BUENA PARK
YOU FEEL ME
Brianna Ibarra
Idea: The idea conveyed is the importance of pets in people's lives. They fill us with love and happiness, chase away sadness, share our feelings, and without needing words, create unforgettable moments. We hiked to our favorite field when visiting in Mexico.
Materials: Camera
Process: I took this photo with a selfie stick in a natural setting, focusing on capturing an authentic moment with a striking, well-lit, and high-contrast background. I tried different poses that conveyed connection and an expression of serenity.
2026 Photography Gallery
KNOCHEN (BONE)
Yanitza Ortiz
Idea: How should we respond to climate and the environmental crises? Knochen translated from German into English is Bone. Our values and beliefs, how we view the world, turned upside down values and what’s important. The detrimental effects pollution, waste, and people turning a blind eye about the environment.
Materials: Camera, colored light filter, props like flower, bubble wrap and bones
Process: Used props like bubble wrap along with some fake flowers, animal skulls, and I had my model lie down next to them as I took pictures in red and blue lighting. Photographed from various angles and selected the birds eye view focus on the model staring upside down into the camera to symbolize the pain and conflict.
FEEL THE BEAT
Alina Camino
Idea: Why should we feel our emotions and express ourselves? Music creates an outlet to release emotions and plays a part in finding your identity and comfort. Listening to tunes that matches your mood can help you recognize and understand your feelings as an outlet.
Materials: Camera
Process: I held onto a boombox and had my friends take photos of me from various angles with various lighting. We changed lighting, turned off the lights, left the lights on, dimmed the lighting, changed positions, until we got the best picture we could get.
ANOMALY
Mikayla Sloan
Idea: I focused on contrasting colors of the orange fish and the blue background, and also drawing focus to the texture of the fish's scales
Materials: Canon R6 Mark 11, camera, photoshop, (dodge and burn, contrast, brightness)
Process: High exposure and f-stop removed tank texture; dodging, contrast, and brightness emphasized details.
GOD’S LONELY WOMAN
Charlotte Snelson
Idea: This photo was taken to highlight how some people deal with being lonely. I used this angle to show how sitting at the bottom of the stairs, she is far away from the top, the top being friends, family, and most of all not being lonely. Sometimes it's really hard to get to the top of the metaphorical stairs, to stop being lonely.
Materials: Canon EOS R6 Mark 11. I had one of my friends as my subject, and I used Pixlr to edit the vignette and monochromatic filter into the picture.
Process: My process was first of all, thinking of the theme I wanted, which ended up being loneliness. I then used my subject in many different positions and angles to get the exact picture I wanted, then I edited it.
FULLERTON UNION
EXPLORATION
Phoebe Eisenarcher-Knott
Idea: This photo is a tribute to Coraline (2009), inspired by the mysterious door to the “perfect” other world. It reflects the film’s theme of illusion vs. reality and learning to appreciate the imperfect beauty of what we already have.
Materials: Canon R6 Mark 11, tissue paper, LED lights, Pixlr.
Process: I brainstormed ideas and shifted from horror to Coraline (2009), focusing on the mysterious door. Using pink, purple, and blue tissue paper in a spiral backdrop, LED lights, and a spotlight, I created the scene with help from friends.
BIG STRETCH
Matty Hotch
Idea: I aimed to generate compassion from the viewer. Abuse towards feral cats is way too common and so many people treat these cats as pests. The kitten's relaxed pose and soft expression make her seem so gentle, which is what I was hoping to convey.
Materials: Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Canon R6 Mark II
Process: When photographing the feral colony at my dad's business, this grey kitten stuck out to me. Her grey fur and bright eyes were so stunning I ended up following her for almost an hour. Her demeanor was so gentle she ended up being the perfect model.
GLEAMING TEARS
Anahi Lopez
Idea: This artwork was created to capture a late, melancholy scene. While blue often symbolizes sadness, in the setting, I maintained to focus on the eye, which shows tears running down, framed by the star. Altogether, expressing the feeling of sorrow.
