Telstar student’s photograph chosen by Maine Learning Technology Initiative

BETHEL — Nicholas Johnson loves both visual and the performing arts, particularly photography.

The Telstar Regional High School sophomore’s photograph of the ocean reflected in an eye was recently chosen by the Maine Learning Technology Initiative as a screensaver. It is one of fewer than two dozen chosen from around the state. Nick’s photograph was the only one submitted from his high school.

“I took a picture of a friend’s eye with the ocean reflected in it, then super-imposed a hand as if it was being drawn,” he said.

Johnson said photography is a great way to express himself.

“I love the emotion of photography,” he said.

The 16-year-old is thinking of a career as a photojournalist and would like to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“I know I want to do photography as a career path,” he said.

Johnson also had a black-and-white portrait of a friend accepted at Drexel University in Philadelphia. It was one of about 140 photographs selected from 1,500 submissions.

He is also working to get some of his work into local art galleries.

His love and appreciation for photography began when he was an eighth-grade student at Hebron Academy, he said.

“We took a trip to New York City, and I took pictures. I discovered what could be done,” he said.

Although his screensaver is in color, as are many of his photographs, he prefers black and white.

“It has more emotion,” he said.

Besides devoting much time to photography, Johnson also plays the saxophone in the high school band, the clarinet in the Mahoosuc Band, has performed as a tenor singer at All State and performs in school musicals.

He operates a website, www.shuddahbug.com, and is on Facebook as Shuddahbug Photography.

: Nick Johnson, 16, of Woodstock, a sophomore at Telstar Regional High School in Bethel, designed a computer screensaver that will be used by the Maine Learning Technology Initiative.