Lauren Hart

Grade: 12

Future Job: Photographer for National Geographic, or working as an environmental engineer to help improve society. 

Future College: Maybe Arizona State University. Maybe University of Arkansas. 

Years doing photography: 7-8 

Wingspan: How long have you been doing photography? When did you really get into doing it?

Hart: “I have been doing photography for about seven years. I started when I was in fifth grade, taking pictures of my dogs in my backyard and birds around my neighborhood. In eighth grade was when I really started taking photography seriously. I joined the yearbook staff in middle school and began doing more photojournalistic photography. I fell in love with photography the second I picked up my first camera and knew from that moment that I would live the rest of my life with a camera in my hands.”

Wingspan: What classes have you been taking at school for photography?

Hart: “At school I first took photojournalism as a class where I could become more advanced and skilled at taking photojournalistic pictures. I learned a lot from photojournalism through my teacher, Mrs. B [former yearbook adviser Carole Babineaux], because she taught me how to express my own perspective through the images that I take.”

Wingspan: Why do you like photography so much?

Hart: “I don’t like it, I love it. I love photography with a burning passion. It gives me a voice and allows me to share how I see the world and the amazing people/things that inhabit it. There is no better feeling than when I take an amazing picture or finally master a new skill/technique. It is almost like reaching the top of a mountain and realizing that after all of your hard work, you finally made it to the top and can enjoy the beautiful view. And there are always more mountains to be climbed just as there will always be room for me to improve my photography. I guess to summarize that, I love photography because it allows me to get lost in my own world where everything is seen through my own perspective and I get to share that with everyone close to me.”

Wingspan: What inspires you?

Hart: “I am inspired by my desire to share my work with others. I want to show people that we live in a beautiful world, despite all of the ugly things we see happen on a daily basis. Through my perspective, I see the world as something that is worth exploring, so I want to inspire others to discover a love for the world/ environment that we live in. I am inspired by the ability to inspire others.”

Wingspan: How do you feel when you take photos?

Hart: “There is no better feeling than when I take an amazing picture or finally master a new skill/technique. It is almost like reaching the top of a mountain and realizing that after all of your hard work, you finally made it to the top and can enjoy the beautiful view. And there are always more mountains to be climbed just as there will always be room for me to improve my photography. I feel at peace and comfortable when I am taking photos. Time feels like it stands still and I could be somewhere taking photos for hours at a time, not even knowing how much time has gone by. It gives me a sense of accomplishment because I am doing what I love and I am doing my best at it.”

Wingspan: What kind of camera do you use and how long have you had it? Is it your first camera or have you had previous ones?

Hart: “I use a Canon 5D Mark IV, which I have had for the past year and a half. This camera is not my first camera, but it is the first one that I have bought for myself. It was a $2000 camera, not including the lenses. The cost, however, was completely worth it because I love this camera almost as much as I love my family. I take it with me everywhere I go, including my recent trip to Iceland last summer where I took some of my favorite pictures.”

Wingspan: What advice would you give to someone who wants to get into photography?

Hart: “I would say that is super important to capture what you are passionate about. Don’t try to copy other photographer or steal their pictures because in the end it is not representative of your creativity and interests. Find something that you love, whether it be sports, portraits, landscapes, etc. and practice taking those pictures until you get comfortable with it. Never give up on getting better either, because what may seem hard at one point will always get easier with time and practice.”