By Jaiden Lee ’26
Word count: 777
JJ Pena ’26 has been heavily involved in photography for several years, creating countless portraits and pieces of human subjects, nature, sports, and more. Surprisingly, JJ first got into photography through skateboarding; JJ stated, “When I was in grade/middle school, I used to skateboard all the time, which prompted me to get my first camera—the GoPro Hero 10—so that I could record myself and my friends skateboarding. Sadly, after falling quite a bit, I became tired of all the bruises and aches that came with it, so I quit, but I still had the GoPro. After going on a trip and documenting it through video with my GoPro, I realized I enjoyed capturing moments more than riding the skateboard itself.” After JJ got home from the trip, he found an old camera his mom had previously used, prompting him to explore photography more deeply. During his freshman year, he decided to drop digital music production to fulfill his passion for photography. In his words, “Three years, five cameras, and over 100,000 pictures later, I am still going strong, doing the thing I loved.”
When asked about his favorite aspects of being a photographer, JJ stated that he loved the freedom the art form offered, as he could capture whatever and whomever he wanted. JJ added that his love for photography grew as he discovered his true purpose of being a photographer: “There tend to be two categories of photos: photos that the photographer is proud of, and photos that everybody else likes. At the beginning of my journey, I catered to what everybody else liked—sharp, clear images, usually depicting whoever paid me to take it. The photos were made well in the technical sense, but they lacked something—the why: the reason I took the photo in the first place. Once I started finding photos with a ‘why,’ something clicked.” JJ further elaborated that his niche soon became environmental portraiture, believing his best work would come from nature photos. However, JJ also emphasized his love of capturing human portraits, stating, “Despite my love for environmental photography, I think my favorite photo is a high-exposure portrait of a man in Chinatown where a gate is out of focus in the foreground. It’s a well-done photo in a technical sense, but I think it means a little more beneath the surface. As one can imagine, it is a little awkward and nerve-racking to take photos of random people on the streets sneakily; this photo represents a core memory for me as I built up the confidence to approach people for making art.” JJ also mentioned that this was his first photo where he fully “sent it” and simply took the picture without stressing over the outcome. He added that the photo marked a definitive moment where he started to trust himself to make good photography pieces.
Regarding his inspiration for taking photos, JJ stated that Mr. Duarte significantly influenced his work. JJ remarked, “I will start by saying that Mr. Duarte is an amazing photographer, which is inspiring, but it’s not why I look up to him. I know Mr. Duarte’s photo journey has been far from easy, and to do what he loves despite his challenges is incredible. He had a very independent nature–he shoots what he wants, which is simple. I also admire his success in choosing such a volatile career path and sticking to it to this day.” JJ emphasized that he was impressed by Mr. Duarte’s confidence in finding his niche because of his challenges in doing the same: “Every photographer has to pick a niche, whether it be weddings, sports, or journalism. You can’t just do everything simply because you will not get hired. I think that’s the first big difficulty because, as a photographer, there is so much inspiration everywhere, and it’s so hard to choose one topic; essentially, it’s pointless to have a portfolio of work with no connection to each other.”
When asked about JJ, fellow photographer Will Sandor, ’27, stated, “I think it’s great that he gets involved in a lot of school events as well and can connect his passion for photography with something within the community too.” JJ has stated that the BH community is something he holds close to his heart, with over half of the 100,000 photos he has taken being captured at Belmont Hill, whether it be sports games, Chapels, or anything in between.
Looking into the future, JJ plans to continue his photography pursuits but is also excited about branching into other art forms like rock music and bass guitar. The Panel wishes JJ the best of luck in his artistic endeavors and thanks him for his many contributions to the school community.
