By Camila Gonzalez
OIDJ coach
Many people have achieved great things at a young age. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was 5 years old when he composed his first piece of music. Pablo Picasso created his first painting when he was 9. Bobby Fischer was 15 when he was named grandmaster, the highest title in chess.
Jason McDaniel, 14, began pursuing photography in seventh grade. He will begin his freshman year at Epic Charter Schools this fall. He was the first middle school student to be a part of the Epic News Network.
“I actually kind of had to fight for it,” Jason said.
He said that ENN director Scott Carter told him that he had to prove his photography skills in order to join the organization. Carter asked him to cover the state fair and his photos from this event later won first place at the Oklahoma Scholastic Media competition.
Carter was also the person who told McDaniel about the Oklahoma Institute for Diversity in Journalism, where he is, once again, one of the younger students.
“A lot of people underestimate me because I’m a child,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel decided to pursue photography after he had to quit soccer and track due to health issues. Because his grandmother had an extra camera, he discovered this new passion. He said that he enjoys taking nature photos in particular because he always finds something different.
“I’ll go to the same place over and over and over,” McDaniel said. “But I’ll never find the same picture.”
Over time, he continued improving his skills and submitting photos to, and winning, various photography contests. He said that he has received offers from several outlets, including Rose State College, to work for them once he is old enough to work legally.
“Some were even trying to get me in right now,” McDaniel said.
With all of these options open to him, McDaniel said he is not particularly concerned with what his future will bring.
“I’m not much of a person that plans for the future,” McDaniel said. “Then again, I play chess . . (When you play chess,) aren’t you basically planning for the future the entire time?”
