KAITLIN REYNOLDS
student journalist
PHOTOJOURNALISM
Photography is an area of journalism that I didn't get the hang of as quickly as I did with other areas. However, I continued to attend events and learn from the photos I was taking. After researching everything from ISO to shutter speed, I am now able to take pictures that tell stories and draw readers into my written work. Through detailed captions I further explain the context of my photos and inform readers on events.
Photography
I have attended countless events throughout my time on the Prowler Yearbook staff to capture photos to be used in the yearbook. When I first started out almost all of my photos were out of focus. Although I often still struggle, it is an area that I have improved on greatly. Take a look below to view a few of my photos and the captions that go along with them to further tell the story.
Football
Running the ball near the 20th yard line, sophomore running back Nathan Pederson prepares to make a touchdown. At the game, Peterson scored two touchdowns, contributing to the 37-14 win over Kearney High School. "I wasn't put in until halftime and I had to ride the bench," Peterson said. "When coach finally let me play I made moves in the game.
Sophomore running back Nathan Pederson runs the ball past the tenth yard line for a first down for the Wildcats. During the game against the Kearney High School Bearcats Pederson scored during both the third and fourth quarter. "I think we played a great offensive game as a team," Pederson said. "We ran plays that worked around Kearney's tough defensive line."
Senior defensive end Antonio Failla waits for Kearney to punt the ball and start the third quarter of play. Throughout the game Failla made two sacks contributing to the 37-14 victory. "Kearney had a good offensive line but we kept making defensive plays to keep them out of our end zone," Failla said. "All of our hard work in practice really paid off."
Junior linebacker Trace Thaden blocks Kearney's offensive line from pushing forward past the line of scrimmage. Standing at 6' 8", Thaden was able to use his height to his advantage during the game and made a sack in the fourth quarter. "I'm a pretty tall guy which helps me a lot on the field," Thaden said. "When I am on defense my main job is to keep the offensive line back and my height comes in handy for that."
Cheer
Going through their cheer routine, elementary students follow the lead of freshman Ava Little before kick off. Millard West Cheer held a clinic on the night of Sept. 16 in order to raise money to cover competition costs and share their sport with the younger generation. "I got involved with cheer through the same clinic when I was little," Little said. "I had so much fun teaching them everything that I have learned since then and showing them how to cheer."
Striking her pose alongside her cheer students, sophomore Grace Watson guides her group. Watson volunteered at the 12th annual cheer clinic beforehand and then got the parent section of the bleachers ready for the game against Kearney by leading the kids in chants. "Most of the time we are just in front of students," Watson said. "With the kids' help the parents and other adults got more into the game than they usually do."
Junior Phoebe Sails leads the orange group of 5-7 year olds in front of parents on the home side of the field. The two day event gave the cheerleaders a chance to share their knowledge with elementary students who will eventually got to Millard West. "During the first clinic we taught them a routine and a couple different chants," Sails said. "When we were at the football game I was really proud of them because they all remembered what we had worked on and got the crowd ready for the game."
Before the Millard West vs. Kearney football game, junior Emily Fields and sophomore Nyah Jacobs go through the cheer choreography with the red group. The two worked together to teach the younger kids chants and then cheered with them to show their parents. "It was nice to have a partner to manage my group this year," Jacobs said. "In my group alone we had 32 kids so it was a lot to handle."
Orchestra
At the winter orchestra concert, senior Sophia Ollis plays "Mars" by Gustav Holst. On Dec. 14 the Symphony group performed alongside the Philharmonic for students, parents and faculty. "It was a very challenging piece to learn," Ollis said. "All of the hard work paid off in our performance when we played the piece in front of an audience for the first time."
Playing the cello, sophomore Jacob Thompson uses vibrato to add depth to the song "Jupiter." The orchestra performed three songs at their winter concert which all coincided with the celestial theme. "It was cool to play iconic pieces instead of the more rare ones we usually play," Thompson said. "It took us two months to learn them so it was nice to finally play."
