For Jack White, age 10, and his mother, Chris, a trip to the Eastman Nature Center was a scouting opportunity to receive his weather belt loop. But as he ventured along the paths snapping photos of all the wildlife he encountered, he couldn’t have known what would become of one photo in particular.
Taken with a Sony Alpha digital SLR, Jack caught the glimpse of a great horned owl that would land him second place in the nature category of the 2012 Focus on Maple Grove Photo Contest. Chris found it to be an especially good photo for a 9-year-old, and submitted it on her son’s behalf. “I didn’t know my mom submitted it, so I was a little surprised,” Jack says on his reaction to the high ranking of his photo. That day Jack received not only his weather belt loop but a photography belt loop as well.
Jack says he especially enjoys art and science classes at school and is interested in pursuing photography throughout his education. With a full belt, Jack will leave the Cub Scouts and join a Boy Scouts troop to start earning merit badges that require more-involved efforts. But for now, he will continue to take photos of whatever he and his family come across.
