It’s become the standard.

And not by happenstance. KHS Photography students once again brought home an abundance of awards at the Oklahoma Camera Club Youth Photo Contest.

Under the tutelage of Dr. A.J. Johnson, students in his photography class have long been honing their skills and garnering countless awards at the competition through the years.

Since its inception in 2003, the contest strives to promote photography among young people by highlighting outstanding photographs from high school students from public and private schools as well as those who are homeschooled. “Most students know when they do good work, but they don’t always know when they do exceptional work, mostly because they have little to which they can compare,” Johnson said.

“Thus, recognition from the Oklahoma Camera Club is incredibly meaningful.”

Of the 625 entries submitted by 115 students from seven schools, KHS students earned four firstplace, eight second-place and five third-place awards, 23 honorable mentions and the best of show awards in both the digital and print divisions.

Garnering the most honors, Andrew Long received 10 awards which included best of show and first place in the print division with his monochrome photographer’s choice entry and a first place award for his land/water/city scapes entry in the digital division.

Long also took second place in the color photographer’s choice, print division and two third place awards in monochrome photographer’s choice and in people/ animals categories of the print division.

In addition, Long had four honorable mentions, one in monochrome photographer’s choice and the other in people/animals category in the digital division as well as in photojournalism and land/water/city scapes in the print category.

Reflecting on this year’s experience, Long said he enjoys the creativity to express a particular moment through photography and how every individual may capture the same moment from a totally different creative perspective.

Under Johnson’s guidance, Long said he’s not only learned technical and creative techniques of using a camera, but to be more intentional about what he photographs and to “not miss the moment.”

Some of his favorite subjects to photograph are people, Long said.

“You can notice all the little things about how God made them and how different each person is,” he said.

“You can just tell a lot about somebody’s life through a picture of them.”

KHS chief photographer Andrew Green received a first place in photojournalism in the print category and an honorable mention for a digital entry in the photojournalism division.

One of the aspects Green said he enjoys about photography is the broad spectrum everyone has to express their creativity and he has learned to “stay true to your own work.”

As chief, Green is responsible for making sure school events are covered by members of the KHS Photography staff, as well as checking out the appropriate equipment to students.

Looking back at the beginning of the class, Green said at first he was just taking pictures and clicking the button, but has since developed a better eye for photography and has discovered a love for sports photography as well as nature.

“I specifically like football, because you’re under the lights and most of the time the photos are amazing,” he said.

J.W. Struck took home the best of show and first place with his color photographer’s choice entry in the digital division and two honorable mentions - one in the color photographer’s choice, digital and another in the monochrome photographer’s choice, print division.

Getting to capture moments to share with others is something Struck said he loves about photography.

Reflecting on his time under Johnson’s instruction, Struck said he’s learned to “go look for those moments and open yourself up to new things.”

In addition to learning how the camera works and how things go together to make a good photo, Struck said he’s also developed a deeper gratitude toward other people’s work and photography.

While photographing wildlife and nature, Struck said, “It really teaches you to slow down, look and see how everything works and intertwines with each other.

“It’s a beautiful thing to photograph…and some people might just walk by and not even see.”

Myles Harrison, who serves as assistant chief photographer, received a third place award for his entry in the color photographer’s choice category, print division and two honorable mentions - one in photojournalism, digital and the other in color photographer’s choice, print division.

Although few students will go on to future careers in photography, Johnson said almost all will use photography in their future, whether with cell phones or full size cameras.

“Their knowledge of the qualities of a good photograph will help them be better at making good personal images and evaluating images of others,” he added.

Since “art” is entirely subjective, Johnson said (in his class) reviews of other’s images focus on the technical aspects and leave artistic interpretation to the individual.

“In my class, if you like your photo, then it’s a good photo,” he said.

“What students discover is that as the class goes on through the semester and their skills improve, they change their minds as to what they consider a good photo.”

With over 50 years of service to the school district teaching photography and American government, Johnson has made an positive impact on hundreds of students through the years including many of those enrolled in his classes during the current year.

Taking some of Johnson’s classes every year throughout high school, Struck said, “He’s definitely a really good person to look up to and you can learn from him with the knowledge that he shares and he’s always kind and nice to people.”

Although it’s Long’s first year to take a class under Johnson, he said during his junior year while serving as an Oklahoma Boys State delegate, Johnson made a concerted effort to get to know him.

“Ever since then, he’s been really supportive of my photography and my education in general,” Long added.

In agreement, Green said, “He’s a really good mentor, even if it’s not in photography.

“Since my freshman year, he’s always been the person to go talk to if I’m having problems with anything in life and he doesn’t judge, keeping an eye on both sides.”

Other student photographers capturing top honors included:

• Wyatt Long - who earned two second place awards both in photojournalism in the print and digital categories as well as two honorable mentions, for monochrome photographer’s choice and people/ animals, both in the digital division.

• Kyra Beck - received a second place honor for her color photographer’s choice entry and a third place in monochrome photographer’s choice, both in the digital division.

• Bryan Campos - garnered a second place in land/water/city scapes category of the digital division and three honorable mentions, one each in the digital division of color photographer’s choice, photojournalism and people/ animals categories.

• Abby Wallace - took home a second place award in the people/animals category of the digital division and two second place honors in the print division, in people/animals and land/ water/city scapes categories.

• Keynun Combs - earned two honorable mentions, one in color photographer’s choice and the other in people/ animals category, both in the digital division.

• Lillie Hill - received two honorable mentions, one in the people/animals category and the other in land/water/ city scapes, both in the digital division.

• Jake Kirtley - earned an honorable mention in the monochrome photographer’s choice category of the digital division.

• Zoey Sanders - received an honorable mention in the people/animals category of the digital division and a honorable mention in the color photographer’s choice category of the print division.

• Davis Sanders - took home a third place award in the land/water/city scapes category of the print division.

• Briley Parker - earned an honorable mention with her entry in the color photographer’s choice category of the print division.

• Addison Willson - took home an honorable mention in the land/water/city scapes category of the print division.

“To be honored by the OCC is, for my students, the peak of their high school photography experience,” Johnson said.

Every person has in them one good photo, Johnson said, but what separates the ordinary person taking photos from the true photographer is knowing how to consistently make good photos time after time.

“I think the evidence from the OCC awards indicates a very large number of our students can make good photos at the highest level,” Johnson added.

Additionally, 16 photos from nine KHS students were selected among the total of 76 images to represent the OCC at the International Youth Photo Contest of the Photography Society of America.

Of the entries which qualified for that competition last year, Harrison’s photo was awarded the prestigious honor of second place in the photojournalism category.

As seniors, Struck and Long will soon be graduating and they discussed some of the skills and aspects they’ve learned in Johnson’s photography class and how they may benefit them in the future.

“I want to own my own record label in the future and if I need to do a photo shoot, it would be helpful and I think it’s a good skill to have wherever I’m going,” Long said.

Struck added: “I plan on using photography to document my travels as a missionary and I want to use photography to share the stories of others.

“To be able to get someone else’s story heard through photography is my biggest dream.

“It’s also given me a deeper gratitude for small things, like looking at nature.”

Currently a junior, Green said he hopes to use some of the skills he’s acquired to give him a little extra income through photography.

Additionally, he said, “Photography is a good way to look at the small things and enjoy life right now.

“Before I didn’t recognize it, but now I take a look at nature and see how beautiful it is.”