Omar Lashin

Age: 17 Park East High SchoolThe first memorable photo I took was of a Kuwait skyline in 2014 on my tiny iPhone 5. I was at my cousins’ apartment, the sun was setting, and a bright yellow and orange tint encompassed the sky in the background of the faraway skyscrapers and the ocean in the forefront. At the time, it didn’t really mean much to me. However, every time I go back to that picture I’m shocked by how unreal it seems. The photo catapulted my love for photography. Since then, I’ve aimed to take pictures with the goal of what I call “shooting memories.” In my opinion, photographers have their own individual perspective and vision, and the photos we take will be forever saved as a memory.

My photos are typically colorful. I try to shoot a wide variety of topics in my photography like portraiture, sports, architecture, and food. Occasionally I enjoy shooting with a more neutral outlook. If I want to tell a certain story I’ll gravitate toward the grays or blacks of a visual—altering the brightness of a picture or playing around with the darkness can tell interesting stories. Although color and brightness are fundamental to my photos, my central ideas are usually spearheaded by composition. I let it come naturally as I search for the best angles, placements, and setups for my photos. During the process of taking photos, the questions I ask myself are: Is the photo quality clear? Is the background messy or clean? Do I want my photo to have a strong or minimal brightness and darkness? My inspiration comes from my peers. Whether it’s my group-mates in this year’s Expanding the Walls, or my friends outside of the program who are also photographers, everyone has motivated me to become better and inspired me to network, learn new skills, and challenge myself. I’m excited to continue to enhance my skills and see what comes next.
Stirring, 2022
Through and Through, 2022