About Deyola Adekunle

It would be too easy to call it beginner's luck. Deyola Adekunle took this photo, of her best friend Camille, for her first assignment in her first-ever photography class.

Adekunle, 18, hadn't considered herself an artist before. Instead, she was focused on international business. The class was fulfilling a school requirement.

Click on photo for larger image.

"My generation especially there's a focus on becoming something - like a doctor," she said.

Taking the photograph, and winning third place in the Weekly's contest, "It makes you think there's something to be said for arts and being successful in them." A senior at Castilleja School, Adekunie will be attending Georgetown University in the fall. She plans to take more photography classes.

This picture was taken in Camille's home as it was being remodeled in September. The class assignment was to focus on lighting. The juxtaposition of the soft figure and the hard sheetrock makes for a beguiling image.

"I love the focus of it," Adekunle said. "I think there's a lot of texture - I think that adds a lot to the picture."