A thank you for Michael Clark

To the editor:
    I was pleased to read that Michael Clark was honored for his service to his community. It is truly deserved. Mr. Clark was my first photography teacher. He must have had to keep a ridiculous schedule in order to teach a course at Southern Aroostook Community School in Dyer Brook twice a week!
    Without the benefit of equipment — like a darkroom or single-lense reflex cameras — Mr. Clark was still able to teach the mechanics of photography. But more importantly, he taught us about composition, playing with light in unusual ways, and fine art in general. He had to teach across a broad spectrum; some students wanted to pursue sports work, while other were interested in portraiture. He instilled in me a lifelong love of photography, art, and graphic design that has led to a career in newspapers and magazines.
    I’d like to share one story he told the class that just cracked me up. Vandals had been spray-painting grafitti on the window of his storefront, and he was getting sick of it. He began hiding out in the store in the evening hours, crouching in wait, camera in hand, flash warmed up. When the vandals returned, he jumped up and shot their photo. That day Mr. Clark taught us to use our cameras as tools of justice.
    From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Mr. Clark.
Jennifer Hersey Cleveland
Barton, Vt