NOTHING BUT SOUL: Senior trombone Theo Doot solos with a groove called "Admiral's Horn" at the Cherry Creek spring Jazz Band concert. “It was lots of fun to play, a really ballad-y feel but it goes into this double time, and it’s just a really good arrangement,” he said. Doot is no stranger to standing up at the mic and being in the spotlight, but this solo was special for him.

For this shot, I snuck up to the front row of seats with my long lens to get a perfect view of the solo mic. Jazz Band is my beat, and I try to photograph all of their concerts, so I know these musicians well. Theo is one of my favorite subjects to photograph because he has such soulful and passionate facial expressions when he plays. Especially when he improvises, like in this shot, and has no sheet music to follow, you can just see him sink into the zone and groove. After so much time with the Jazz Band, I've gotten familiar with all the angles of the auditorium, and I can find the best shots when performers solo or pull out a unique new instrument to play.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 75-300 mm lens, 2/20/2025

CONFETTI CANNON: Junior Mike Wehrle fires a confetti cannon into the auditorium crowd at the Mr. Creek competition. During our annual week-long Power Week fundraiser, Student Senate hosts a farcical male beauty pageant called Mr. Creek. It is the most popular event at the school, always drawing an excited crowd and selling out the theater. Each contestant performs an outlandish lip sync, followed by a satirical interview with the hosts, finishing with a display of a special talent. Mike's talent was being a sports announcer, finally overcoming his performance anxiety, and maxing out his school spirit, crescendo-ing to a confetti-showered finale. I was so proud of this shot because of the confetti suspended in mid-air and Mike's pumped-up facial expression. 

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/12/2026

This photo was featured in a story that won Best of SNO honors.

WAKE UP AMERICA: Protesters line up along the railing of the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, one holding a sign that reads "Wake Up America." One skill to master in photojournalism is the ability to take an impactful photo without a face. I believe this image accomplished it. It's a striking statement hoisted high in a time when so many are fighting to make political change.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 15-35 mm lens, 4/5/2025

OVATION: The singer for the Bruin Brothers Band, made up of teachers, basks in thunderous applause from the student section and the poms team. The band performed during the final assembly for Student Senate's biggest fundraising project: Power Week. The event-packed week raises money for Bags of Fun, an organization that donates packages of toys to chronically ill children. The Bruin Brothers performed an energized rendition of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" to close out their performance.

Capturing Power Week moments is a crucial part of student journalism at Cherry Creek, because that week is the culmination of so much preparation, spirit, and competition for all students, and it offers chances for the whole community to participate. This moment was special because the teachers were so happy to get such rousing appreciation from their students, and the joy of the atmosphere in the gym that day was electric. Though you can't see the teacher's face, you can imagine his expression, as it's reflected in the faces of students in the stands.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/14/2025

ICE OUT: Protesters yell chants at La Alma Lincoln Park, which became the center of Denver’s huge anti-ICE protests on Jan. 30, 2026, with participants speaking out against ICE’s recent killings of citizens and mass deportations. This was one of the most charged protests I've ever photographed. As I approached, I could see the crowds of people from blocks away, with their megaphones and signs and chants. It was already a huge rally, yet halfway through, a student march arrived, adding to the throng. It was a dramatic sight. As a procession of protesters came around the street corner, two huge groups with one common purpose combined in the park. Trapped between them, I hoisted my camera (fixed with a wide-angle lens) above my head and blindly took pictures of the crowd. This one turned out well.

Canon EOS5D MkIII, 18-35 mm lens, 1/30/2026

WE RESIST: As the front line of Denver's April 2025 "Hands-Off" March strode down Colfax Avenue, I wanted to capture a feeling of motion, but also take in the size of the protest (which attracted 8,000 participants) and its messages. Kneeling below the marchers, I used a wide-angle lens to create a unique photo that encapsulated the meaning of the march: "WE RESIST." The mix of figures at the front—women, men, children, and even a dog—symbolized to me how unifying this cause was. It was invigorating to tell the story of so many people with a purpose.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 16-35 mm lens, 4/5/2025

PICKLEBALL VS. THE PRINCIPAL: Junior Cooper Kelly strikes a pickleball over the net in a comedic match against Principal Ryan Silva. This was another shot I took during the 2026 "Mr. Creek" male beauty pageant, where contestants can perform a special talent. Kelly played a pickleball match on stage with a very special guest to rally the crowd and the judges in his favor. I love how this shot captured his animated stance and facial expression.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/12/2026

This photo was featured in a story that won Best of SNO honors.

