Picture perfect | Roanoke College

Growing up, Molly McCormick ’08 was always the “kid with a camera,” photographing little childhood moments offered from a vast world. It’s no surprise that as the years progressed, McCormick continued to photograph personal moments, leading her to explore what the art form had to offer for more than just herself. 

At Roanoke College, McCormick studied art, solidifying her “love for photography.” While spending innumerable hours in Olin Hall’s darkroom, she learned the valuable lesson that patience brings beauty, one press of the shutter button at a time.

After graduating with a B.A. in art, McCormick traveled to Tanzania where her appreciation of photography took a deeper dive into landscape and wildlife shots, a type of photography that relies on her foundation of patience.

“Every time I’ve tried to ‘get the shot,’ the day never truly turns out as I planned,” said McCormick. “That’s the best part though; you never know what Mother Nature is going to toss your way. My best shots are those unplanned.”

For McCormick, her drive to “get the shot” is rooted in pathos.

“To me, the perfect shot is one that evokes emotion,” said McCormick. “I want people to look at one of my photos and feel like they are right there in that moment.”  

There is one “perfect shot” during her 14-year career that stands out to McCormick. While exploring Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park, McCormick was set up to capture the varying sunrise hues reflected off the lake. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a brown bear entering the frame. It was a moment in time that stood still.

“It made me incredibly emotional, and it was an important reminder of how lucky I am to witness moments like that, let alone capture it with my lens to share with the world,” McCormick said.

That photograph, titled “Misty Morning,” has indeed caught the world’s attention. McCormick has been featured in National Geographic, Outdoor Photographer, Rolling Stone, and National Parks Magazine. McCormick has also earned a variety of awards including Alaska Travel’s 2021 grand prize, Share the View’s 2020 first prize, and National Geographic’s 2020 “Beyond the Frame” grand prize, her proudest accomplishment thus far.