How I fell in love with photography

 

A lot of reviews are written about movies, books, or video games, but that’s not me. I’m here to review the photography class that lies within the halls of Castro Valley High.

I transferred to CVHS in the middle of the 2013-14 school year as a sophomore, I took all the regular classes I was required to take. By chance, I was accepted into the photography class because my dad convinced me that it would be a fun course to take.

After being enrolled in the class for a week, I was ready to drop it because I had no clue what I was doing. We had finally received our first assignment and by the first click of my shutter, I was hooked. Photography became my one true love and I knew what I wanted to do with my future.

It took a while for me to get to the level I am at today, but that’s what I’m here to tell you about. I would not be a five-time award winning photographer if it wasn’t for Jeff Vendsel, or as I call him, Doc V.

Vendsel has been the photography teacher here at CVHS for a solid four years, and he has been my teacher for two. Vendsel graduated from San Francisco State and was a very successful photojournalist for many years.

Vendsel took an injured athlete with no outlook on life, and turned her into a photographer with a clear future and many scholarship offers. Before taking his course, I never thought I would ever be able to take a good quality photograph; he showed me everything that I know to this day, with a little side help from my parents.

Enough about the outstanding Vendsel though, I’m here to tell you why you should take the photography course at CVHS. Even if you have no interest in going into photography or graphic design for your future, having the ability to take good images is a life skill that is like no other. I never thought I wanted to have any future with photography or graphic design, but after this course, my looks on the world and myself changed greatly.

Thank you Doc V for always believing in me and giving me a look on life I never thought I would have. I strongly advise you find your Vendsel and set up a clear future for yourself, whether it’s in photography or something else.