Sangwook Kwon, 12, sees the world from a different perspective. As a photographer, he aims to capture the world as he sees it—constantly in motion. His photography journey was inspired by a recent SHS graduate, and since then, he has fallen in love with every part.
At SHS specifically, he is constantly motivated by Mr. Peter Griga. He said that Griga is a teacher who is able to push students in all the best ways possible. Under his teaching in AP Photography, Kwon found that his perspective has changed from just taking “pretty pictures” to asking questions about the world and trying to discern answers through the art of photography.
Asking these questions motivated him to pursue how to capture the constant motion of our lives. Exploring different shutter speeds and techniques, he aims to capture the complex emotions synonymous with reality. He enjoys the challenge of portraying movement with a medium that is static in nature, pushing and challenging his abilities.
Outside of class, he has expanded his passion into a business. Taking senior and graduation photos, he is able to explore portrait photography and the unique characteristics of taking pictures to commemorate important life events. Kwon loves seeing people’s smiles and remarked he finds joy in connecting with people through his art.
Kwon’s unique outlook on life is not limited to his photography. As co-president of the Korean Club, he works to educate the entire SHS community on Korean culture with an aim to reduce misconceptions and create a safe space for all. He sees racism and derogatory terms as stemming from a lack of understanding, as misinformed—not malicious— actions.
Therefore, through Korean Club, he tries to reach and educate as many people as possible about Korean culture and history. He leads each meeting with a small lesson about Korean culture or traditions and then dives into the activity of the day. His favorite meetings have been ones that explore different holidays, like Independence Day on Aug. 15 or Chuseok, an autumn harvest festival that falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
Kwon hopes that through his work, others will be inspired to shift their perspectives. His outlook on life is informed both by what he sees through the lens and by his own lived experiences, providing a worthy example of what happens when we take the time to focus (and refocus) on what matters most.
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