Even if you are from the same neighborhood as someone else, you might still be coming from different places. Where you are from is a complicated question and it elicits complicated, but interesting and thought-provoking responses. We’ve shared some of those responses below.

Nicole Nichols

I grew up in New Orleans, a city that breathes art. My grandmother was an artist, and I was always interested in being a professional artist.

In college, I studied all forms of art, but nude figure drawing was one of the classes that impacted me the most. It shifted how I saw the human body—not as something to hide or judge, but as art in itself, in every shape and gender. That perspective is still the foundation of how I photograph people today. Read More>>

Monique

My name is Monique and I’m from Santa Rosa, CA. My up bringing and background definitely impacted where I’m at today.

I was raised by my grandparents since I was 6 months old since my biological parents weren’t able to care for me the proper way. When I came to live with my grandparents, who I now call mom and dad, they brought me in and took care of me along with my aunts and uncles, who I now call brother and sisters. I grew up in the 90’s and from early on I watched my family struggle a little bit.  Read More>>

Sydney Smolla

My name is Sydney Smolla, and I’m a fine art, documentary, and landscape photographer and videographer. I grew up in Nebraska and graduated in 2018 with a degree in journalism and photography. My passion for documentary work began in the cornfields outside of Kearney, Nebraska, while photographing the Sandhill Crane Migration. Seeing 700,000 cranes pass through such a quiet and subtle landscape opened my eyes to the power of visual storytelling and how it can be used to advocate for change and conservation. Read More>>