Visual Literacy
ALTADENA
A Photo Essay by Teddy Skye Garcia
Light v.
Darkness:
The Capitol (Not for us,
Not yet)
​
WASHINGTON D.C. 29 January 2025 -- Made by TSG -- I am transgender, disabled, and my two homes are Southern California and Washington D.C. I have never felt the weight of systemic oppression more clearly. And as I saw these lights inside the Capitol building, I scoffed. There is no light left in there for me, not now.
​
But I must have hope. I have to hope the light I am seeing is for us all. That there are people in there fighting as hard as I am, as we all are.
It towers above, it looms. The shadows it casts are mighty, yes-- but this building, the light that for now may shine only on others, would not be here without us.
​
We will endure. The light will shine on us again someday. I have to know it will.
​​
Motion : SNOWBALL SWING
WASHINGTON D.C. 12 February 2025, Photo by TSG: As mentioned, I'm from Southern California. This was my first ever snowball fight, so I thought, what better time to get shots of motion than me hitting snowballs using my cane like a baseball bat? So I set my camera, and with the help of a few friends on both sides of the camera, managed to make this shot of myself. This was a very difficult assignment, more so in that I have about 5 other photos I debated using instead. But between the angle, the dramatic snow spray, the clear motion, and the snowballs fight enduring in the background, I think this one really captures what I was going for.
(Also, it was just ridiculously fun.)
Human Touch:
Passed down
WASHINGTON D.C. 19 February 2025, Photo by TSG on Nikon D3100: My father has been playing guitar since he was 14. And for his first father's day, my mother gave him a guitar. And when I began learning at the age of 14 myself, it was that guitar he taught me on, and the one you see in this photo.
Music is something that is so uniquely and beautifully human. And for me, it is something that is foundational to who I am as one. My memories as a child are touched by this very same guitar he played nursery rhymes and show-tunes and rock classics on. And my favorite memories with him are when we get to sing and play together.
I'm sick right now, why I'm not in class today, so it's ironic that when I'm contagious is the due date for human touch. But playing my guitar makes me feel closer than ever to others. Especially to the ones that matter.
Multiple planes: The first nice day
WASHINGTON DC 26 Feb 2025, Photo by TSG on Nikon D3100 -- After a brutal winter in D.C., American University students rejoice-- pulling out their light jackets, or shorts for the bravest of them, and headed out to enjoy the first rays of sun. Students play sports and talk with friends as others happily traverse the campus, grateful to be warm once again. How long will it last? Who knows. But these students are taking advantage of all the sun they can soak up before it dips below the horizon once again.
Conflict: Complicit
BALTIMORE, MD 23 Feb 2025, Photo by TSG -- My friend Amelie loves the aquarium, and goes every year on her birthday-- but she cries every time she goes. She worries her love of these animals makes her complicit in the often insufficient and sometimes cruel treatment these animals are given. Though the reflection in the glass shows smiling, happy people, they are oblivious to the situation these animals are in. This moment of connection between her and this animal should be a beautiful moment as it leaves her in awe, but her internal conflict also leaves her holding back tears.