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"It was like a magnetic force was pulling his hand," she said. "I thought it would be good when I took it. I like the perspective, and the light on the flag at the front."
Fowlkes leaned the basics of photography from Kurtin last fall. The experienced artist guided her young student through the mysteries of darkroom chemicals and enlargers and into discussions of composition, photojournalism and art.
"We spent four months -the whole semester. LeAnne is very diligent and hard-working," Kurtin said.
Before heading off, alone, for Washington, D.C., Fowlkes honed her skills at the traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit that was in Franklin last October.
"I knew that Washington on Veterans Day would be an emotional scene," Kurtin said. "I wanted to get her used to taking photographs with people that weren't crowd scenes. We talked about the interaction of people with shrines and about capturing the specific details of people's experience with them."
Fowlkes received both a Gold Key Award and American Visions Award during the regional Scholastic Art Awards, and her photograph advanced to national competition. Should she win in New York, the photo will be on display this summer in Washington, D.C.
While SMHS students have shown well regionally, Fowlkes is the first to have her work sent on to the National Awards Program, said SMHS art teacher Ray Menze.
"LeAnne's photo is striking in composition," Menze said. "It's one image that encapsulates the message of The Wall. Of all her submissions (Fowlkes entered a portfolio), that one stood out."
Fowlkes' senior project grew from her longstanding interest in art. She had intended to take photography as a senior and was disappointed it was not taught at SMHS this year. Her English teacher, Pam Preston, suggested that some aspect of photography might work for a senior project.
The topic selected was Documentary Photography and Photojournalism, Fowlkes said. For her required research paper, she chose "Monumental Art and How It Affects the Public." By photographing visitors interacting with the Vietnam monument, she tied in her photographs to her research.
"Mimi suggested the topic," Fowlkes said. "We were flipping through an article on Maya Lin, the artist who designed the Vietnam memorial, and Mimi suggested monumental art."
Fowlkes' initial interest in The Wall stemmed from an earlier educational experience, a trip as a sophomore to the Holocaust Museum and other sites in Washington, D.C. The Vietnam memorial was the monument in the nation's capital that most impressed her during that visit.
While she was in Washington in November, Fowlkes photographed four veterans who came to pay their respects to their buddy who hadn't returned from Vietnam. Without any advance planning, the four all came at the same time.
"I took a picture of all four pointing to the same name," Fowlkes said.
"Everywhere she went, veterans were totally impressed that LeAnne was interested," Kurtin said. "They were so proud the younger generation hadn't forgotten them."
To complete senior project requirements, Fowlkes spent time with her mentor, wrote a research paper and did an oral presentation judged by a panel from the community. SMHS began requiring the projects three years ago.
"One of the things that impressed me about LeAnne and her project is that she wasn't all that happy about it at first," said English teacher Preston. "She did her share of whining and grousing."
But over the course of the semester, Preston said, Fowlkes' attitude changed dramatically.
"I watched her enthusiasm grow so much," Preston said. "LeAnne ended up with a senior project that was almost like a calling, and she does think she'll turn it into a career. When she brought her story boards in at the end, I remember how impressed the other students were and how proud she was. LeAnne really exemplified the thing we most hope for in our students -that they'll become impressed with their own competence."
Fowlkes was chosen to speak to some of the seniors who are doing their projects this semester, Preston said, and she told her classmates how important it was to select a topic that mattered to them.
"More and more we're getting students that pick things that interest them, rather than something just to get by," said Preston. Those are the students that have positive experiences," she said.
Smoky Mountain's faculty and staff are grateful to the community for its support of senior projects, Preston said.
"We couldn't do it without their support and willingness to serve as mentors," she said.
Helping with Fowlkes' project was Kurtin's first experience with serving as a senior project mentor.
"I'm so impressed with senior projects like LeAnne's," Kurtin said. "Having this kind of opportunity to have a hands-on experience in a learning situation can lead to a career."
The success of Fowlkes' photo, said SMHS Principal Kenny Nicholson, just "goes to show that senior projects can lead to many worthwhile things.
"LeAnne's project is a fine example of what can happen when we encourage students to follow their dreams," said Superintendent Mack McCary. "I wish every project could produce such outstanding results, but I take the same pleasure when young people show they're capable of achieving something that no one else realized they were capable of doing -sometimes surprising even themselves. Senior projects were begun to give students a taste of real life and a better transition to real life, and I think that's certainly the case with this project."
McCary echoed Preston's appreciation of the role the community plays in successful senior projects.
"It's not just parents and teachers. The community plays an important role in helping kids pursue achievable dreams," McCary said.
Fowlkes has been accepted both at N.C. State University in Raleigh and at the University of Colorado at Boulder. While she is undecided about where she will attend college, she plans a major in mass communications or photojournalism.
In addition to photography, Fowlkes' other artistic pursuits include drawing and painting, she said, and her favorite artist is Edgar Degas.
Fowlkes is the daughter of Sam and Marie Fowlkes of Cope Creek.
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