Growing up in New Orleans, I was always considered a “Katrina baby.” I was only ten months old when the storm hit, so I have no first-hand recollection of the tragedy. However, I heard vivid stories from my mom, older siblings, and many people around the city. Recollections of how much the city changed, how people died, and how everyone reached an immeasurable amount of suffering and loss. A sense of anger was also present towards the media, city, and government. My sustained investigation addresses the complicated dynamic between the water and the people of New Orleans, with awareness about an infrastructure prioritizing the white and wealthy. My artwork addresses the injustices of systemic racism while acknowledging the perseverance of the African-American community. I want to celebrate the strength of black women while recognizing that we all need help sometimes, and our societal construct is a long way from equity. Inequality has submerged our voices, and I want to rise about it all. My inquiry came to me quickly, as I always wanted to showcase and bring a piece of home to where I was. I went away to boarding school for the entirety of high school, so I didn’t go to high school in New Orleans, and no one at school was from New Orleans or Louisiana except my English teacher from junior year. I wanted to showcase a more complex side of the city, besides Mardi Gras or whatever tourists first imagine when they think of the city. I was so proud and glad to bring my home to a new audience, and even more so that I got to do it through my photography, a language everyone can understand.

The main challenges that accompanied my development were implementing the water into my photos and the limited source material around me. I kept asking myself, “How can I convey my message in a way that’s not too obvious but not too vague?” That’s when photographers such as Loran Simpson and Gordon Parks came into play. They were significant inspirations and motivations when pushing through the development. Taking inspiration from Lorna Simpson allowed me to combine my love of poetry and creative writing. My friends handwrote all the text incorporated into my photos, but all the words are mine. The handwritten text created that scrapbook or diary effect that I was going for, as when I was creating the poetic text, I wanted to keep in mind whose voice this was supposed to be. It wasn’t my voice written on the photos; it’s theirs. I was able to hone in on this towards the end of my process. In the beginning, everything was experimentation. I was experimenting with digital vs. film cameras and the effect that I was going for; before I thought to incorporate handwritten text, I was experimenting with fonts, and most importantly, during photoshoots, I was experimenting with models, props, water, setting, and how I wanted these all to interact. Before each shoot, I would ask myself, "What do I want to accomplish today? What message am I trying to convey? How should I convey that message?

Consistency and synthesis were key in developing my portfolio, but they were among the biggest challenges I had to overcome. I was able to achieve this for numerous reasons: What first comes to mind is that I already had a strong idea from the very beginning, and not only did I have a solid idea, but it was also complex enough to leave plenty of room for exploration, experimentation, and creativity. My sustained investigation couldn’t be done in one photo. Each photo is like a puzzle piece to a 15-piece puzzle. They all serve different purposes but come together for a common goal. I always considered this when taking, editing, and revising each photo. Each photo had to have a statement, a different aspect, but still be relevant. They all have to build up from each other to become a whole.

My biggest advice to other AP Art and Design students is to follow the thinking I just explained and utilize and appreciate all the resources you have around you. Remember, motivation and inspiration come and go, but a transparent, solid goal and message to showcase to the world will always be consistent and will keep you going. My classmates and teacher knew that about me and continued to push and help me develop this portfolio into what it came to be. I am forever grateful to all of them for an amazing senior year of photography.