By Mandy Bourgeois | Published Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tyler Tamplen, 17, a junior at Decatur High School, beat out high school photographers from around the Metroplex to snag first place in a Dallas Morning News competition April 8.
Tyler Tamplen, 17, a junior at Decatur High School, beat out high school photographers from around the Metroplex to snag first place in a Dallas Morning News competition April 8.
The Journal, Decatur High School's student newspaper, entered several categories in the Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day and Competition, with Tamplen winning the Class B photo portfolio category, beating out Red Oak High School and St. Mark's High School finalists.
Class B consisted of schools with 2,000 or less students and Class A was reserved for schools with larger enrollments.
The competition included more than 60 schools from throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"I entered last year, but I wasn't a finalist," Tamplen said. "This year I had more of a chance to use my equipment and Joe (Messenger photographer Joe Duty) helped me by letting me use the studio to get one of my photos."
Tamplen's portfolio included three photos published in The Journal, one of which was also published in the Wise County Messenger.
Tamplen's interest in photography began in third grade when he entered a 4-H photography contest.
He enjoys the challenge of telling a story with just one or two photos.
"I really enjoy feature photos. Sports are fun, but you can spend more time with the person and get their personality to come out in the photo," Tamplen said.
The Journal's co-editor-in-chief and feature editor, Kayla Slimp, was named to the Most Valuable Staffers list.
