My name is Britanie Montero and I am 16 years old, from Elizabeth New Jersey. Growing up I have always been interested in art. However, it wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I got involved with photography. My father bought me my camera for Christmas, and since then I haven’t put it down. The following year I joined the School of Design program in my school, there I learned the basics of how to use photoshop. I am fascinated by the work of Brooke Shaden and hope to one day be as skilled as she is.
For my final project, I decided to do a “photo journal”. Each photograph represents a different part of my life. Because I don’t handle change very well, I faced a lot of problems growing up. I decided to go black and white for this project because the photos represent events from my past. When something bad happens you think you’ll never get over it, but usually with time you begin to see colors you once thought were gray. Although now I can honestly say I’m in a different place emotionally, I know I’ll never forget the things I went through. I believe every memory (both good and bad) can help you grow. That is why I decided to show the things that helped mold me into the person I am today. Each individual photograph is it’s own story, from the death of a loved one, to the destructive influence of bad friends. It is important to reflect on the things that you have done because even the shakiest paths can lead you to the right place.