Over the last few weeks, I spent some time with three teenage photographers who attend weekly classes at several community photography programs in New York City. Many of them are drawn to similar themes, and they use photography to explore identity, family, political expression and the changing neighborhoods in which they live.

“It requires a lot of thinking and creativity,” said Saliyah Mohammed, 13, who has been taking classes at the Bronx Documentary Center only since late last year but has already decided that photography will be part of her future. “It’s not just about pressing a button and hoping that it comes out right. I think it’s something that is going to last forever. I don’t think I’m going to give up on this.”

Jonathan Maldonado, 17, who attends NYC SALT in Midtown, has been photographing his relationship with his parents. He explained that photography has been a tool of understanding in his home: “I learned how to accept who we are, and who I am.”

Tyler Roarty, 17, a Teen Academy student at the International Center of Photography, enjoys portraiture and photographing politics. Since last year’s elections, she has turned her lens to both sides of the political divide, attending protests and making portraits of Trump supporters. “I want people to reassess and think about the bigger picture again.”

Gareth Smit is a South African documentary photographer and filmmaker based in New York.



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