City snapshots earn Owen Dominguez ’27 photography scholarship
For Owen Dominguez ’27, photography is not just a skill or a hobby, it’s a way of life. During his time as a Clarkie, taking photos has allowed Dominguez to connect with people on and off campus, creating images that earned him a scholarship from the Griffin Museum of Photography.
“Photography has helped me think differently about the world around me,” says Dominguez. “I love to walk around, and the camera motivates me. If I have nothing else to do, I might as well find something interesting to photograph.”
When Dominguez toured Clark as a high schooler, he met Photography Professor Stephen DiRado while viewing the Traina Center. The media, culture, and the arts major recalls thinking that Clark felt like “the perfect place” to start his career as a photographer.
This fall, Dominguez received a 2026 New England Portfolio Review Scholarship from the Griffin Museum of Photography, which recognizes both emerging and established photographers. He was nominated by Visual and Performing Arts Professor Sherry Freyermuth.
“I was completely shocked,” says Dominguez, who previously took Freyermuth’s Portfolio Development class.
Dominguez, who grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, says taking photos helped him adjust to life at Clark and in Worcester. He enjoys the challenge of approaching strangers and asking to take their photo, as it gives him an opportunity to make new friends.
“Almost everybody I’ve met has been like, ‘Yeah, take my picture,’” says Dominguez, whose style can be categorized as street photography. “It’s been really inspiring to see how many people are excited about the camera the same way I am.”
This exercise resulted in several photographs of people playing basketball and enjoying University Park, just across from campus — images that helped Dominguez earn the scholarship.
“I try to capture Worcester in a way that I wish other people could see,” he says. “I think it’s an amazing place to photograph, with compelling people and interesting-looking triple-decker houses.” Dominguez, who is co-president of the Clark Photo Society, hopes to create a book or showcase of his University Park photos. One of the photos, titled “Pickup in the Park,” was displayed earlier this year in the 21st Annual ArtsWorcester College Show.
Dominguez will next train his lens on Japan, where he will study in the spring 2026 semester. “I hope to photograph as much as I can,” he says.
Dominguez got his first camera around age 10 and became serious about taking photos as a junior in high school, photographing the school soccer team and his friends.
“I’m often drawn to people playing basketball because sports were such an important part of my life, and that’s how I got into photography,” he says.
After graduating next year, Dominguez wants to work full-time as a photographer, preferably in New England, a place he enjoys exploring. “I want to support myself, and get my work and my name out there,” he says.
Dominguez encourages anyone with an interest in photography to give it a shot.
“You don’t need an expensive camera. Anybody can do it, and I think everybody should do it,” he says.
“It’s one of the best hobbies to connect to what’s around you, whether it is your friends or just random people you meet. Art in general is so important here at Clark.”
