South End Life: Youth Explore the Power of Photography; Images from the Right-Wing Rally; and a New Resource Center in Skyway

Youth Record South End Community, Family, and Their Lives Through Photography Program

There was a hum of concentration and activity on a May weekday evening at Rainier Valley's Youth in Focus (YiF) program that teaches photography skills to teens. A couple of students worked with an instructor in the darkroom to prep their images before printing. In another area flooded with sunlight, a student hung film negatives to dry, while close by, a group of youth met for a presentation in a small classroom.

At YiF, young people, primarily from the South End, explore photography with mentors at no cost during the school year. YiF also offers pay-what-you-can summer courses. This year's cohort of students will present their work at a spring student showcase on June 5.

YiF has been in the Rainier Valley for more than 30 years, and last year, it served more than 400 youth. The program also runs the Creative Career Cohort (CCC), a six-month paid internship for roughly 10 teens. In this group, youth hone their skills in photo composition and learn professional skills centered around photography, including interviewing and learning how to develop a website to present their work.

Chloe Collyer, an educational specialist at YiF, says students are required to undertake a quarterly assignment to produce a self-portrait or an image that represents themselves. The images may relay upsetting events, but the program honors the students' experiences.

"That's when the door opens, and the mask comes off. We talk about our identity, our community, and sometimes our trauma. The camera is the perfect tool to express this," said Collyer. "When students share their photography and self-portraits, they express, 'This is who I am, this is my story told how I want to tell it.'"

Collyer, who attended YiF during high school, has been teaching photography ever since completing the program in 2009. Last year, a number of teens Collyer works with developed a darkroom and teaching curriculum at Seattle's Nova High School, Collyer's alma mater. 

YiF Community Engagement Manager Shida Bonakdar pointed out that the youth unconsciously document Seattle history as they explore photography.

"These students are very aware of what's happening in Seattle, [of] what's happening in the world, and they're expressing it through their photography. We've had students who chose to photograph protests, cultural events, their brother's wedding," Bonakdar said, adding, "It's cool to see how they're documenting the people around them and the people that make Seattle."

Leila, Melanie, and Kairos, who are in this year's Creative Career Cohort, are featuring their photos in the upcoming spring student showcase. They agreed to share the stories that inspired some of their photos.

Melanie

Melanie, in 12th grade, is from Burien. She's been studying at YiF for four years. She says people in the program helped her during a difficult time in high school.

"I'm really quiet, but by presenting [my work], I've grown a lot in feeling more comfortable talking to people. A few years ago, I wasn't doing well mentally, but my friends helped me get through it. [They said,] 'It'll get better, life isn't always going to be like this. Look forward to new things.'" 

Melanie says she wants her work to speak to the viewer's emotions. "My photos are bright and colorful and happy. I want other people to feel happy and hopeful."

Kairos

Kairos is in the 12th grade and has been at YiF for three years. They go to school in Tacoma and grew up on Vashon Island. Kairos' photo was taken in a field not far from where they grew up on Vashon.

"It's easy to get caught up behind the camera, and I wanted to put more intention into a photo reflecting a backstory. It makes [the work] more meaningful and relatable," said Kairos. "This piece is about the paradox of clothing. I enjoy fashion, and I enjoy dressing up. Being in a queer atmosphere has been very liberating for me. People say clothing doesn't define you — and yes, it doesn't define your core. But social perspectives [on how people perceive you in certain clothes] don't change, and that's a weird feeling to me. So [for the picture], I just removed the body so this [concept] is more in your face."

Leila

Leila, who's in the 10th grade and from South King County, says she fell in love with taking photos at 13. She's been at YiF for three years and says she loves taking photos: "It's beautiful to capture a memory in one moment and to hold it forever."

At YiF, Leila says she's recently been learning about how to create a website to present her work. She likes working in the darkroom and using sunlight and warm colors in her photos. Leila has been exploring photo collage. 

"I've always liked to cut [things] up and sew [them] back together like puzzles," she said. "It was pretty hard piecing [this photo] back together, and [I] had to rebuild it again, but it definitely came out the way I wanted it. I've also learned how to push through hard moments where I feel like, 'Oh, maybe I'm not getting this right' with support here [from] people who genuinely care about me."

And Speaking of Photography With South-End Ties…

On May 27, Emerald photographer Susan Fried photographed a protest held by Mayday USA, a far-right, anti-LGBTQ group, at Seattle City Hall.

And Don't Forget: Resource Gathering, With an Eye to the Future

Skyway Coalition is holding the grand opening of the Skyway Resource Center on Saturday, May 31. The event will feature local food, community resources, and entertainment for all ages.