A Boy and His Camera: 16-Year-Old Noah Clooten Joins DLJ
Don’t adjust your screen…. I mean your newspaper. There is another new member of the Journal. Give a big warm Devils Lake welcome to 16-year-old Noah Clooten. A high school student at Devils Lake High School, Clooten will be on the beat covering sports for the paper. You might’ve already seen his fantastic photos from the football game in the Thursday, September 14 issue.
The middle child of three, he was born in Alaska, but spent most of his life growing up in Wahpeton, ND. He and his family moved to Devils Lake last month when his dad, Ned, accepted a position as superintendent of the schools here. “The move was short notice,” Clooten said. “It was rapid but it went well… There’s still some stuff I got to know. Kids at school have helped me to get used to the place as well.”
Clooten’s passion for photography and videography came when he borrowed his mom’s Fuji film camera. “I would do vlogs as a kid,” he said. Of course, as his passion for photography grew, so did the cameras and the cost. The current equipment bag he carries with his Lumix G95 camera, his drone camera, and additional accessories cost him about $2500 to $3000. How did he get the money you ask? He sold his dirt bike.
The hard work has paid off. Clooten has formed his own business, Clooten Films. He has filmed short vignettes, and taken high-quality photographs of cars, trucks, sporting events, and more.
As for being a newbie to Devils Lake, so far Clooten has positive words to say about the town. “It’s bigger than Wahpeton. I love the lakes… The landscape is prettier [than Wahpeton].”
Make sure to follow Noah Clooten’s photography and videography on Instagram at @Clooten_films. If you need any photo or video shoots done, reach out to him!
—
Andrew Benjamin
