About me
My name is Leah Flores, I am a 14 year-old Mexican-American, Queer, Teen photographer based in Los Angeles. I was born to teen parents in a low-income minority household and spent a lot of my time moving from place to place. Having my environment constantly changing, I learned to adapt to quick changes, but I enjoy spending most of my free time alone in my room, listening to music, and experimenting with my own personal style, and even playing with different makeup looks. I am curious about the world around me and learning more about myself. When I’m older, I hope to continue to be able to express myself through my art and create a portfolio I am proud of. My goal for the near future is to apply and attend California State Summer School for the Arts, or CSSSA, a summer arts program, and further my education and skills about art. I have an interest in pursuing photojournalism, as it allows me to tell a story in a single photo.
Project description
My project is about connections or relationships with people around you. Recently, I’ve started a new chapter of my life with new experiences and most predominantly new people. I started to think about the people I have in my life and my relationships with them whether that’s family, old friends, new friends or acquaintances. I wanted to photograph people in the moment, capturing the memory. One of the things I like best about photography is that everyone sees the world in their own unique way. Taking a photo is a way for someone else to look at the world the way you do, or relive a moment you have. During my time with LFP I have been able to explore different parts of myself and everything around me, and become more comfortable as myself. With the motivation, what started off as simple practice became a project I'm very proud of.
My work
This is my grandma. She is the oldest of 14 kids and raised 6 of her own. She is one of the most hardworking people I know and has provided not only for her family, but also her community. It was her birthday and we all got together to celebrate. In this photo, we are using sign language to sing happy birthday and I wanted to document this moment with my family while we signed the word “Mom.”