Senior Amy Burna has created a strong presence in the photography scene at Oak Park and River Forest High School. 

Burna has worked her way up to a prominent place in Tabula, the school yearbook, in addition to  developing her photography skills through classes.  

Burna joined Tabula as a junior, but she had previously taken the classes Photo 1 and 2 her sophomore year. “That’s really when I started finding my passion,” said Burna. “We did black and white film then, but I started loving taking photos of everything.”

Her interest for photography didn’t start there, though. “It kind of started during COVID – I mean, I feel like a lot of people found hobbies during that time,” she said. “I just picked up photography because it was something easy to do.” 

Now, as a senior, Burna is not only a photographer for Tabula, but also a daily image coordinator, meaning that she is there to stress deadlines and make sure other photographers are getting their jobs done. 

“Amy is the kind of person that I know I can talk to in a professional way and she will be able to understand and move quickly to get the job done,” said Valerie White, the teacher who oversees photography and design for Tabula. “I know I can count on her to help others get their work complete as well.” 

Lucy Siegel, the other daily image coordinator, said, “[Amy] is one of my best friends, but also she has the same motivation as me – I really like to get things done and to have them done well, and I feel like Amy is such a dedicated and devoted worker, not just about photography, but especially about photography.”

The job requires not only artistic and technical expertise but social skills. While out taking pictures of some of the engineering classes for the academics spread of the yearbook, Burna worked with teachers and students to capture compelling moments. “In Tabula, we’re forced to communicate with other people in the building and outside the building to get those perfect shots, and I think that is a life skill that I’ll use a ton later in life,” said Burna. 

To Burna, her photography isn’t just about the image but also the story and emotion behind it. “I think one of my favorite photos is actually one I took of Lucy at Orchesis. I think the most important photos to me are the ones that capture the most emotion,” said Burna. “The photo I took really showcases her talent, but also the amount of emotion in the piece.”

“I think she has a very good eye – and like everyone takes photos – but it takes a special type of person with a special type of eye to be able to take a photo where you go like ‘wow, that is something else’ and I think she has it,” said Siegel. “She has a very special, unique style that it’s so about the story, rather than just the photo or the moment. It’s about what it makes you feel.”

Burna has contributed many photos to the yearbook. “She has fun taking photos, and her work shows the students of OPRFHS in a very clear and real way,” said White. But this chapter of her photography journey will come to an end with graduation.

She plans to continue photography, though. “In the last couple years it’s been such a big part of my life, that yeah, I would hope to continue it in college,” Burna said. 

Her biggest advice to artists is to “believe in yourself. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t believe that you deserve to be there.”