RISE: As speakers rally the crowd at the yearly May Day protest, at the corner of 19th and Stout Streets in downtown Denver, a marcher hoists a flag, reading “AN INJURY TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO ALL,” a slogan popularized by the Industrial Workers of the World to signify worker solidarity. Next to them, a row of marchers chant in unison, their voices echoing off the steel and concrete of downtown Denver, while on the other side, women with megaphones lead the crowd from a truck bed. The march focused on labor unions, but also criticized the Trump administration for its handling of labor, immigration, and civil rights.

This was my favorite photo from the Denver 2025 May Day march. This image gave me chills because of its combination of animated faces, raised fists, and vivid colors. I am very proud of this shot—to get it, I fully sat down on the pavement pointed up with my wide-angle lens.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 16-35 mm lens, 5/1/2025

D-UP: The Creek student section heckles a Grandview High School player after he airballed a three-pointer at a full-house "Pack the Place" game. As we say, faces are the focus of photojournalism, and this shot is jam-packed with them. I love the line of mock "ESPN" reporters and the rows of students yelling. This game was absolutely electric, so I parked myself behind the benches on the opposite side of the court and took shots of the student section.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/11/2026

This photo was featured in a story that won Best of SNO honors.

COLD AS ICE: Senior forward Garrett Linville (#6, right) clashes with a Regis Jesuit High School defenseman in a fight for the puck. Linville did win the puck, but Creek went on to lose the game 5-3. The lead changed hands multiple times in this intense matchup, as the teams battled for a higher playoff seeding.

Regis and Creek are bitter rivals, clashing in seemingly every sport for championships and trophies. This photo captured that competitive relationship perfectly. Red vs. Blue. A grinding, physical matchup. I love how the puck is nestled beneath Linville's stick as he shoves his opponent aside. Hockey is another of my beats, and I got many chances during the 2025 season to capture moments between these two squads. For this shot, I had to move around the rink, trying to anticipate the plays and snap the most intense shots. I was lucky when this pair of competitors met right in front of my lens.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 1/24/2025

GIMME A C: As poms perform in the foreground, a cheerleader is hoisted in the air, holding a giant C for "CCHS." At our annual week-long Power Week fundraiser, the best of the spirit always comes at the end, with the big pep assembly. Dance groups and musicians perform, and cheer/poms boost school spirit with their own show. I'm proud of this shot because of the matching angle of the pom-poms, and the smile on the cheerleader's face.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/13/2026

This photo was featured in a story that won Best of SNO honors.

SENIOR NIGHT: Senior Jalen Nelson hugs a teammate as she comes off the court for the final time in her high school career. Creek girls' basketball had a rough season in 2025-26, winning only three games. They lost the senior night game, too. But all the players were still emotional when they were subbed out one last time. This one smiled through the moment, but others cried as their coach and peers embraced them. I was right behind the bench, in the perfect spot to capture these raw and personal moments.

Canon EOS 5D MkII, 75-300 mm lens, 2/11/2026

This photo was featured in a story that won Best of SNO honors.

READY FOR BATTLE: Junior forward Jacob Keenan charges onto the ice to kick off the third period, his face and mask reflecting off the glass boards. Shots like this teach me that not all the action of a game happens on the playing field. You can see the determination and readiness in Jacob's eyes as he pulls down his cage. I positioned myself parallel to the glass to get this shot, and I turned on burst mode to capture every player as they entered the rink. This one was my favorite of the bunch.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 1/10/2026

HORNS UP: Marching band trumpets (from left) senior Alejandra Valentín Martí and junior Mariah Hudiburgh play along with a pep tune during the 2024 Creek Homecoming football game. I've had the unique privilege of simultaneously being a photographer and member of the marching band, so sometimes I can take shots from within the band when I take a break from performing. I like the repetition throughout the photo, with bells of different instruments all united as one force. 

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 28-135 mm lens, 9/27/2025

POSTER: A player yells out while slamming down a dunk over a competitor at the Power Week three vs. three basketball competition. This competition is always full of friend groups who compete for a shot for the trophy. It's one of the many events during Power Week (a weeklong fundraiser organized by our Student Senate) that brings out school spirit and student competitiveness. The week is a lot of work for the organizers, but all the games are in good fun. The postgame interviews are just as enjoyable as the photojournalism, as the players laugh and joke about the experience.

Canon EOS 5D MkIII, 70-200 mm lens, 2/10/2025