Photo via: Mikey Nguyen
Nathaniel Camacho, a fellow Cherry Hill West student and current senior, is a school photographer, known for his popular Macho Flicks photography page (@macho.flicks on Instagram). Renowned for his incredible shots of sporting photos and unique approach to school photography, he has made a lasting impression on both teachers and students of Cherry Hill West. As staff writers for the Lion’s Roar, we interviewed the creativity behind Macho Flicks. In this interview, we got to explore the creative process behind the camera, while also delving into the background, motivations, and inspirations that drive his photography.
Nathan started taking photos in his freshman year of high school and became interested in photography from there on out, leading him to create the Macho Flix Instagram page. It mostly focuses on sports photography.
What made you interested in photography and how long have you been doing it?
“I saw it as an option for an elective when I was a freshman. That’s what made me interested in pictures and stuff. I took Intro and Intermediate, so that’s where I started…I started my Instagram page after the football season in my sophomore year. Then I just started gathering photos. I got better from then on out.”
Why did you decide to focus just on sports photography?
“I just personally think it’s cooler. I’ve done other stuff, like junior prom and daily events, stuff like that. But I like to stick to sports because I get into the game more. It’s very exciting and something I like to see.”
When you are shooting a game, what goes through your mind? Is there anything in particular you are looking for?
“I just look for the perfect place to be. I like to get different shots. I don’t like to stay in one spot. I try not to take the same shots every game or the whole time. I try to move around a little bit and get as close to the game as I can without interrupting.”
What influences/inspires your photography?
“I guess there’s no inspiring factor, other than the fact that I get to meet a bunch of people. I guess I like the fact that the spotlight isn’t on me. I don’t like being in the center of the stage. The spotlight is on the people, and I’m just happy that I get to capture those moments. And then you can build friendships with all that stuff from that, you can build your media, and that’s what I plan on doing after [high school].”
via: @macho.flicks on Instagram
Reflecting on his photography journey, Nathan acknowledges his improvements as a photographer since 2020/2021. Crediting it to the upgraded equipment, skilled positioning of the camera, and fostering connections with the sports community.
Have you noticed any improvements in your photos since you started in 2020/21?
“Yeah, drastically. I’ve owned my camera, it’s not a great camera, but I started with that. Then I eventually was able to borrow cameras from friends and teachers. From then on out, that’s when the quality started to improve, my skill level, my ‘eye level’, like I got better positions and spots. I started to get liked by the coaches, and then they wanted me around to take photos, like Coach Arabia, and Coach McMaster.”
So your connections help you?
“Once you get connections, you get bigger and bigger. There was a point in time when I was invited to “Battle at the Beach” down in Ocean City to shoot football there.”
As a student, how do you balance going to so many games for photos while also balancing school work and your social life?
“I try to get the schoolwork out of the way first. I try to get it done as soon as possible so I don’t have to worry about it when I get home. Because when I get home, that’s when I have to edit all the photos and upload all of them. I have people always asking ‘When are the photos gonna be up?’ And like, I have to remind them, I have homework. So that’s why I try to get it done as soon as possible. When it comes to wrestling, I sometimes photograph for my team. I don’t photograph for any other sports (during the season) because I don’t have time. But, it’s kind of hard because as soon as I get home from practice I’m tired, I have to shower, then I have to get to sleep you know. I also have to balance weight cutting (for wrestling). I think it’s a little hard sometimes, you know, but when it comes to homework I try to get it out of the way. Get everything else done first, then go to photography.”
Does your editing process vary? Walk us through your editing process.
“No, it’s the same for most sets of photos. I just start by uploading them to Adobe Lightroom on my computer, and then I just edit them on my phone. I crop them, I make the lighting better, all that stuff. Once I’m done, I go back to my computer, I just download them all, then upload them to Google Drive.”
How long is the editing process?
“Editing, for me, normally takes around- well it depends on how many photos. Say I take 500, it probably takes me an hour and a half, two hours, to edit. And then to upload, it doesn’t take too long, around 30-45 minutes.”
via: @macho.flicks on Instagram
Do you have any favorite photos you’ve taken?
“Oh yeah, I have lots. I guess a lot of it comes from, I believe, soccer and baseball, and some football. Those are probably my three favorite sports to photograph, and where a lot of my favorite photos come from. I like it when they’re in motion, it makes for a cool picture. Baseball is the easiest to do, but I also enjoy football.”
We see that you also take photos of other schools like Cherry Hill High School East. Do you plan on venturing out more with your work?
“Yeah that’s something I wanted to do last year, during the fall, but I was unable to [go to many other schools] so I just stuck with West, East, and Eastern.”
When you continue to do photography after high school, will you do so under Macho Flicks?
“I think I’ll probably stick with Macho Flicks. It’s a little hard because a majority of the followers are Cherry Hill High School West students. So it’s going to be hard to venture out and go do a school like Haddon Heights or something and take pictures there. It’s not going to produce as many likes and shares. Cherry Hill West kids, they’re not gonna care that much about that. And I’ve seen that, I’ve experimented with it with Eastern and East, but I’m just gonna try to build a following and reputation as a freelancer, rather than just a Cherry Hill West photographer.”
via: @macho.flicks on Instagram
Do you plan to do it after high school too?
“I plan to make it a hobby for right now, and just keep that as that, so then later on when I get good at it I can make it a main job.”
Nathan also gave his opinion on certain aspects of photography at West and in the news. As Nathan looks ahead, his journey reflects growth and passion. He shares that the community of photographers in Cherry Hill High School West isn’t about competition but a shared desire to promote school spirit and unity.
You are also a photographer for the Lion’s Roar. Why do you think photography is so important in the news?
“People need a visual. People want to see what you are talking about. Giving them a visual can bring them in and act as a hook to make them more interested. They can see what it’s all about. If you just write out a bunch of words, people might not want to see that. But when they see a picture in the newspaper, that’s what people want to see. They feel like they need to read it.”
Why do you think photography is so popular in Cherry Hill High School West?
“I was inspired by Kenny Dango, who went here a few years ago, and I noticed. Even at Cherry Hill High School East, there were a couple of photography pages that started. So when my page started to get a little bit bigger, that’s when other people started to hop on board. I’m like ‘Oh, that’s sick.’ You know everyone thinks it’s a competition when it’s not. This is just great for the school and great for us. I like to work with these people, and we like to produce content together so it’s fantastic.”
Do you have any advice for anyone starting to get into photography?
“I mean, it’s fun. It’s a lot easier than people make it out to be. We have maybe 5 or 6 photographers just here at our school. I might be the only one in my grade, but I know there are at least two in the grade below me and a lot more people. We are very blessed with how many photographers we have in our school. Mr. Ciavarella, I think he can do a great job at helping them [aspiring photographers] out too, just like he helped me. He let me borrow his camera and was kind of the source [of the photos].”
Our interview with Nathan has provided us with a behind-the-scenes of the photography process. It shows the creative process, his passion for this art, and his ability to balance out school work, photography, and his social life. As Nathan is about to graduate in June, we are excited to see his skills as a photographer continue to grow. We look forward to witnessing the ongoing growth of Macho Flicks and the continued success of Nathan Camacho.