Materials: Canon camera, gems and glitter, blue lighting, a star-shaped cut-out to form neutral lighting, and editing the saturation.
Process: When creating this piece, the process involved monochromatic color. Setting up blue lighting all around to create a sense of sadness. From above, my model was captured looking down as if she were crying, with the makeup and gems centered in neutral light.
LA HABRA
PLAYTIME
Abrianna Barragan
Idea: My idea was to capture a euphoric and lighthearted sense of childhood.
Materials: Digital camera, colorful blocks, and a lamp.
Process: My process for creating this piece was to decide the mood I wanted to portray, make a sketch of what I envisioned, and finally, got the props and subject together.
SHELLS IN THE SAND
Dominic Joseph Sandoval
Idea: I had wanted to get a photo of someone on the beach with the ocean in the background
Materials: Pier (higher viewpoint) longer focal length
Process: I had seen the lady digging in the sand and I just waited for a nice wave to roll in to help fill the space to the left of the lady
STAINED
Lucia Abbo
Idea: iIwanted to capture a personified image of grief and regret.
Materials: Fruit, lace table cloth
Process: At around sundown started shooting my photos, used the pomegranate juice to create a pink filter over the photo. i experimented with staining the table cloth and shooting at diff angles till i was happy with the outcome.
PICTURE PERFECT
Dedra Zercher
Idea: I wanted to show insecurity with distortion
Materials: Mirror, Digital Camera, Glycerine, and Tripod
Process: I set up a light, put glycerine on a mirror, set the camera so you couldn't see it
UNWANTED
Edda Ausness
Idea: I wanted to capture the feeling of being watched by an unknown visitor, essentially the eerie feeling that comes along with unwanted eyes on you.
Materials: The window and the curtain
Process: I noticed that the house I was shooting at had a curtain that was open and I thought it would be interesting to see someone peeking through the curtain.
STRANGER AT DUSK
Mikel Estrada
Idea: By painting a picture of serene detachment, I attempted to capture a specific feeling created by Capgras syndrome, a debilitating disorder that creates emotional dissonance, through a figure staring off into the "sunset" of their beloved memories.
Materials: Constant light
Process: Creating this piece relied heavily on my Photoshop skills, often testing out different overlays/images that effectively add to the image. During shooting, I only used a constant light and did most of the coloring on Photoshop.
WORN OUT
Elise Moreno
Idea: I wanted to showcase a subject that felt overwhelmed by excessive consumption of clothing to represent materialism rooted in societal pressure.
Materials: Strobe light, Pile of different clothes, Subject
Process: I laid the subject down on the side and piled clothes on top of her. I then set up a strobe light to hit the subject from above.
SEWN
Joseph Jimenez
Idea: My idea was to show how people try to copy others to fit in.
Materials: Magazines, Thread, Needle, Tape, Camera, Lighting Equipment, Lightroom
Process: First I began to put together the magazine mask, then from there I set up the lights and camera, experimenting with different depth of fields, angles, and lighting positions. Then in Lightroom I touched it up by adding a more gritty green-ish hue and increasing contrast to make it more dramatic, and brightening up the eye to give it more emphasis
LA VISTA
EVEN IN SOMBER SOLITUDE, I STILL THINK OF YOU
Carlos Beltran
Idea: The idea behind the peace is complex, the friend apart of the piece was a previous girlfriend and I knew I had to end things soon because of complications. Considering that, the sunset to me represents the end of our times together as she gazes towards that ending. As the night comes so does somberness, and solitude with heartbreak.
Materials: Canon t7i rebel, my friend, and a park bench
Process: Realistically, the creation of my peace is simple. I saw the sunset across the lake of the park and asked my now friend to sit on that bench for the shot. It was my eye for photo that lead to the creation of it.
“DECAYING MEMORIES”
Jesse Carrillo
Idea: My idea for the photograph was to get both the sign and the rotting building of the abandoned fuel station in the photo for a shot of this barren lot of land with the Mojave Desert in the background to produce a dramatic, mysterious effect.
