Lexi Helburn is a quiet young woman, but her creative juices never stop flowing. The Huntington High School senior possesses an abundance of artistic talent and she’s reaching new heights under the guidance of teacher Pamela Piffard-Williams in an Advanced Placement Studio Art: 2-D Design Portfolio class.
The well-spoken Ms. Helburn chooses her words carefully and speaks in soft tones. She went 10-5 in No. 3 singles for the Blue Devil tennis team last fall, garnering All-League recognition. The teenager came to Huntington from Westchester as a freshman.
As a Huntington junior, Ms. Helburn used her photographic talents to help the Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society assist Community Cloud Forest Conservation, a non-profit organization in Guatemala that provides scholarships for the Mayan young women to continue education through the Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation program.
A collection of Ms. Helburn’s photos highlighting the beauty of fall and of wildlife in and around Long Island Sound was exhibited at the Cold Spring Harbor Library. Those contributing to the Huntington-Oyster Bay Audubon Society’s program where able to take photos home with them.
While Ms. Helburn has been using a camera since an early age, prior to enrolling in Huntington High School, the teenager didn’t have any technical training, instead learning through trial and error.
The senior enjoys traveling with her family. She plans to study psychology at SUNY College at Oneonta.
Photography teacher Pam Piffard-Williams on Lexi Helburn . . .
“Lexi is a creative and hardworking photography student. She is producing a beautiful series of architectural images taken in New York City. Her portfolio looks professional, well developed and artistic. I am throughly impressed with the results and so happy with her dedication.”
Questions and Answers with Lexi Helburn
Q: What initially got you interested in photography?
Lexi Helburn: “I saw things in a different way and wanted to capture them in a creative way and express my work.
Q: What is your favorite thing to photograph?
Lexi Helburn: “I like photographing unique architecture and portraits.”
Q: How did you come up with the idea for your AP portfolio project?
Lexi Helburn: I realized that I like taking pictures of architecture aside from portraits and I liked the idea of finding unique buildings that define their shape, lines, shadows, and patterns.
Q: Who or what inspires you?
Lexi Helburn: “My dad inspires me because he’s very supportive and is supportive towards my work.”
Q: What have you gained from the Huntington High School photography program?
Lexi Helburn: I’ve been able to express my work in creative ways through the process of my AP project through writing and inspiration.
