The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways middle school students utilized visual photographing literacies during a participatory action research project as they jointly investigated factors that support and/or hinder students' academic success. Research questions included: (a) How do Sage Middle School (pseudonym) students perceive what supports or hinders students' academic success in school; and (b) In what ways do Sage Middle School students engage in visual photographing literacies to express and reflect on the factors that support or hinder students' academic success? Analysis indicated students felt their own attitudes and hard work, their teachers, other students, and appropriate and ample instructional resources could support or hinder their academic success. Findings from this research can be used by educators and educational researchers to aid in the development of interventions to improve students' perceptions of their learning environment; in particular, what they believe supports and hinders their academic success.