Materials: Nikon D3400, Nikor 18-55mm, Adobe lightroom
Process: The process for the creation of this photograph was waiting for the best lighting possible for the shot I was aiming for. Due to the fact that the road beside the photograph location was a dead end road I was able to adjust and move my shot to where it looked and was framed the best.
SONORA
HIDDEN COMPLEX
Ann Cho
Idea: I wanted to capture the extraordinary pattern to emphasize culture through design. The vibrant colors and geometric shapes of perfection adds interest to the design. The patterns are essentially under the roof of a traditional building in Korea. Even though it is hidden under the roof, it does not lose its characteristic and catches the eye.
Materials: iPhone 15, Adobe Photoshop
Process: I was in Korea for a trip last summer and captured the design with my phone for the moment. I later photoshopped the photo to let the colors stand out rather than the raw file of the photo.
SUNNY HILLS
SERENITY
Jesse Morales
Idea: The concept that I had in mind was to merge my friend with his love for nature. This would illustrate the effect that nature has on bringing him a sense of peace. The overlapping trees in the picture signify how nature brings him down to earth.
Materials: Adobe Photoshop
Process: I layered photos of trees over my friend's portrait, adjusting the color, contrast, and opacity. I utilized gentle purples and pinks to create a dreamy atmosphere that reflects how nature brings him peace.
THE HOME I CAN’T RETURN TO
Carlos Olsson
Idea: My idea was to try and emulate my memories of this past summer when I lived in NYC through a bright street style of photography. To add layers of sentimentality I had an idea to use the photos I took on the trip with a camera I had owned since 2011.
Materials: Photoshop
Process: My process started with me trying to find what vibe I wanted to pursue in this piece. Once established I found my camera of photos from a month in NY. Then I layered my photos in photoshop recoloring & using different layer effects to get my piece.
TROY
OBSERVATION OF THE MONT ROPPONGI BALLADEERS
Harry Xiong
Idea: While the human shadows blocked the view of the city, this “imperfection” also enhanced the scene: it is much more dynamic and interesting. I wanted to capture how each of us contributes to the beauty of the world by living; our existence is art.
Materials: Canon EOS R8 camera, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens, Adobe Lightroom & Photoshop
Process: I first tried many perspectives to find the best one that balances the city and the shadows. I waited to capture the best composition of the shadows. Finally, I color graded and increased the contrast of the shadows in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
SPRING
Minjae Jeon
Idea: Taken in Rowland Heights, California, I wanted to showcase the area's hilly terrain. In the scene, the hill spans the entire image, complemented by a clear blue sky that lies above. The color of the hill and the sky meet to create juxtaposition, drawing attention to the figures on the hill.
Materials: Fujifilm X-S20, Fujifilm XF18-55mm
Process: In this photograph, I primarily used the rule of third. Each figure lies on a third, with the horizon being placed in the center of the frame. Shooting upward, I used a tight focal length to reduce clutter surrounding the frame and compress the scene to create a 2D impression.
A PRAYER BETWEEN FLAMES AND SILENCE
Bohan Feng
Idea: When seeing a monk praying there always seems to be a peace and how among disaster, they choose empathy, calm, and healing over panic. I found a temple and set up the photo where the balance, lighting and texture all portrayed these feelings.
Materials: Alpha 7R IV, GMaster 24-70 Lens
Process: My process began with experiencing the moment firsthand during the wildfires. I focused on contrast, heat outside, calm inside, and framed the monk to emphasize stillness. I saw the tyndall effect that it had on the buddha and I took the picture.
SKY’S SPRING
Evelyn Le
Idea: I wanted to capture a raw, spontaneous action shot. This photo was from a live BMX performance at my school, and all photos I took were candid and in the moment. With this photo, I wanted to capture the feeling of freedom and flight, with the biker suspended in air like time is frozen.
Materials: Light Room
Process: I positioned myself near the center of the ramp to see the bikers leaped into the air. This selected photo was a standout due to the biker’s pose perfectly aligning over the hoop. I cropped and centered the subject and edited the photo to be black and white monochrome to further define the subject and make his silhouette contrast against the sky.