At the tender age of 16,
Ann McPeters made history.
She has shared her views with the world, though quite literally, and unlike a speech or even a piece of writing, McPeters' interpretations of the world around her will last well into the future.
The photograph is something we've all taken. It's something we've all seen, and it is something that requires a true talent.
McPeters is able to capture the mundane and the ordinary, and she is able, with her Nikon D80, turn those images into something powerful, something human.
"I try to capture the moment my subjects are in," McPeters said. "One time I was photographing a guy fishing on Emerald Pier in North Carolina. He was just baiting hooks, but I could see he was really into it."
McPeters, who is a sophomore at PonderosaHigh School in Parker, said she started taking photos as a way to escape boredom.
As an avid soccer player, she was recovering from a knee injury about a year and a half ago when she first decided to pick up a camera.
McPeters takes mainly portraits. In fact, her father has been the subject of several of her photos.
"My dad is my model and some of the looks on my dad's face you don't see unless he is really happy," McPeters said. "In other photos he's got the fake smile, but in my photos it's just him, happy."
It's really hard to capture his true happiness and smile, McPeters said.
Her father has also taken her around to photograph the trains in Castle Rock, children at the playgrounds in Parker, and the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
"The Democratic National Convention was really cool because I felt involved and part of something really big," she said. "We stayed on 16 th Street Mall and photographed some of the protesters and weird people dressed up."
Now, this October, the public has an opportunity to see McPeters' portraits on display at the Parker Library, 10851 S. Crossroads Drive.
"I was just at the library one day and found out that I could present my artwork," she said. "So I filled out the form, and they looked over my work, and that was pretty much it."
As for her future in photography, McPeters said she is excited about this upcoming showing of her work, but she doesn't know exactly where she will end up in the field.
"I just want to see where it will take me," McPeters said. "For right now, my photos are just for all to see."
This October, Douglas County Libraries will host several new displays highlighting some of the county's most talented photographers and artists.
At the Philip S. Miller Library, 100 S. Wilcox St. in Castle Rock, the 2 nd Annual Front Range Art Exhibit will be on display from Oct. 10 through Nov. 12.
The show features 145 works of local artists, and is co-sponsored by the Greater Castle Rock Art Guild and the National Arts Program Foundation of Malvern, Pennslyvania.
For more information on McPeters' display, or others, visit www.douglascountylibraries.org.