Senior Cary Chen inhaled the crisp evening air two hours after school as he surveyed the view at Skyline, a viewpoint about 20 minutes down Highway 35. Vibrant hues of oranges, pinks and purples painted the sky as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Scanning the scenery, Chen set up his tripod and camera and, with a whir and a click, captured the breathtaking view.
“Being able to go to landscape spots at sunset is relaxing and definitely motivates me to continue photography,” Chen said. “Photography gives me a reason to go out more and explore different parts of the world, starting from the Bay Area.”
Following every photoshoot, Chen said he spends three to five hours editing photos, and he frequently goes back to the same locations to recompose shots in the hope of achieving better results with each trip. For example, he drives to Skyline two to three times a week due to its accessibility and its many viewpoints to explore.
Chen’s interest in photography stemmed from taking the Media Arts Program (MAP) class as a freshman, but it wasn’t until his senior year that he decided to more seriously pursue the art form by signing up as a head photographer for the school yearbook staff.
When he first started, he borrowed his dad’s Canon Rebel XT camera ($200). Since then, he has upgraded to a used Canon 6D Mark II camera body ($800) with a 24-105 mm f4 lens ($500), both of which he bought with his own savings.
Chen also contacts local photographers — such as Monta Vista senior Matvery Jenssen (@matt_photography on Instagram) and SHS senior Ethan Chang — to meet up for peer-to-peer workshop events in hopes of improving his photography skills. During these photoshoots, he and other photographers discuss what they want to capture and how they plan to do so, comparing camera settings, composition techniques and post-production styles.
More recently, Jenssen, Chang and Chen have challenged themselves to explore street photography, visiting spots in San Francisco. Though Chen said he sometimes feels “very awkward” when he walks in front of other cars to take photos in the streets of San Francisco, he said he’s excited to learn a new style of photography.
“Photography has helped me destress a lot and avoid burnout, especially during college applications,” Chen said.
While he said there has been a learning curve, Chen often seeks advice from Chang — a photographer well-known in the Bay Area whose Instagram account (@selmshots) has 11.2k followers — for questions and advice.
“Cary is one of those people who’s not afraid to ask questions, step out of his comfort zone and try something new,” Chang said. “I’m really stoked to see him progress and see what he does in the future.”
Chen’s friends have been big supporters of his passion for photography, often interacting with his Instagram photography account, @potatocary.
Some have even asked for photoshoots for social media posts, couple anniversaries and school dances — Chen said these occasions have created some of his best memories. Though Chen is currently doing photoshoots just as favors for close friends, some insist on paying him for his work anyway.
Recently, he received two commissions for Winter Formal, and spent around an hour at each of the pre-formal locations.
Moving forward, Chen plans to continue to foster his passion for photography as a side hobby. While he enjoys photography for its artistic value, he said the ability to capture his experiences with other people is even more rewarding.
“I use photography to record parts of my life I wouldn’t normally be able to,” Chen said. “I want to be able to capture the special moments with friends and family so I can look back at these pictures and be reminded of the fun times we shared together.”