When junior Josie Luyckx picked up a camera to shoot her first photography session, she did not imagine what passion would spark from just a few photos. Growing up, her mom was a photographer, so the art was closely knit into her life. Much like her mom, Josie is pursuing a fervor for photography through seeing the joy in others.
“My mom went to school for photography,” Josie said. “She did film and digital photography, so she even had to learn how to do manual. That really inspired me to learn how to do [photography] on my own. She would always talk to me about how much she loved it.”
Josie’s interest in photography began at a young age, and more recently, she has actively pursued this passion, serving as one of the photographers for FHC’s sports teams and for seniors’ graduation photos. As various sport seasons take up the entire school year, she is most likely found on the sidelines of a football game or sitting in the stands of a basketball scrimmage.
“Last winter, I picked up my mom’s camera, and I started taking photos at basketball games,” Josie said. “I also took my friend’s graduation photos [in the] spring of 2023. That was fun because it was my first time actually using the camera. I enjoy sports photography because I can go to more games and I can get more experience, but I also really enjoy portrait photography because I like talking to the person, and I like getting to know them.”
Like many hobbies, photography is not as easy as one might think. There are many trials and tribulations, and for Josie, that stands true. At only 17, Josie has already made this hobby of hers more than just a pastime, into a passion she puts a lot of effort into.
She is not sure if photography is her main choice as what she wants to do in terms of a career in the future; however, she has kept it in mind. For many, having to choose a future career in high school can bring uncertainty and even fear about what lies ahead. Still, Josie remains optimistic, balancing her love for photography with the realities of preparing for a future career.
“I feel like [photography] is a branch of what I want to do when I am older,” Josie said. “I am not exactly sure, but I think it is definitely something to do with digital media. So I think it’s definitely something good to add to my resume and something good to know just for the future.”
Josie not only photographs athletes in action, but she is an athlete herself, running for the FHC Girls Cross Country team. An individual activity like photography can get lonely at times, which is why, for Josie, cross country is such an important team activity she partakes in.
“I love that [cross country] is an individual sport, but I also love cheering on others,” Josie said. “So I love that I can cheer on all my teammates; it feels like a nice community. With photography, I am always by myself. I put my AirPods in and do my own thing.”
For Josie, cross country is a sport she’s dedicated to improving at every single day. Like many athletes, she understands that success requires not only physical endurance but also mental strength. Through the guidance of her coach and the support of her teammates, Josie continues to grow into a stronger runner.
“I feel like my coaches always tell me that ‘Pain is only temporary’, and ‘You’re only going to be running for 20 minutes,'” Josie said. “Races are scary cause you know it is going to be painful, but you always want to run your fastest because you don’t want to disappoint yourself.”
