By Samantha Sinclair
CNI News Service
The Rev. Dr. Randy Kanipe takes one photography class at a time at North Georgia Technical College. And it was while working on an assignment for a class that he captured the photo that won The Mountain Traveler magazine cover contest and earned him $100.
For the class assignment, he took a trip to Black Rock Mountain State Park in Rabun County in November 2024. He was taking photos of fall leaves when he wanted to try to get some photos of the mountains. But, there were a lot of people there, and his goal was to get a photo with everyone looking at the mountains and the changing leaves, not him. As soon as he saw his moment, he started snapping. Then, this summer, when he saw the opportunity to enter The Mountain Traveler cover contest, he went back to the photos he took when the leaves were showing their fall colors, including one of those quick shots of people at the overlook taking in the view.
“I’ve never been published before, so this is cool,” Kanipe said.
Kanipe moved to Habersham County from Blue Ridge in February, taking over pastor responsibilities at Cornelia United Methodist Church, which had just merged with Grace United Methodist Church. He’s served in ministry for 35 years, spending his career in communities throughout North Georgia.
He grew up in Hendersonville, N.C., and loves it here because of the atmosphere, air, the people, the history, the geology and, of course, the mountains.
“I grew up in the mountains, and I’ve always enjoyed it,” Kanipe said.
A little over a year ago, he got a Nikon D7500, and he’s been taking classes at NGTC to learn more about using the camera.
“I’ve always loved photography, but never did anything professionally with it,” Kanipe said.
He’s been doing photography for his own enjoyment, and taking one class a semester to learn more, but he said he’s been encouraged to work toward earning yet another diploma. He said everyone at the college is very patient with him, and couldn’t speak higher of his professor, Melissa Henderson, the department and the equipment the school has available to students.
“It’s an amazing department,” Kanipe said. “I learned how to do this there. I couldn’t do it without them.”