Student photography on display at library

Photography students at Oak Harbor High School are July’s featured artists at the Oak Harbor Library.

By Karina Andrew • July 11, 2023 1:30 am

Photography students at Oak Harbor High School are the featured artists at the Oak Harbor Library for the month of July.

The featured students were in Jana Jansen’s photography and digital arts class during the last school year. Jansen said the 13 digital photographs and two digital art pieces on display at the library showcase the skills taught in her classes.

“I hope the visitors will very much enjoy the artwork and be amazed at how much creativity, talent and skill our high school students have,” she said.

This is Jansen’s second year in a row showcasing her students’ work at the library. Some of the photographs on display this month advanced to the final round of the Washington State High School Photography Competition this year.

Matthew Ackerman was one of the students who had a photograph advance in the contest. He started taking photos over the summer of 2020 and most greatly enjoys taking photos of landscapes and old architecture.

Ackerman, who will be a senior next year, said he learned how to compose a photo in Jansen’s class.

“I would characterize my style as emphasizing the interplay between light and texture,” he said. “Most of this is achieved through the use of a slower shutter speed and picking the right time of day to photograph.”

The students’ photographs will be on display through July 31.