Like everyone, my summer this year was a bit chaotic, yet I found a sense of serenity in the art of film photography. These photos date back to March 23, 2020 and run all the way through August.

This pseudo summer started in mid-March. I had just gotten back from Kairos retreat. We got the news everything had shut down and so would school. Everything was shut down; everyone wearing masks in the blink of an eye. In a three day period, our lives were flipped upside down.

Hectic lines at the pharmacy and grocery stores created a nationwide panic as there was no bread milk or eggs in supermarkets. Necessities like toilet paper, paper towels, batteries, and disinfectants were taken like they never existed. Families all concerned amid the pandemic.

Gas prices were at an all-time low for the first time in 15 years. This is Kroger on Harrison Ave. in Bridgetown, Ohio. At this moment I knew something was up. Students were told of a possible return to school on May 1, but from seeing the sights around me I knew it was going to be later than that.

Times were getting tougher by the day. My dad, Mr. Mike Schlomer is a volunteer coach at MSJ for the Men’s Volleyball program. This is a few days before their season started: all of the team on a zoom call in the afternoon chatting about how to revive their season. No hope in sight.

Enjoying the little things in a time of unknown is essential. I spent many nights taking destination-less drives to and from my house and I even drove to Columbus and back.

Friends: While on lockdown, friend Adam Duwel and I helped film captain videos for the Cross Country Team. He let me tag along to take some shots. Nice of him.

Pictured: Kevin Schenkel (center) Adam Duwel (right)

Under the categorize of friends, I have friends that don’t go to Elder. Kaden, Jack, Jacob, and Jonah. In 2016, the app Pokemon GO died a painful death. In the boredom of 2020 there was only one thing to do, relive the best summer of our lives. Go to Chick-Fil-A every day, then go to our local park, Veterans Park, and play the game that changed our lives.

Just kids being kids. There is nothing better than soliciting a public park while chasing magical beasts that run rampant on your phone and not in real life. Shortly after Kaden (right) got into an argument about who could throw a rock the furthest.

The old stomping grounds. Walking around Veterans Park I realized that I played a lot of ball here. Being a senior, I tried to snag a frame or two for my senior photo of where I used to hit absolute missiles. I realized from this frame that my jorts are too high on my legs. (previously bought the wrong inseam)

As we were throwing rocks and catching Pokemon, I found someone’s half-smoked joint and thought it was interesting. This happened to be one of my favorite photos from the rolls that I took.

At the park in the kid area, there was a giant shade that looked like a hammock. we tried to climb on top of it because it looked pretty secure. This is another one of my favorite frames because it depicts the recklessness of teenagers and defines Kaden. Dangerous. Nobody ended up going on top of the shade.

Instead of climbing on the shade, here is a grown man coming down a kiddie slide. Kaden had too much fun with this. It concerns me a wee bit.

I met a girl. This is Audrey. She just graduated and is going to UC this fall. She is my neighbor and I thought I should invite her to hang with my group. She is really funny and I had a great time shooting these.

Told you she is funny!

Overall despite a global pandemic, this has been one of the best summers of my life. hanging with all of my closest neighborhood friends and just being kids again before we all head off on our own paths, whether that be college, trade, or gap year. Love y’all

Gallery • 50 Photos

Gus Schlomer '21

Veterans Park Hill. Mid April