Freshman Faith Johnson plays "Vivaldi" by Antonio Vivaldi alongside her fellow violinists. She was moved up from the Philharmonic to the Symphony orchestra mid year due to her more advanced skill. "I don't usually play with upperclassmen," Johnson said. "It has been a much needed challenge playing with such a talented group."
Junior Abigail Marshal plays alongside her brass accompaniment. The winter concert was different from most since it was a full orchestra which included band members. "It brought the piece to life having other types of instruments there," Marshal said. "When it is just the Symphony orchestra it feels like an important piece is missing."
Marching band
Before the varsity football game against the Kearney High School Bearcats, senior Preston Ward conducts the marching band in front of the student section. Ward was promoted to drum major this year due to his leadership throughout his previous three years as a marcher. "I have been working towards this role since I was a freshman," Ward said. "It is definitely weird not playing an instrument anymore but guiding everyone has been such a fulfilling role, especially since we have already won three competitions this early on in our season.
Playing the trumpet to the national anthem, junior Marvin Cook performs alongside his fellow band mates. Cook, being interested in woodworking, just joined the band this year now that his schedule allows for it. "It has been an adjustment to say the least," Cook said. "I have had to rely heavily on what I remember from playing the trumpet in middle school and extra practices to keep up with everyone else who has been in marching band since their freshman year of high school."
Freshman Jessibelle Swarnly plays the flute as she marches next to the brass section. Swarnly made the difficult switch in instruments for the season in order to diversify her skills. "Changing to the flute from the trumpet was a huge adjustment because the flute is a wind instrument and the sax is brass," Swarnly said. "I made the decision to switch over the summer because I wanted to challenge myself and I have put in several extra practices to keep up with the more experienced musicians."
Marching in front with his snare drum, senior Micheal Jaworski plays for the crowd at Buell Stadium prior to the varsity football game against Kearney. Jaworski prepared for game days throughout the summer everyday with marching band practice in the Millard West parking lot. "It doesn't just happen naturally," Jaworski said. "We have to practice continuously in order to stay in sync with each other and hit all of the beats at the right moment."
Show Choir
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Singing a solo at the show choir premiere on Saturday, Jan. 22, senior Abigail Woelber performs with Uptown Girls. The group performed once in the morning and once in the afternoon for parents and students. I could tell that we improved just from the first run through to the second," Woelber said. "When we do our rehearsals there is no audience or risers so it was important for us to get a feel for it before competing."
Sophomore Melia Strobe sings and dances at the show choir premiere with the rest of Swing Cats following her solo. This was her first time performing in front of a live audience in high school since the show choir season was canceled last year. "It felt amazing to be in front of a crowd again since I haven't been able to perform in front of one since eighth grade," Strobe said. "I was definitely nervous to have a solo, but the audience loved it and that is all that matters."
As one of the only males in show choir, senior Nathanial Ray performs center stage during the show choir premiere on Jan. 22. He started singing in seventh grade and then joined West in the Groove his freshman year. "I think it is important for there to be more guys in show choir," Ray said. "A lot of people think of it as a girl's activity, but singing and dancing can be for anyone."
Using her mirror prop, senior Cassidy Windels puts on a show with her fellow West in the Groove teammates. The show uses mirrors and other reflective elements to coincide with their theme of "reflecting me." "As a senior I helped to pick this year's theme," Windels said. "We wanted it to show that we have changed for the better and represent who we really are as a group."
Equipment
Equipment is a major cost for Millard West Journalism, but it is important in order for myself and my fellow staffers to be able to cover stories through visual means. Below is the photo sheet that I organize all of our equipment with. Each day I check equipment in and out to ensure that it is all accounted for.
Club Photos
As Editor-in-Chief one of the many rolls that I fill is assisting with club pictures. Below is the sign up sheet that was sent out to club sponsors. When they arrived in the gym for their picture I guided them into rows and collected their names to be added to a caption beneath the photo in the book.
