What did Taylor Ha, the 2014 Valedictorian of Woodlands High School, do for a WISE project?

Inspired by NYC photographer Brandon Stanton, who runs the blog “Humans of New York,” Taylor interviewed and photographed her friends, family, and strangers in order to capture life’s milestones in art. Through her WISE project, titled “Life’s Milestones: A Photographic Journey,” Taylor explored her passion for photography, learning a lot about the field, other people, and herself along the way.

You can watch Taylor discuss her WISE journey in her WISE model presentation. Click on “2014 WISE Model Presentation” under “Latest Videos.”.

Why Photography?

Always loving photography, Taylor has taken over 20,000 photographs.

“The camera is [not] a barrier between myself and the world,” said Taylor. “It’s almost like a filter. It helps me see the world [and who I am] more clearly.”

But some people did not understand Taylor’s decision to focus on photography. She explains her reason for pursing the arts in a journal entry written on April 30^th:

The “Interrogations”

Not only did Taylor interview friends and family, but she also took to the streets of New York City to talk to strangers about their life milestones.  Her goal: To “get to know more about them…as people.”

“I learned to judge strangers with two open eyes,” said Taylor about the interviewing experience. “I’ve become less critical about the way I perceive those who are not close to me. Instead of stereotyping strangers upon first sight, I now try to see the real person within.”

She sheds light on the interviewing process in an April 27^th journal entry:

A Photographic Journey

As Taylor learned about the life milestones of her interviewees—from childhood to relationships—she was also led down a road of artistic and personal self-discovery.

The Joys of Childhood

“What I like about this picture is it wasn’t posed. It was candid,” said Taylor when describing the photograph. “I didn’t ask them to laugh and smile—it was just natural. And those are the kinds of pictures I value most in my work”

“[This] picture represents how jubilant…we are as kids” ~ Taylor Ha

Embracing Your Individuality

Friend Brianna Warner was not afraid to be herself during the photo shoot. She wore her cosplay outfit, complete with a blue wig. “It’s natural,” comments Taylor. “Being yourself shouldn’t be something that’s forced. You should embrace it.”

“I am a lot more outgoing than I have been in years before. You get used to people who will stare at you like ‘That’s not normal.’ You become more patient and understanding towards how other people feel. It’s my norm” ~ Brianna Warner

 

Relationships

“When I decided to portray relationships in my project, I didn’t just want to stick to the straight couple. I wanted it to be diverse,” said Taylor about her decision to include pictures showcasing many types of relationships in her WISE project.

“A significant relationship I have is with my same-sex partner. We’ve been together twenty-seven years, and we have a lot of similar interests. And the thing that makes it special is since I met him, I’ve never had an unhappy day in my life. It’s as simple as that” ~ FDNY Guy

 

Finding Satisfaction in Life

Taylor spotted a homeless man on a NYC bench who had found peace with the pigeons. Pigeon Man, as she likes to call him, is “connected with nature. He let go of everything that happened to him, and he’s still happy.”

“I was evicted from my life by landlords, and I came to the park like a cold January…and the birds came to me and sat with me. That’s why I’m here” ~ Pigeon Man

The Importance of Family

“Family ties are made no matter how hard you try to severe them,” said Taylor when reflecting on this photograph.

“I’m really close to my dad. He’s one of my important people in my life. He left my mom last week after twenty-three years. So…it’s been a little different for me to adapt to that whole dad-leaving situation. But like I bought this shirt, which I’m going to show you ‘cause this is what brought us together. I grew up with it, so this is kind of our thing” ~ Star Wars Girl

 

 

A Large Support System

“You cannot do a project like this without anyone,” said Taylor. “You can’t do it by yourself. You need help.”

During her WISE presentation, Taylor thanked her mentor, Dr. Constantine Andreadis, for his support: “Dr. A, you are the most amazing mentor I ever could have met, and without you I don’t think I would be the photographer that I am today.”

Taylor was also “taught…about photography and life” by Johnathan Lewis, Woodlands’s yearbook adviser. He helped her “discover [her]self through photography and pushed [her] to continue taking pictures.”

Full of advice, Elizabeth Huber, the WISE office assistant at Woodlands, encouraged Taylor in times of doubt, helping her confront her public speaking fears.“If you need to ask someone about something,” said Taylor, “she’s the person to ask.”

What Ending?

Taylor’s WISE project may have come to an end, but her photography journey is far from over.

“No matter what I do, I will pursue photography. I don’t know if that will be my primary job, but I’m not going to let go of it,” said Taylor, who will attend the Honors College at Stony Brook in the fall.