Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett reads first grade children at Columbia Elementary School the Dr. Seuss book called ABC on the anniversary of his birthday Monday, March 2, 2020. The day is also the National Read Across America Day.
Kindergartener Elyna Nguyen reacts to holding a bearded dragon during an assembly at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Scott Petersen, known as The Reptile Man from the Monroe Reptile Zoo brought several lizards, snakes, and turtles to show the children at the school, letting them hold some of his specimens.
James Hendrickson, 8, Cashmere, stands at attention Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, while playing the part of George Washington in the annual Wax Museum activity for third grade students at Vale Elementary School in Cashmere.
Ayden Gasbar, 9, as Sacagawea, waits to talk about her character at Vale Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. She said whe liked the story of Sacagawea because, "She is very adventurous."
I’ve been to three elementary schools in the last couple of weeks, covering assemblies and special events. One thing I’ve noticed while looking back at the final edit of photographs is that the more creative pictures need a supporting image to bring context to the photo story.
When the Reptile Man visited Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, I realized the children’s reactions were a big part of the story. Whenever Scott Petersen would pull out one of his animals, excited — sometimes terrifying — screams would come from the kids seated on the cafeteria floor.
I attempted to capture a photo with an animal in the foreground and the students’ reactions behind but there was too much space between them so I focused on a group of children who visibly showed their emotions.
The photograph is what I had hoped for but without an image of a reptile, it lost its storytelling value. When Petersen put a lizard on Elyna Nguyen’s arm, I waited while she turned for the moment I could see both her face and the animal. Elyna was conflicted in wanting to look at it but also didn’t want to.
Kindergartener Elyna Nguyen reacts to holding a bearded dragon during an assembly at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. Scott Petersen, known as The Reptile Man from the Monroe Reptile Zoo brought several lizards, snakes, and turtles to show the children at the school, letting them hold some of his specimens.
At an assembly at Vale Elementary School in Cashmere, I found James Hendrickson dressed as George Washington waiting for people to come listen to him talk about the first president at an annual Wax Museum exercise for third graders. He struggled to keep a salute, resting his arm on his hat.
James Hendrickson, 8, Cashmere, stands at attention Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, while playing the part of George Washington in the annual Wax Museum activity for third grade students at Vale Elementary School in Cashmere.
Shooting this photograph wide to show the “Push Me” button gave the image context to the story. It allowed me to photograph Ayden Gasbar as Sacagawea as a close-up portrait.
Ayden Gasbar, 9, as Sacagawea, waits to talk about her character at Vale Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. She said whe liked the story of Sacagawea because, "She is very adventurous."
And on Monday I went to Columbia Elementary School for an annual Dr. Seuss reading. I picked Sheriff Brian Burnett to follow, thinking his uniform would help tell the story of community members reading stories to the children. I photographed him entering the room, ducking down to get through the doorway.
This had great elements to the photograph with the welcome sign, the sign at right saying it was a first-grade classroom, and the bright colors of the Cat in the Hat hat. But by itself, it couldn’t tell the complete story of what was happening.
As Burnett read the book (and I’ll say he is great with the kids), I was hoping there would be something in the book that tied into who he was. Fortunately, he got to the letter “P” and a policeman was featured and pictured.
Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett reads first grade children at Columbia Elementary School the Dr. Seuss book called ABC on the anniversary of his birthday Monday, March 2, 2020. The day is also the National Read Across America Day.
At The Wenatchee World, I’ve been blessed with editors who see the importance of giving space to photo stories so interesting, creative photographs can be used, along with the images that complete the stories we tell.
I was born in Wenatchee, went to Eastmont High School, graduated from the University of Washington with a communications degree in journalism. I have a wife and three children.
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