Highlands High School has seen many talented kids over the years in the journalism and publications classes. In 2021, while a new class started their high school journey, the publications program gained a skilled photographer.
This photographer had a great three years with the program, pursuing his photography and making a significant impact on new students.
This alum is Liam Downie, a skillful photographer continuing his career at WKU (Western Kentucky University). He is currently a Sophomore at WKU, working for their athletics program as a sports photographer. Downie plans on continuing to work within athletics for the rest of his college career, and to hopefully graduate and move onto bigger things as a professional sports team photographer or a member of a media team.
Downie started getting serious about photography after he received his first photography award; from then on, he hasn’t stopped taking pictures. He started from the bottom of the Highlands program and has worked his way to the top.
“The Highlands program pushed me out into photography. I never had an interest in photography going into high school, but I did sports… when my teacher made me go take pictures at sporting events, that’s when I started getting into photography and got more interested in learning the skills of picture taking,” Downie said.
Being a photographer isn’t all fun and games; there are challenges and often struggles that come with operating the equipment. However, with time and hard work, practice makes perfect. Downie’s challenges included not being able to get the right shots during an event, blurry shots, and not being able to get a media pass for certain events.
Even though Downie has taken many pictures at various events his most memorable was back at his hometown high school football stadium, shooting for the Covington Catholic vs Highlands football game on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025.
Downie got an opportunity his freshman year of college, freshly out of high school after shooting for the WKU vs UK baseball game. The head sports photographer of WKU saw his work and gave him a job opportunity which he is currently involved in..
Downie looks forward to his future outside of college, but he is also excited to see where the Highlands Journalism program takes off. After all, the program is what started everything for Downie. The Hilltopper helped him find his love and talent for photography, and how challenging the skill can be, which only pushed him more.
“When I started the journalism program was small, the gear wasn’t the best, and not really picture heavy. As I went through the program, the gear got better and the program grew.” Downie said.
The program appreciates Downie for the impact he had on the Highlands Publications program, and is remembered especially by the photographers following in his footsteps.
