As a young minority American citizen, I felt it was very crucial to pay attention to politics. With new laws and bills being passed or rejected, it has massive affects on me and other young people and minorities. That's the thing that young people don't understand: politics do matter. Too many of my young peers pass up their chance to vote because they're not aware of political issues or they just don't care. I made this paint series to remind people of some of the prominent issues in the United States.     At first, I made these photos for a big youth photography contest. I also submitted to multiple others with high hopes that these would get recognized and be seen by others my age. Unfortunately, I didn't get any recognition in any of the contests. At first I was confused. I had lost to incredibly BASIC photos like of flowers or a girl sitting on a park bench or some other simple stuff that uses "rule of thirds well". They were photos that a middle schooler could've easily taken in their beginning photography class. I was disappointed, not really in myself, but in the contests. Those...lame (don't know how else to word it) winning photos are now an example to young photographers everywhere. What is that saying to them? That all you need to be an artist is to do the bare minimum and stay within your "artistic" comfort zone? The whole youth contest system is a complete joke to me.

back

next page