Great sports photography is a unique combination of luck, hard work, and skill. It’s not often that a high school student is the one who captures that shot, the one that is picked up by publication after publication, and it becomes an iconic image.
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During the University of Miami’s playoff run, Miami Palmetto High School junior Zachary Lewis took THE photo of the fantastic one-handed catch by C.J. Daniels against Notre Dame that was the talk of the sports world.
“They constantly use it,” he says. “I’m thrilled that they are happy with my work and that they keep positing it and using it. It was an insane and thrilling moment, and I’m thrilled I took that image.”
Lewis has earned more than a thousand community service hours and many of those hours come from his photography.
“I have been doing that for my school and other local entities such as local colleges,” he says. “I do everything, but I mainly do sports photography.”
He works with the University of Miami athletics department.
“I’ve been doing sports photography since freshman year. My brother (Matthew) was a photographer before me. I took inspiration from him. Now other young students have followed in my footsteps and copied me at my school.”
He loves taking photos.
“The best part is just capturing the memories themselves,” he says. “You get to cover all these events. I get to build these connections. To show the world who they are. I’m helping out student athletes. I try to put them in the best light possible.”
In college, he plans on a journalism major. He is looking for a college with great athletics, journalism, and great academics.
At school, he’s been in the television production program since freshman year.
“I’ve been anchoring and doing behind the camera work,” he says.
He holds the title of director of photography and contributes photos for the morning announcements and the Mr. Panther events.
Lewis not only photographs sports, but he also plays lacrosse for Palmetto. He’s been on the team since freshman year and this year, he’s a starter.
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He’s co-treasurer of the National Honor Society and Rho Kappa, the history honor society. He’s on a History Bowl team. He’s also co-chief of staff for Student Council.
Lewis is a peer counselor for the Health Information Project, the program that sends upperclassmen to teach health modules to ninth grade students.
“It’s one of my most favorite things to do,” he says. “I most like that I can interact with the students in such a personal way. It’s important to make a connection with a younger student and help them out. You never know what someone is going through.
Outside of school, Lewis is the co-chair for J Serve, sponsored by the Great Miami Jewish Federation.
“I assist in coordinating days of service,” he says. “This year there was a Good Deeds Day for the first time. The scope of the day changed. It is on MLK day.
Every other Saturday he’s a Big Buddy for Achieve Miami at the Caribbean K-8 Center to help kids improve their literacy skills. He’s been a Big Buddy since seventh grade.
He has his own personal project called Catch Some ZZZs.
“It’s an event where I collect blankets and on Christmas day I bring them with the federation to the Salvation Army,” he says.
“The smiles that light up on people’s faces, is just wonderful.
While the program is successful, he still wishes he could get more blankets because it’s never enough. This past year he donated 50-60 blanket.
“They were definitely needed this year,” he says.