USS KEARSARGE- Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Parker, a mass communication specialist from Eugene, Oregon who is assigned to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, won the 2022 Navy Photographer of the Year. This competition honors excellence among Navy photographers and fosters an environment of innovation and growth, leading to effective military communication across the world.
Parker graduated from Sheldon High School in 2020 and later joined the Navy. Parker has served in the Navy for over three years, two of them as a Navy photographer.
“I joined the Navy to further develop my skills as a photographer,” said Parker. “The Navy provided a unique experience right out of high school that felt unmatched to any other jobs that were available to me.”
Parker appreciates the opportunities they have experienced as a mass communications specialist and the people they have photographed.
“There’s a responsibility when you hold a camera in the Navy,” says Parker. “It’s on you to accurately tell the stories of the sailors around you who sacrifice everything for their job.”
Being a Navy photographer has taught Parker the importance of serving.
“Service to me means sacrifice,” says Parker. “When I first joined the military I didn’t fully understand the sacrifice that comes with service. Being stationed on the East Coast across the country from my family and friends has been hard. I have missed big life moments to do what I do. Every time I come home, my dad looks older, my sisters grow taller and my home feels different. Nothing could have prepared me for that. My appreciation for my fellow sailor’s service and my responsibility to continue the legacy of the service men and women who made that sacrifice before me has since become unmeasurable.”
Parker's proudest accomplishment is being named the 2022 Navy Photographer of the Year.
Parker's proudest accomplishment is being named the 2022 Navy Photographer of the Year.
“From the moment I joined it was a goal of mine to make waves within the creative community I’m in,” added Parker. “I felt like I had something to give to the Navy that was unique. I achieved what I set out to do and can look back proud that I gave it my all.”