OTHELLO — When she catches a glimpse of her daughter’s work on TV, Dora Vargas doesn’t see the bright lights or the awards.
She remembers a 14-year-old girl with big ideas, asking her to hold a camera light steady while her daughter photographed her classmates’ senior portraits around the rural town of Othello.
“Sometimes I feel like I’m in a dream,” Vargas said. “Things pop up about her, and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is really my daughter. This is her. This is my kid.’ “
Now 31 years old, Bethany Vargas, a Latina photographer and director born and raised in Othello, has become a creative force behind some of pop culture’s biggest visuals. This includes Grammy-nominated indie pop band the Marías’ album cover for “Submarine.” They are most known for their songs “Heavy” and “Run Your Mou