Through the Lens

Have you ever wondered what it takes to capture the perfect shot – the kind of photo that has meaning without saying anything? At Hough High School, there is a club where we can learn more about the camera: the Photography Club. I spoke with the co-presidents, Harshika Madishetty and Ojal Mirge, to learn more about their visions, challenges, and mindset. 

I asked them questions based on how their leadership was, the club's future, and the hardships they faced. The club is located in Ms. McCaffrey’s room, C108, and they meet every second and fourth Thursday of the month after school until 3 pm. In this club, you learn new skills about photography that you can take into the outside world. The purpose of the club is to spark creativity and give you a fun environment when taking photos. 

To start off, I asked them about how they would describe their club. Harshika described it as a safe and fun environment, where they have a chance to explore and practice photography as a creative hobby or skill. They want their club to allow students to express themselves in photos. Ojal Mirge (11) said, “I want this club to be a space for students to express themselves visually, collaborate, and build both artistic and technical photography skills.”

After knowing more about the club, I wanted to know about the challenges the co-presidents faced. Harshika explained that her biggest obstacle she sees facing the club is keeping members engaged throughout the year. She will address this situation by trying to make her club a creative environment and attempting to understand the wants and needs of club members.

Since the co-presidents had a clear vision for their club, I wanted to know their biggest goals for the club this year. They told me that a short-term goal that they have for the Photography Club is to maintain a chill environment for members to express themselves freely through photography.  A long-term goal they have is to help the members grow as photographers through learning from each other and trying new things. 

With those obstacles in mind, I was curious what motivates them. When I asked how they feel about being co-presidents, Ojal said, “I enjoy being co-president of the club because I love seeing everyone come together and have fun doing something that they enjoy.” She explains that she always wanted a club that could create a common ground for people who are totally different. She also mentioned that she loves planning activities and events that promote cooperation and create a safe place so everyone can feel comfortable.

To wrap up, I asked them what advice they would give students who are interested in joining their club, whether as members or leaders, and they told me that they would advise prospective members to “just have fun.” They remarked that you don’t need a ton of experience to be in the club; all you need is creativity and a desire for camerawork.  If you want to become a leader, they advise you to be supportive, organized, and always listen to what the members want, since the members have an important role. 

The Hough High School Photography Club isn’t just about taking photos – it’s all about what you can do with your creativity and teamwork. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced photographer, this club offers a welcoming space to learn, grow, and thrive. So give it a shot and join the Hough High School Photography Club – where every picture tells a story.