LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Floydada High School student will see his photograph displayed in Washington, D.C., after it was selected as the winner of an annual congressional art competition.
Noah Fierros’ photo “Requiem” was chosen by Congressman Jodey Arrington as part of his annual Congressional Art Competition. The image, more than a year in the making, features symbolic elements meant to convey a deeper message about the country.
“Like the horse represents freedom and strength, the veiled figure carries memory, often those untold truths of the American story, so it’s just a lot of complex realities incorporated into the photo and American nature,” Fierros said.
Fierros said the moment feels surreal, especially after seeing last year’s winning piece and dreaming of earning the same honor.
“Last year I went to DC on a youth tour trip with my local co-op, so I got to see firsthand last year’s artwork hung in the capitol, so as soon as I saw that, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of,” Fierros said.
Fierros said capturing the winning shot took hours of preparation and editing, going through different shots to find what best conveyed his message.
“It’s a very intricate process, hundreds and hundreds of photos, but just going in and selecting what looks right, composition wise, what’s easy to edit, what I can really work with to tell the story, something that’s easy to capture the eye of the audience, and stuff like that is all taken into consideration when choosing such a thing,” he said.
He now encourages other students and photographers to embrace their creativity and take chances on doing what they love.
“Just be creative, be who you are, there are so many different types of journalism and photography, really finding your niche and what you want to do, and how you can make that art and turn it into something powerful and impactful is something that everyone should consider and do so,” Fierros said.
Fierros will travel to Washington, D.C., on June 25 to see his work hung alongside other winning entries from across the nation. His photo will represent Texas’ 19th Congressional District.
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