Grandpa inspiration behind photography award

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Malcolm junior Cyrena Miller's photograph from her grandpa's farm recently won an award for its visual appeal, but the meaning behind the snapshot lies far beneath its contrasting colors.

“It's at my grandpa's farm and he means the world to me,” she said. “He recently passed away in January, which makes the picture more significant for me and I always really liked his farm.”

Miller's picture, which shows a black and white clothespin on a fence with a bright red barn as the backdrop, was one of five winning photos in Sen. Ben Sasse's statewide student photography contest. Miller's photo will now be displayed in Sasse's Nebraska office.

Miller said she's had an interest in photography since she was a child but never took it too seriously. She saw a flier for the contest in the Malcolm High School hallway and decided to see what could happen.

“I just like to do it for fun,” she said. “I picked up this interest when I was in middle school and got my first phone.”

She snapped the winning photograph during a visit to her grandpa's Hartington farm in her freshman year and it resonated with her then. After her grandfather's passing in January, she said the photograph's sentimental value increased exponentially.

While she knew she had a captivating photo with heart behind it, the news that her work had been selected still came unexpectedly.

“I was really surprised and excited,” she said, adding that she hopes to travel to the office where her work will be displayed to view it.

Miller said she plans to continue her photography hobby and plans on capturing landscapes around Nebraska.

“I like going to parks and stuff and seeing what different things I can do and keeping an eye open for really unique shots,” she said. “When I have more time this summer, I definitely want to get more pictures.”