PITTSFIELD, Maine (WABI) – One Pittsfield amateur photographer is building his skill (and brand) before he even hits high school age!
Luke Murray, 12, began his photography journey in September of 2023.
His interest was first sparked by his family.
“My brother and my grandfather have both been photographers for a long time. They were going to go on a trip up to Acadia National Park, gonna go about 11 o’clock at night to get some Milky Way photos. And I had never tried out photography at that point, and it was just one of the most amazing trips in my life,” Murray said.
“They have taught me everything to know about cameras that I need, and from then on, I’ve just continued this passion that I think I will for a very long time,” said Murray about the influence his brother and grandfather had.
His main focus is shooting nature, which he expands on as he creates long exposure, star trails, portraits and more in his photos.
Luke’s passion for photography is fueled by creativity, which he says acts as an outlet for self-expression.
“From when I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect, and I’ve always wanted to be able to express creativity in a way that I just couldn’t. And when I found photography, it really just lets you have another way to express yourself,” Murray said.
The creative nature of photography is tied to its freedom, as photographers can manually control color, light, focus, and more. For Luke, that’s one of his favorite parts: “I can do whatever I want with it, I can just do it all myself, which is something that really drew me in.”
His Facebook page has garnered some local attention, with commenters astonished by the level of skill at such a young age.
Not only does the online attention give his photography more exposure, but it also provides accountability and a push to keep moving forward.
“It’s all been so supportive and very motivational for me to go out and keep on shooting,” Murray noted.
In the future, he hopes to turn his passion into a fulfilling career. Being only 12 years old, he’s got plenty of time to perfect his craft.
“I’m just glad I’m able to learn everything and not have to go through the process while making a business for it,” said Murray about learning now to capitalize later.
We asked Luke what his advice would be for young people pursuing their own passions, which he says: “For any passion, don’t give up. Be creative. Don’t think you just can’t go out and do anything, because you really can! If you put in the effort, you really can do anything you set your mind to do.”
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