I have always been intrigued by photography. I can remember buying those disposable cameras when I was in elementary school. I would take photos of my family and my friends. I didn’t know it then, but I was doing exactly what I would be doing in my adult life. I took my first traditional film photography class in high school, and that’s when I truly fell in love with the art of photography. Ever since then, I’ve been creating photographs. I dabble in other mediums such as painting and ceramics, but I have always continued my photography, it is truly what I am passionate about.


^{Photo: Venessa Chavez by Mark Lipczynski}

Photography makes me happy. I don’t want to do anything else. It’s what gets me out of bed every morning. I walk around my neighborhood every day making pictures. It’s a practice that keeps me engaged and conscious of my surroundings. I know that I am me and my life is unique to me, so I use photography to tell my story like no one else can. When something stirs an impulse in me, I make another picture.





^{Photo: Mark Lipczynski by Venessa Chavez}

I think this project was different (for me) in that we just found whoever within a certain parameter of place. But I think that was the beauty of the project too, because we were being so inclusive and that was really part of the whole point. I was pretty surprised how open some people were. Especially for a stranger coming up to them with a camera and a tape recorder, just saying, “I want to talk to you, take your picture.” I am surprised at the amount of people who just really, without much reservation at all, said yes. I do get the feeling that everybody I talked to was looking for a way, or most of them had found a way, to be part of society.

^{Photo: Emily Matyas by Michael Williams}

When talking to strangers, it really surprises me how open they’ll get with you. I just love learning their stories, hearing about their life, their experiences here. It’s really fun, and it just made me really love people, you know? When I would find someone that would really open up, it made my day. It really warms my heart, because it’s just interesting. A guy on a bike will go by, and he probably has a story right now. You never know. I think I just love humanity. Just talking to people and hearing stories, especially from random strangers. It’s almost like opening a new book.

^{Photo: Michael Williams by Emily Matyas}

Tempe History Museum approached Tempe Union High School District photography teachers to see if they would lead a teen age version of the museum’s featured (2018-2019) exhibit: Humans of Tempe. Teachers and students jumped on board and gathered short interviews and informal portraits from random folks on the streets of Tempe.

Presented in this exhibit were the works of students from Desert Vista, Marcos de Niza, Mountain Pointe and Tempe High School. With the combined informal portraits and short quotes, one could connect with real, ordinary people; and also gain a teen’s perspective on the inspiring, engaging and even depressing elements of the teenage world.

Desert Vista

 

 

^{Photo: Jim by Izzy Hayek}

Marcos de Niza

^{Photo: Letzy by Ketzya Cervantes} 

 

^{Photo: Mya by Letzy Cervantes}

Mountain Pointe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^{Photo: Carolyn by Tamaiya Thomas}

 

^{Photo: Dutch Bro by Blue Watanabe}

Tempe High

 

 

^{Photo: Lindsey by Abilenne Montoya}

 

^{Photo: Bobi by Katelyn Harshfield}