Bringing Home the Gold Again: Design Grad Wins Student Photographer of the Year for the Second Time
Brooklynn Jarvis Kelson was awarded Student Photographer of the Year for the second year in a row by the University Photographer’s Association of America (UPAA). She also took home first, second, and fourth place in the Student and Associate category of the same competition for her photo, “The Sky’s the Limit.”
Kelson, a 2024 graduate, was recognized for a portfolio of work created during the 2023–24 school year, much of which was also featured in her senior capstone exhibition for the BYU Department of Design.
She developed a love for dance photography while working at BYU Photo under mentors Jaren Wilkey and Nate Edwards. “They have changed my life forever,” she said. “Without my experience at BYU Photo and learning from them, there is no way I could have gotten this award.”
Kelson’s capstone project, titled "Pinnacle," was a unique blend of her passion for dance and nature. Instead of photographing dancers in a studio, she challenged herself to shoot them outdoors. “Dance and nature make such a beautiful combination that shows the pinnacle of God’s creations,” she explained. “The photos celebrate and acknowledge the beauty of the human body and the earth around us.”
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