How I See It — My Place
Santa Monica
This photo of a smaller group of our photographers was taken during one of our excursions. Front Row (from left to right): Jose Sepulveda, Grace Smith (photographer), Chloe Cipolla, Stephanie Jaco, Welela Makonnen, Chanel Casas Back Row (from left to right): Alex Sepulveda, Keshia Nash, Lupita Lerma, Gabriela Ruiz, Chelsea Palmer
An Uncommon View. Candace Narvaez chooses the uncommon view by taking the shot at ground level.
Photographers in Action. At the beach and on the stairs, these photographers find many interesting angles and perspectives for a good photograph. In photo (from left, back, right): Lupita Lerma, Jose Sepulveda, Welela Makonnen, Chanel Casas, Chloe Cipolla, Gabriela Ruiz, Chelsea Palmer, Stephanie Jaco
The Exhibit: A Second Look. Photographer Grace Smith (left) takes a look at the students’ (and her own!) hard work.
Welcome to Our Exhibit. Teen Volunteers Yekun Ding and Kylie Plever greet guests of the exhibit with program booklets and a smile.
Exhibit Photos. These blue display boards were used at the exhibit and were also placed in the Main Library lobby for one week after the exhibit opening.
Behind the Scenes
This photo was taken during the opening of our exhibit at the Library.
Front Row (from left to right): Grace Smith (photographer), Candace Narvaez, Bella Carey, Natalie Yadegar, Chloe Cipolla, Jose Sepulveda, Alex Sepulveda, Erica Cuyugan (librarian)
Back Row (from left to right: Chelsea Palmer, Lupita Lerma, Stephanie Jaco, Gabriela Ruiz, Keshia Nash, Welela Makonnen, Chanel Casas
Seeing the beauty in ordinary things was a strong theme in this photography and writing project. Teens documented everyday objects and landscapes and wrote thoughtful pieces about their photographs. The exhibit and collection of photos came together under the theme “A Second Look: Teens Exploring Santa Monica.” But taking a second look is not only about noticing beauty, it is also about noticing the complexity of our community. It means noticing the new alongside the old, the rich landscapes next to dilapidated structures, the beautiful parks and beaches and the litter on its floors. It is only when we look beyond the surface, and look again, that we notice the other hidden meanings. During the project, many teens asked themselves, “What does this mean to ME?” and explored their feelings through poetry and prose. Others searched through historical content asking, “What did this mean to OTHERS?” and commented on how the past affects their present. In 10 short weeks, our participants explored many other questions and came away with a better understanding of their community and their world.
Although we only explored up to six square blocks of the downtown Santa Monica area, each excursion yielded such a variety of photographs and subjects. From construction sites, to the outdoor mall, to the beach, to the library, we documented a very busy and very important part of our city.
Snap and Pose. Chloe Cipolla (left) and Natalie Yadegar (right) pose and photograph an interesting and colorful hat booth on the Third Street Promenade.
Several issues emerged from the teens’ photographs including sustainability (recycling and alternate transportation), consumerism, homelessness, trash, and smoking. Since many photographs did not make it into the final exhibit, I found that the process of choosing final photographs was one of the most interesting (and challenging) parts of this project. Each photographer took this process seriously and grappled with which ones to show—we went from choosing about 15-20 photos each, after several rounds, narrowing them down to the final 5. The teens traded feedback on their photos and really thought about how to craft their writing pieces. While some teens were not as prolific as others when it came to the writing part, all of them learned the importance of describing and expressing themselves through words, as well as through photography.
Focused. Keshi Nash (left) and Welela Makonnen (right) are intently focused on getting
just the right shot.
The theme “A Second Look” not only applies to the teens’ photography, but also the teens themselves. Often people are quick to judge the actions and reactions of teenagers, and many make assumptions regarding their behavior. But when one takes the time to really get to know a young person, it is amazing to discover how much talent, insight, and creativity lies within. The How I See It: My Place program offers the community a glimpse into what Santa Monica teens find important about the city in which they live. This exhibit demands community members to open their minds to the observations and opinions of our youth. It acknowledges the importance of providing a space for such expression and sharing. And most importantly, it challenges young people to look beyond the surface and uncover the hidden meanings and complexities—both in their photography and in their lives.
— Erica Cuyugan, Project Director
