By Stephanie Pham
A third year journalist, senior Charisse Nguyen found her love for photography early on in her high school career. She originally joined Baron Banner as a sophomore to be with her friends, but stayed for the love of art. What started as a hobby with her uncle, a professional photographer, turned into a full time dedication as a photographer in Baron Banner.
“My uncle is a professional, so when I first started photography, he would show me all the gears and types of editing styles that I could do. He was the first person to introduce me to the hobby, and he was kind of like my mentor,” Nguyen said.
With her uncle by her side, she navigated the ins and outs of her camera. Together, they explored various locations such as the beach, the streets and anything that inspires them through the lens.
As a visual learner, Nguyen prefers taking photos over writing. With each click of the shutter, she looks for new styles of photography and artistic outlets with her camera.
“I haven’t done anything professionally, but I really want to try doing photo shoots and portraits with people in the studio,” Nguyen said. “I also like street, nature and macro photography, which is where I zoom in super close to a subject.”
Nguyen enjoys the creative liberties that the art of photography allows. Her love for it goes beyond just taking pictures; it’s a way for her to express herself and convey her unique perspective on the world. She has a knack for finding beauty in the everyday, whether she’s collecting items from all around her, or just focusing on the details of her life.
“I’m totally indecisive, I’m a hoarder and I’m detail oriented,” Nguyen said.
When she’s not looking through her lens, Nguyen prefers to explore cooking. She learned how to cook her favorite cuisine, Vietnamese food, through spending time with her dad. Although she prefers making Vietnamese food, there is no limit to her love for other dishes. There’s nothing better than a bowl of warm, hot soup when the weather calls for it. Her favorite dish to eat when she’s feeling down is soup.
Her time in Baron Banner is almost coming to an end, as it’s Nguyen’s last year at Fountain Valley High School. Her experience with Baron Banner comes full circle when she graduates. These last few years will always be a memory in Nguyen’s mind.
“In my mind, after these three years, I want to be able to walk out of the class and think to myself, ‘oh you did a good job these last three years, you didn’t give up,’” Nguyen said. “I just don’t want to regret it, that’s all.”