I met staff photographer Kelton Chen on a Sidekick Minecraft server, named “Sidecraft,” an ordinary multiplayer world, or as we see it, a world of chaos and fun.
I’d see him flying around the world using an elytra wearing all the best armor wondering how he got it within a week of the server’s creation, while I was still figuring out my plan for my first build.
Our friendship really grew when we started focusing on the mechanics of the game. He started showing me the basics of Minecraft combat because of course, I was absolutely terrible at getting good hits.
He taught me that getting a win in combat is about the rhythm of the clicks and the specific timing of the critical hits commonly called “crits.”
We spent an hour almost every weekend on the server as he taught me to improve my skills in combat rather than just terraforming the land around the server all day.
Outside of Minecraft, our conversations shifted toward a completely different type of technical skill: photography. I had access to a professional Canon R6 camera because I had the ability to check one out from class, but I was mostly shooting on the camera settings as I found it, hoping for the best.
Kelton changed that.
He sat me down and walked me through the actual settings of the camera. He explained how to change the shutter speed and ISO to get the best photo possible. He talked about how the depth of a photo subject could make the overall photo pop and how adjusting the shutter speed could change the entire photo itself.
Because of those lessons, my shots started looking like actual photography rather than just blurry frames. Although I may have forgotten some of the settings he recommended, I was glad to learn from him.
It has been less than a year since we started hanging out and I’m really glad I’ve gotten to know him, even if it was just a little bit.
Whether debating the best way to battle or scroll through a camera’s settings, the bond was always there.
Kelton, the Sidecraft server and my photography sessions are going to feel a lot quieter without your input. Good luck studying pre-med in college. I know you’ll go beyond your best in the future.
Follow @CHSCampusNews on X.
