Bronx, NY. May 24th, 2019 © Chloe Rodriguez

Written by Meighan Ashford

Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard

For over 400 middle and high school South Bronx students, the Bronx Documentary Center's Youth Photography program, or BDC Youth Photo League, has been a valuable resource. Each student has had access to free documentary photography and multimedia classes for the past decade through the BDC Youth Photo League. Additionally, it offers a year-round college success program to support these students in achieving their academic goals. They provide middle and high school Bronx students with free summer and after-school documentary photography programs that equip them with the skills to explore social justice issues through writing, research, and photography while preparing them for college and their future careers.

Bronx, NY. May 2023 © Brandon Carillo Leon

Through the program, students are equipped with essential skills and continuously develop their abilities. Not only are they empowered to tell local stories with honesty and creativity, but craft personal depictions. The BDC Youth Photo League is crucial in nurturing talented young individuals, as well as providing opportunities for self-expression, individuality, and growth. Their work contributes to preserving the rich history of the South Bronx, while simultaneously capturing its vibrant presence in a cultural environment where politics, spectacle, and daily life are constantly colliding, the video, picture, and assemblage pieces taken as a whole will raise issues regarding representation and the dissemination of images

Bronx, NY. October 6th, 2015 © Ethan Perez

"Through Our Eyes: Youth Photography at the Bronx Documentary Center, 2013-2023" and features the award-winning photography to subtly honor and commemorate the program’s tenth anniversary. More specifically, students at the BDC have regularly really received awards for their work and taken part in exhibitions at various locations. Specific examples include the Bronx Botanical Gardens, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Newark Museum, and Polka Gallery in Paris. The Bronx Documentary Center photography has been featured on several esteemed streaming platforms, from ABC News to The New York Times. Moreover, they have represented the United States international photo festivals. Visits with well-known photographers around the world, field trips to important media and cultural institutions, and chances for life-altering domestic and international travel are all included in the program.

Bronx, NY. May 28th, 2019 © Angie Avedaño

As the journey of discovery begins, photography becomes a medium to express love and capture life in its most authentic form. The photographs displayed showcase this sentiment, with images capturing moments of warmth and connection. For instance, people embracing while wearing masks or strumming guitars while walking uphill seeing people genuinely enjoying each other's company, and being able to observe that unadulterated connection that we don't get to see nearly as frequently due to social media's takeover makes us think that in-person connections aren't as uncommon as one might think.

The exhibition, running from January 26th to March 3rd, will feature the work of students from BDC who have used photography to convey their perspectives on both love and life. Ultimately, this exhibition serves as an anthology celebrating the essence of human emotion captured through photography. Who wouldn’t want to be there to witness that? The accompanying catalog features work by 85 BDC students. It is available for sale on the BDC website for $35 for the public and $25 for Bronx residents. All proceeds will be going towards funding the program.