SPOTLIGHT
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n October of 2023, Donovan Johnson stepped up on and Technical Education course, Journalism 1-2. “That is stage to present at the Arizona Interscholastic Press when I started to realize I like to write in that way,” he said. Association (AIPA) High School Journalism Convention. After sophomore year, he was going to explore some As a senior at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite other opportunities around the school, but his teacher, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, this was Casey Hinde, shared that he had some natural talent and his first major presentation in front of a large group of abilities in the field, and asked him to join yearbook class people. To make it all the more unique, he was presenting his junior year. Donovan decided to give it a shot, acting to high school students across the state, including those as a sports writer, designing sports spreads, and a variety from his alma mater, Shadow Ridge High School. of other design tasks with the yearbook. “It was a super full circle moment,” “I started to really like it,” he he said. “I have never sat up in remembers. “I started to like layout front of people and talked about and design, interviewing people, photography before.” and taking photos. I particularly Donovan was once in those seats liked taking photos, that was my just five years before, young and favorite part of it.” eager for knowledge. He made it He had no formal training in his mission to identify with them, photography before high school, and ensure his presentation didn’t but Donovan’s mom used to be a feel like a lecture, but more of a part time photographer. She was conversation with the students. always the person with the camera The title of his presentation was in her hand when he was a child. “Imperfect Photography,” a message “There are videos of me when he preaches based on his own I was younger infatuated with the experiences and against those who camera,” he remembers. “My mom push perfectionism in the art form. would be holding the camera and I “My message to them was just to would be grabbing the lens.” take a camera and start shooting He began to blossom so much photos and don’t overthink it,” he during his junior year of high school Portrait of Donovan Johnson said. “What I did was walk around that Mrs. Hinde asked him at the downtown Phoenix and just take end of the school year if he would pictures of things that I thought looked aesthetically like to be the editor his senior year. pleasing.” “That was the first time that I really had trust instilled in His message to them was to not fall into the trap me with such a big project,” he said. “I took it with open because perfectionism at the end of the day doesn’t push arms.” any boundaries. It doesn’t advance the art form. “Don’t Senior year Donovan took the project very seriously and be scared to make mistakes,” he urged. “This is the only personally, trying hard to make it his own. way to learn.” “My main thing was the design of the yearbook,” he said. Donovan started his own journey in high school his “I wanted it to look aesthetically pleasing, and I wanted the sophomore year at Shadow Ridge. He took the Career photos to be really good.” 18 APRIL 2024