Featured image by Manny Lopez.
At Santa Monica High School (Samohi), junior Emmanuel “Manny” Lopez has found his passion for storytelling through the lens of his camera. An athlete turned photographer, Lopez’s journey into
visual arts began unexpectedly yet has quickly evolved into a skillset that he uses to celebrate
and uplift his school and community.
Lopez’s path to photography started during his freshman year when he sustained an injury while
playing football.
“My injury and time away from football led me to pick up my mom’s point-and-shoot camera to take photos of our school team,” said Lopez.
“Once I took photos, I knew I enjoyed doing this and had raw talent for it. I then continued to try different sports, and I kept getting better so that’s when I knew I wanted to continue shooting photography long term.”
Lopez’s dedication to capturing memorable moments extends beyond personal interests as he
sees photography as a way to give back to his family, friends and community.
“I think photography is one of the best ways to reconnect with your family through memories,” said
Lopez. “It helps capture moments that you can look back on and cherish forever.”
Lopez’s projects within Samohi and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District demonstrate his vision of capturing meaningful moments for his community. From photographing the Samohi football team at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, creating a backdrop that highlights the school’s pride and the city’s landmarks, to documenting the “before” and “after” shots of fifth graders at Edison Language Academy for their promotion ceremony, an exciting new project he took on this year, Lopez’s work celebrates the milestones and memories of his peers. His photography not only showcases his growing skills but also enriches the community by preserving snapshots of student life that can be cherished for years to come.
In the classroom, Lopez has found inspiration in his journalism teacher, Elizabeth Stapleton. The skills
he’s gained in journalism have complemented his photography, offering new ways to tell stories and
connect with others.
“I decided to take journalism because a former student recommended it as a great way to network and prepare for college,” said Lopez. “Ms. Stapleton has done a great job helping me improve my craft and connecting me with people who can help me grow.”
Lopez’s dedication to improving his craft is a trait instilled by his father, who has been his most influential mentor.
“My dad has done a great job of showing me to never settle with what I have,” said Lopez. “He has impacted me the most with my photography journey because he would always tell me how to be better in any way, whether it was the way I approached people or the little details in a photo.”
Outside of photography, Lopez balances his time as a student-athlete on the Samohi varsity football team and in several clubs, including the Director’s Club, College Readiness Club, and The Samohi Giving Spirit.
Before attending Samohi, Lopez went to John Adams Middle School and Will Rogers Learning Community. Looking ahead, Lopez hopes to continue his studies in visual arts, aiming to attend a four-year university with a focus on film or visual media.
