About Ellery Dake

There are few images more intriguing than the human form for young photographer Ellery Dake.

Click on photo for larger image.

"People are what I find most interesting," she said.

One of those people is her 10-year-old sister, who acted as the model for Dake's award-winning photograph. Dake admits that asking her sister to relax for the picture was no easy task.

"I was trying to get her to look natural. She doesn't like taking photos," Ellery said.

A 12-year-old student at The Nueva School in Hillsborough, Ellery's interest in photography only became serious in January. She uses her camera as much as possible and develops the pictures herself. Although photographing people is her primary interest, she's found enjoyment in taking pictures of architecture as well, she said.

The sixth-grader also spends time traveling, reading and writing. She'll likely find plenty of use for her camera this summer, as she'll be traveling to Stratford-upon-Avon in England -- the birthplace of William Shakespeare. She'll also visit Brazil and Chile, and spend time taking a History of Mathematics course at Stanford University.

Despite her busy summer schedule, she plans to find the time to enjoy her hobby as a photographer.
"I think I'm always going to have fun taking pictures," she said.

-- Tyler Hanley