Kamal Browne was 7 years old when he picked up a camera for the first time, and back then the now-17-year-old from Laurel didn’t get a snapshot of how taking pictures would become a passion.

But a photography course last year at Reservoir High School helped the junior develop a knack for photography and earlier this week his efforts paid off as he was named the 7th Congressional District’s winner of An Artistic Discovery, an national art competition for high school students sponsored by the U.S. Congress.

Browne won with a photo collage titled, “Growth,” which depicts human movement. The work will be on display in the U.S. Capitol and Browne will compete for national honors this summer with other winning artists from congressional districts.

“It’s a great honor, and it helps me get recognition by putting me out more,” said Browne, who hopes of becoming a photojournalist.  “I started really getting serious about [photography] last year when I took a photo class.”

He said that last year he knew he was onto something with photography when his teachers were so impressed with his work they had it displayed alongside other students’ work in an exhibit at Columbia Mall. “Then I really took to it,” he said.

Reservoir High School principal Adrianne Kaufman said that the junior should improve his craft more when he enrolls in an advanced placement photography class next school year. “He’s a humble student,” said Kaufman of Browne, “and in his own mind he never thought he would win. It’s always nice with a student that humble receives such an incredible honor.”