NT School Sports is proud to celebrate four members of our Youth Photographer Initiative who have been featured in Canadian Photography, the national magazine of the Canadian Association for Photographic Art. Congratulations to Dylan Applejohn, Lexi Blandford, Mairin Campbell, and Claire Loutit!
The five page feature, titled Looking Beyond the Game: How the NT School Sports Youth Photographer Program is Empowering the Next Generation of Storytellers, shares the story of the initiative and includes photographs captured by these talented young photographers at school sport events across the Northwest Territories.
Dylan Applejohn’s photographs capture the concentration of a basketball player preparing to shoot a free throw and the determination of a young table tennis player reaching for the ball. His work shows how anticipation and timing can turn a brief moment into a powerful image.
Lexi Blandford’s photographs feature a goalkeeper controlling the ball during Super Soccer and two basketball players competing for a loose ball during Senior Cager. Her images capture preparation, effort, and the intensity of competition.
Mairin Campbell’s photographs highlight a volleyball serve during Senior Spike It and a badminton player preparing to return the shuttle during the Junior Badminton Championships. Her work reflects her ability to notice moments that might otherwise pass unseen.
Claire Loutit’s photograph freezes a volleyball player in the air during competition. The image captures the focus, skill, and energy that make school sport so exciting.
The article also recognizes the important mentorship of Rob Hart, who has supported the photographers as they learn to use their cameras, understand light, anticipate action, and tell meaningful stories through their images.
The Youth Photographer Initiative gives students more than access to a camera. It gives them a place within school sport, an opportunity to develop confidence and responsibility, and a way to preserve moments that matter to athletes, schools, families, and communities. Seeing their work featured in a national photography magazine is a wonderful achievement. It also shows young people across the Northwest Territories that their creativity, perspective, and stories deserve to be seen.
Congratulations, Dylan, Lexi, Mairin, and Claire. Thank you for helping us look beyond the game and see school sport through your eyes.
