Neighborhood Change
Over the years, Virgil Village has faced gentrification. Shops have closed down and been replaced by overpriced American shops. Hispanic families feel nostalgia toward places they once spent weekends at—now gone. These new shops are catered towards Americans of the upper class. Virgil Village seems less recognizable as I grow up. But, seeing the standing murals and restaurants I have been going to since I was a young child leaves me hopeful that these spots will stay as they are.

Transit for the Girlies
Public transportation is heavily stigmatized—it is often portrayed as dirty, unreliable, and extremely unsafe by the popular media. To me, a local transit rider, the metro is a cheap and reliable form of transportation to get around the city. Portraying the importance and real aspects of riding the metro was significant to me to shift the negative portrayal of public transportation. We should focus on improving service and making it faster.

Infancia Casi Perdida
White hibiscus. Down the street from my home, a white hibiscus blooms in solitude. One day, I walked past the flowers blooming and one in particular caught my attention even though they all looked the same. One made me unlock a hidden childhood memory deep inside my brain. Before coming to America, I lived with my grandma and this specific flower used to bloom by her house. Seeing this brought back all the happiest memories with her and my family.

Strings Attached
This work explores the quiet violence of gentrification and its erasure of childhood spaces in marginalized communities. Growing up in L.A., the Bob Baker Marionette Theater was a rare haven for children like me and a place of wonder, safety, and imagination. Its closure in 2018 due to gentrification marked the loss of more than a building. Through visual contrast, I reveal the tension between memory and development, mourning the loss of community spaces to profit-driven change.

In Pause
In Pause is a photo essay documenting my experience after the Eaton Canyon fires. On Jan. 7, 2025 around 5 a.m., heavy smoke filled my home, setting us in a panic, leaving without knowing where to go or when we would come back. Five months of living and experiencing the aftermath has been tough. In Pause is a call to sit, breathe and take in the small things you have in life before they’re gone.

Tragedy is coming sooner rather than later.

Dearly Devoted
My uncle wasn’t always religious, but now you can tell he’s Catholic from a mile away—his clothes are adorned with saints and he always has a few rosaries around his neck. From the outside, his journey with religion intrigued me. It completely turned his life around and, as a result, brought us all closer. He literally wears his faith on his sleeve, and I wanted my images to show how closely he holds it to his heart.

El Barrio Chino
My grandmother, Yolanda Caballero Naves, migrated to the U.S. from Mexico three and a half decades ago. For the last 21 years she’s made Chinatown her home. She’s faced language barriers—not only with English, but Chinese languages as well. Despite this challenge, she’s built her life here, frequenting the bustling outdoor markets, making friends with neighbors, and raising her family. She has learned to communicate in ways that go beyond spoken words.

Thursday Nights
The Santa Rita Jalisco Taco Truck has been there ever since I’ve moved to East L.A. A staple of my neighborhood, this family-owned business has been established for 40 years serving their famous pescuezos de pollo. Over time, getting to know the workers, seeing their hard work, and service to the community has been the best part. They are not only uplifting and supporting one another, but also uplifting their community. I wanted to capture the family side of it all. 

Maelie Espinal, age 14

About Me: 
I’d say I try to be a creative person. In addition to photography, I also play guitar—I've been playing for about seven months now. Now and then, I’ll dabble in some weaving, but I especially love exploring new ways to express myself, particularly through art. Aside from art, some other things I'm interested in are paleontology and psychology. I really like the idea of bones and ancient sculptures, and I enjoy trying to figure out what they are or where they came from. I haven’t read much about psychology, but I love the idea of how insanely differently people can act and how they think and see the world. Lastly, I’ve been enjoying Las Fotos so much. Everyone is so sweet, and they teach photography in such an expressive way.

Revitalization
The world is now overrun with gentrification, especially in Northeast and East L.A. and Highland Park has been a major target. The streets of York and Figueroa are filled with exorbitant snack shops, grocery stores, and restaurants when they used to be a place for the average person to own a business and a house under $350,000. This project contrasts the original businesses of Highland Park with the new storefronts catering to white transplants. 

Adapting to Change
This project is about the Eaton fires. Myself and so many people I know are severely impacted by this disaster. I show how everyone, months later, is still affected. So many people are out of childhood homes, losing childhood memories. Memories of life and sentimental values were lost. Everyone is trying to rebuild their life again. Everyone has been set back, including my friends and their families. The Altadena / Pasadena area is still picking up the pieces of their lives.

Sandra Luis Grijalva, age 17

About Me: 
My name is Sandra Luis Grijalva. I am 17 years old and a senior attending Warren High School. I’ve been at Las Fotos Project for 3 years. My aunt introduced me to photography when I was a freshman, and I’ve loved it ever since. It is my form of expression, and my images reflect exactly what I'm feeling in the moment they are being created. My work is well thought out and meant to tell a story, one that someone could relate to. I’m observant and I keep to myself a lot—my photography reflects that.

Untitled
I’ve never felt connected to Catholicism. I have a lot of guilt because of it. Catholicism has been engraved into Latin families. I don’t pray or practice it, but that disappoints my family, so seeing my cousin feel connected to the church is refreshing. I may never feel as connected as he does, however, my nana always taught me to believe in God and La Guadalupe. If that’s the extent of my beliefs, then I’m okay with it. 

Sarah Hernandez, age 15

About Me: 
My name is Sarah Hernandez. I’m a 15-year-old girl who discovered a love for photography at a young age. I have a particular passion for capturing moments from my travels, the beauty around me, and the people I love—my family and friends. Looking back at my photos brings me joy, as I often find myself laughing or smiling while reminiscing. I use photography because photos will always remain where they are while holding memories and emotions. Creating new memories is important to me because I believe in living life to the fullest while also having fun adventures. I hope that my photos are able to connect to people, spark inspiration, and lastly, encourage people to view the world with an open mind to live a better, more fulfilled life.

Guadalajara
This project shows a smaller family-owned business in my community. Many people don’t visit family-owned restaurants and would rather go to a fast food restaurant, without knowing how they are affecting a family, community, and what they are missing out on. 

Uncomfortable Proximity
Growing up in Virgil Village, the neighborhood always felt like home. I would walk to school with my mom, go to her work at the California Grill after school, and go to the 99 cent store for a snack. I talked with community members every day. Recently, familiar places started disappearing like the church, party store, and local market. I wanted to document the places that were here before. The ones that made the neighborhood a community before gentrification.

Rogelio
Rogelio is an autobiographical photo essay dedicated to my late grandfather. As I was photographing my community I found myself visiting places that were significant to me and my “Babo.” In doing this, I began to reminisce about all of our time together, his impact on my life, and who I am as an artist. As an artist himself, he taught me how impactful something you make can be to others, and I represent this through my art.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
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