Senator hosts photography contest for students

In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, New York State Sen. Dean Murray (R, C -3rd District) is holding a photography contest for students grades 9 through 12.

Original submissions will be accepted through Wednesday, April 1, and must be sent via email to Murray’s office as a JPEG, JPG, or PNG file.

The photograph should be taken in the student’s local hometown or school district in the third district. The participant’s photograph must fall under one of the following categories:

Hometown Pride

Use of nature and/or architecture to highlight a Revolutionary War-era location or landmark.

America Through the Decades

Use of nostalgic or historic props from any decade to evoke the enduring sense of American freedom.

What Freedom Means to You

Use of the participant’s open-ended imagination to capture a personalized interpretation of the American Revolution and/or American Liberty.

“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, I am proud to host a photography contest in the 3rd Senate District that highlights the beauty, history, and spirit of our communities. The arts are a powerful way to interpret and document history, and photography allows participants to capture their own unique perspective through the lens; while showcasing local landmarks, highlighting our freedoms, and evoking the emotions and stories that define our nation. I hope this contest inspires our high school students to take part in this historic celebration and proudly express their patriotism through their creativity,” said Murray.

Local Patchogue arts leaders also praised the contest and the use of photography as a medium.

Executive director of the Patchogue Arts Council (PAC), Beth Giacummo, said, “Artists have always played a vital role in documenting history, capturing not only events, but the emotion, identity, and lived experience of a moment in time. At PAC, we see the arts as essential to preserving community memory and amplifying the many perspectives that shape our collective story. Photography is especially meaningful because it allows students to explore themes like hometown pride, freedom, and American history through their own lens. It is also one of the most accessible creative tools available to young people today. In a world shaped by visual media, this contest offers students a powerful opportunity to use a familiar part of their everyday lives to create with purpose, express their point of view, and contribute to the ongoing story of their communities.”

Local photographer Benny Migliorino said, “Photography has always played a powerful role in documenting American and New York history. Long before smartphones and social media, photographers were capturing the moments that would later define entire generations—everything from everyday life in small towns to major historical events. What makes photography so important is that it preserves both the big stories and the quiet moments that might otherwise be forgotten.

A photography contest like this is especially meaningful because it allows many different perspectives to be shared. Every photographer sees the world a little differently, and when students point their cameras at their hometowns, they’re not just taking pictures—they’re documenting their community, their culture, and the moments that define where they live. Years from now, those images may become an important visual record of what life in this place and time looked like.”

Migliorino’s advice to students was to keep things simple and photograph what felt authentic to them, not just what people expect to see.

“Great photographs often come from slowing down, observing carefully, and capturing something that tells a story,” said Migliorino.