Cam Cunningham ’24 is a photographer with a distinctive eye for capturing the moment of suspense in quiet scenes. While traveling in Costa Rica with his Canon Rebel T7, Cam’s experiences with the people and wildlife gripped his photography. His striking photos from Costa Rica recently won a Gold Key, as well as two honorable mentions in the 2023 Scholastic Art Awards. 

What do you like about photography?

It’s kind of cliché, but [photography] allows you to take a snapshot in time. It allows you to take this moment and make it last in perpetuity.

How long have you been interested in photography?

I’ve been interested for four years, when I took my first photography course on my phone, and since then I’ve gotten a camera and I’ve started doing more on my own.

“Lurking in Shallow Waters”

Could you tell us about the photo you took that won the Golden Key in this year’s Scholastic Art Awards, “Lurking in Shallow Waters”?

That [photo] was on a Putney trip in Costa Rica, and it was of a crocodile. We were on a bird boat tour, and so I saw this crocodile and thought “Oh, that would be such a cool picture!” So I snapped a picture as soon as I could. 

“Pedaling Man”

What about your photo, “Pedaling Man”, which received an honorable mention?

We were living in a host village at the time, and it was just one of the men that we were working with. I thought it was a cool picture because it really represented the ambiance of the village.

How was your experience on the trip to Costa Rica?

It was a Putney trip with a group of other high schoolers. We stayed in a host village for most of the time called Bonanza. It was a volunteer trip—we were working on a new community center. It’s a pretty big project that we were very excited to help tackle. Most of the trip was just learning about Costa Rican culture though. We spent a lot of time in the host village with the kids, playing fútbol (soccer) and other games like tag. We also spent a lot of time with the adults learning about various farming practices and techniques.

“Looking Onward”

Lastly, what can you tell us about your final photo, “Looking Onward,” which also received an honorable mention?

“Looking Onward” is of a cow in a pasture—in the same village as the picture of the man on the bicycle. I was amazed by all of the wildlife around me and the innovation of livestock techniques. The fences were all made of birch logs. I figured that they would frame the picture well.

How do you hope to improve your photography in the future?

I hope to delve into more meaningful topics. I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors, but I think it would be super interesting to delve into the human experience and different facets of that.