

Featured Video Play Icon

Most people would say that nothing good can come from skateboarding. It’s too dangerous, or takes time away from other extra-curricular activities. But for sophomore Jackson Finnegan, skateboarding taught him more than just how to do radical kick flips.

“I’m a photographer and designer for the yearbook,” said Finnegan. Being a photographer means more than just pointing and shooting. Finnegan goes to almost every school event, even minor sports, and takes hundreds of photos at each one. Next comes the painstaking process of sorting through these pictures until he finally finds ten or fifteen that could work.

“Jackson is a really good photographer,” said Andrew Mackenzie, editor for the yearbook. “He shows up to more events than anyone else, and really knows all of the technical stuff.”

“I started skateboarding when I was three,” said Finnegan. He said that he first got interested by playing a skateboarding video game. “I really got into skateboarding when I was twelve,” said Finnegan. “I would skate any chance I got.” Finnegan doesn’t skateboard nearly as much now, mostly because of the responsibilities that come with being in high school.

Finnegan started pursuing photography last year. “I got a camera from my grandfather and used that for a while,” said Finnegan. “That’s really what got me into photography.”

Finnegan figured out how to use a camera correctly while filming skateboarding videos. “We would hang out and skateboard in North Little Rock,” said junior Reid Glatter, friend of Finnegan and fellow skater. “He filmed mostly random stuff, like we’d just be skating by Dickey Steven’s Park and he’d start filming.”

“I had a camera and could film, and I wasn’t ever really as good as my friends at skateboarding,” said Finnegan. This is why he decided to start filming. “I wanted to help out in a different way, and use my talents.”

“I filmed for a local skateboarding company for a while,” said Finnegan. “They had a couple of stores and skate parks, and I’d shoot some footage for them to help them get out there.”

Finnegan said that he learned how to correctly use a camera while filming. “I really filmed and took pictures a lot better after that,” said Finnegan, “I got a lot of tips on how to use my camera and how to use contrast. A lot of it is technical stuff.”

What Finnegan learned while working for the skateboarding company really helped him later on in yearbook. “Jackson learned everything about his camera a lot faster than most photographers do. It’s pretty impressive,” said Mackenzie.

“Most of the technical stuff I learned I’m using every day in yearbook,” said Finnegan. He also gets a head start if Finnegan decides to choose a career in digital media that would involve photography or videography.

“I was really excited about filming for the company,” said Finnegan. “It was a really great experience for me and I’m really happy that I did it.”

+ posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *