When I first saw Jared’s work, I thought he had learned much about creativity and art. After meeting with him and looking at some of the photos he sent me this morning, I realized I had it backward. I have a lot to learn from him.

These photos are from a video game Jared – a senior in Sue Silverstein’s art class at Bishop Gibbons High School in  Schenectady, New York  – took recently. I asked him to please send me photos he was taking that spoke to the source of his creativity, and if it were okay with him, I’d post them on my blog.

They took these two photos directly from Gran Turismo 7, a video game focused on auto car racing. As is always the case with successful video games, the graphics are vivid, beautiful, and beyond any pictures that Jared and young people his age have ever seen.

Although people under 18 make up only 38 percent of American video gamers, these games have a powerful effect on the imagination and creativity of younger creatives like Jared.

The games are often interactive, played with and against others, and increasingly allow users to edit, change, or add their voices to the game. Jared can even change the dialogue.

The games are more intense and affect almost anything they see in school. It feels like the gaming experience has given Jared a chance to re-image photography and design. He’s attending a tech/design college in the fall and credits video games with inspiration.

I have to give Sue Silverstein, who I greatly admire, the wisdom to spot this new and powerful kind of creativity in Jared and give him the tools and the encouragement to experiment.

I like his idea of respecting and noticing the fabulous color in these games and trying to incorporate this comparatively new culture into his photography. The color in these photos is striking.

He and I hit it off. He is impressive and very, very creative. Sue can spot this gift by now; she has been teaching for 24 years. She encouraged me to meet Jared and promised I wouldn’t regret it. I sure don’t.

I’m encouraging Jared to start a blog and display some of his work long before I met him. We are in touch, and he promises to keep the photos and other creative work coming.

Below is his idea about using vintage clothing to re-imagine himself as a “tough guy.” He is, in fact, consistently courteous and shy. His work is anything but.

I enjoyed my conversation with Jared last week, and I hope we stay in touch. I hope to teach him one or two things, but I imagine the bulk of the learning will come the other way.

Jared emerges from a robust new culture that few educators or adults notice. I hear much clucking about these games and how violent and addictive they are, but I hear little about their creativity and influence of the game’s creators and users.

Jared, who wants to be a photographer and digital designer, is the future. It’s exciting to know him.