‘I try to capture Worcester in a way that I wish other people could see’

City snapshots earn Owen Dominguez ’27 pictures scholarship

For Owen Dominguez ’27, pictures is not only a ability or a passion, it’s a lifestyle. During his time as a Clarkie, taking photographs has allowed Dominguez to attach with folks on and off campus, creating photographs that earned him a scholarship from the Griffin Museum of Photography.

“Photography has helped me think differently about the world around me,” says Dominguez. “I love to walk around, and the camera motivates me. If I have nothing else to do, I might as well find something interesting to photograph.”

When Dominguez toured Clark as a excessive schooler, he met Photography Professor Stephen DiRado whereas viewing the Traina Center. The media, tradition, and the humanities main recollects pondering that Clark felt like “the perfect place” to start out his profession as a photographer.

This fall, Dominguez obtained a 2026 New England Portfolio Review Scholarship from the Griffin Museum of Photography, which acknowledges each rising and established photographers. He was nominated by Visual and Performing Arts Professor Sherry Freyermuth.

“I was completely shocked,” says Dominguez, who beforehand took Freyermuth’s Portfolio Development class.

Dominguez, who grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, says taking photographs helped him alter to life at Clark and in Worcester. He enjoys the problem of approaching strangers and asking to take their photograph, because it offers him a possibility to make new buddies.

“Almost everybody I’ve met has been like, ‘Yeah, take my picture,’” says Dominguez, whose type will be categorized as road pictures. “It’s been really inspiring to see how many people are excited about the camera the same way I am.”

This train resulted in a number of pictures of individuals taking part in basketball and having fun with University Park, simply throughout from campus — photographs that helped Dominguez earn the scholarship.

“I try to capture Worcester in a way that I wish other people could see,” he says. “I think it’s an amazing place to photograph, with compelling people and interesting-looking triple-decker houses.” Dominguez, who’s co-president of the Clark Photo Society, hopes to create a e book or showcase of his University Park photographs. One of the photographs, titled “Pickup in the Park,” was displayed earlier this 12 months within the twenty first Annual ArtsWorcester College Show.

Dominguez will subsequent prepare his lens on Japan, the place he’ll research within the spring 2026 semester. “I hope to photograph as much as I can,” he says.

Dominguez bought his first digital camera round age 10 and have become severe about taking photographs as a junior in highschool, photographing the varsity soccer group and his buddies.

“I’m often drawn to people playing basketball because sports were such an important part of my life, and that’s how I got into photography,” he says.

After graduating subsequent 12 months, Dominguez desires to work full-time as a photographer, ideally in New England, a spot he enjoys exploring. “I want to support myself, and get my work and my name out there,” he says.

Dominguez encourages anybody with an curiosity in pictures to offer it a shot.

“You don’t need an expensive camera. Anybody can do it, and I think everybody should do it,” he says.

“It’s one of the best hobbies to connect to what’s around you, whether it is your friends or just random people you meet. Art in general is so important here at Clark.”