Ethan Tuttle

He spent a week making calls just to get through the door — and it was worth it.

Keith Joseph is the student photographer behind a set of viral photos taken at Blue Bayou Waterpark. The shoot featured a local high school football team, and the images eventually landed on ESPN's platform — reaching hundreds of thousands of people.

Getting there wasn't easy. Joseph said he had to go through a friend, a manager, and several rounds of emails before he finally got access to the park.

But once he did, the photos spoke for themselves.

Joseph isn't new to thinking outside the box. He's taken his camera to football fields, the zoo, Top Golf, and beyond — all in an effort to stand out from the crowd.

"I just want to be different," he said.

When ESPN picked up the work, Joseph said the reaction hit him harder than he expected. He said he almost cried.

This fall, he heads to the University of Louisiana — and says he plans to keep shooting sports and events along the way. He credits his parents for making it all possible.