Macy Crosser: Photos have allowed her to share stories and capture special memories throughout high school

One of the most memorable photos I’ve taken was at my twin brother’s first game back from his knee injury. Against the odds, he scored a penalty kick that sent the packed bleachers into a frenzy. He ran over to our family and friends, fists pumping in the air. 

And I got a photo of it.

Look closely and you can pick out my mom, his best friend and the crowd’s genuine reactions — screaming, pointing, clapping, cheering him on. It was already unforgettable, but now it’s a memory that hangs in his room.

And in that moment, I saw my photos as a gift to others. 

Without my Nikon Z6II, I wouldn’t be able to share moments like these. As a photographer, photos are my words, and I’ve learned to convey the stories and passions that drift through the halls of East. 

September 16. It’s Lancer Day, and I’m squished against a table in front of a crowd of the entire school. Senior boys pound on tables on the most spirited day of the year. Never had I been around this much enthusiasm. My head still pounds thinking about the roars and stomping feet. If the sweaty crowd photos I captured don’t encapsulate our student body’s energy, then I don’t know what does.

February 12. Crowded inches from the TV screen, my eyes are focused in my viewfinder instead of on the Chiefs kicking the game-winning field goal of Super Bowl LVll. For the second world championship win of my high school career, I capture 30 high schoolers tearing through the streets of Prairie Village in celebration. Even though I’m out of breath from sprinting to keep up, it earns me the shots that capture the pride of being a Chiefs fan.

April 5. Students swarm out of class in the National Anti-Gun Violence Walkout. As my peers protest the fear for their safety they feel at an American high school, I capture their surge of emotion with my close-up lens. You can see it in their eyes — the story is always in the eyes. 

I always tell people this, but pictures tell stories that words can’t always convey. Every Snapchat memory, Instagram story or camera-taken photo has a memory attached. That’s why photos are so vital in my life. They scrapbook every little detail and memorable moment so I can look back and laugh, smile or cry like I’m still there.

Every day, we walk around with a picture-ready camera. I encourage everyone to use it. That’s the beauty of it: anyone can do it. Keep saving memories — you don’t have to be a photographer to tell a story.