Students across Cobb County Schools were recognized on March 26 for their achievements in the annual Cobb Water High School Photography Contest, which encourages students to capture images of water throughout the county.
The contest offers a platform for students to develop their technical and creative skills while reflecting on the importance of water in everyday life. Winners received cash prizes, and their photographs will be distributed as notecards around the county. Their work will also be displayed at the Mable House Arts Center in Mableton from April 9 to May 15.
Participants submitted photos in six categories: Water at Play, Water at Work, Water in Nature, Water and People, Protecting Water, and Conserving Water. Six Lassiter High School students were among those honored this year: Alex Hood, Dayton Davis, Katelyn Garrow, Sarah Joseph, Marissa Meyer, and Rushna Ahsan. Sprayberry High School was represented by Ashleigh Lafferty and Neyla Lamont; Wheeler High School’s Jonah Suarez and Charlie Sayler were also named as winners.
Lassiter AP Art and Design Instructor Suzette Spinelli said her students approached the competition with independence: “This is independent work for the student,” Spinelli said. “They can set up a narrative scene or simply capture something they see, but it has to be intentional.” She emphasized that composition is essential for a strong photograph: “Composition is the first priority,” she explained. “Strong use of lights and darks, value is essential. That contrast helps guide the viewer’s eye and creates impact.”
Sprayberry High School serves about 1,700 students representing various ethnic groups and socio-economic backgrounds according to its official website. The school maintains a campus at 1710 Piedmont Road NE in Marietta according to its official website.
Sprayberry has been recognized as a Georgia School of Excellence in 2011 and received national attention from publications such as Atlanta Magazine, Newsweek and The Washington Post according to its official website. The school focuses on providing comprehensive education that reflects Cobb County’s diversity through its student body’s varied backgrounds according to its official website.
Sprayberry also honors athletic achievements through an Athletics Hall of Fame according to its official website.
