Hi, my name is Lorna Ly. I’m a sophomore from Seattle, Washington. Before this program I had never picked up a digital camera before and was only driven by my passion to tell underrepresented stories. As I’m learning more about the camera, I’m learning to express myself through it. Which challenges me and makes me feel like a vulnerable gorilla running away from the poachers. But it’s also refreshing to see myself, my loved ones and my ideas portrayed for the first time.

What inspires me to continue photography and push past my discomfort is the prospect that I will inspire others.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell my stories and bring my visions to life.

‘ Far, far away, only in the distance, there was a calm and then a turbulence. It rattled my brain, this rumble, but my grandma remained unruffled. Then, I saw it, the dragon jerk, wiggle, and convulse. The shrine started to ring, ‘dong…dong…dong……..’. A crack in the sky emerged, chú tiểu blossomed, born and raised in the temple ready to ride the dragon away. ‘

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Hi, I'm Lorna. 

I'm a 16 year old artist located in Seattle, Washington. In this magazine, there includes contrasting and slow exposure photos that show social connections and relationship dynamics I notice in the world around me. 

​No matter where we go, we carry the experiences with others with us.

Oftentimes, I feel a disconnect with the world and how it's designed. So, it gets lonely even when I'm not alone. But through passions and interactions, I can open myself up to connection. 

​One by one we can feel less lonely, knowing we can all impact each other greatly.

This is my March 9th, 2023 showcase on a portfolio I have compiled inspired by the representations of my culture and religion that I see everyday. In my photography journey, I often find myself drawn to the significant colors in Vietnamese Buddhism. These colors consist of gold, red and green.

This is a photo I took in the car with my mom on the way to a shop. My mom has ingrained in me that the car is a dangerous place and every time I’m in the car I should pray for safe passage. Then, she got this praying monk, and every single time I look at it it’s a reminder to do that action. This monk can also be a reminder to be present while driving.

These photos were taken in the shop I went to after the car ride. Immediately, when I walked in I noticed this shrine near my feet. This golden shrine was well loved, see the banana offering and incense that had been lit and burned down nubs. Above it in the shop but next to it in this presentation is this glass lettuce sculpture. In terms of camera technicalities I struggle with focus and steadiness, but I really needed to capture this subject’s beauty so I kept my hand steady, focused on the lens and a smile on my face. 

Next, is this self portrait of me in my traditional ao dai dress. I took this in my brother’s LED lit room. I wanted to keep the warm tone to match with my following photo. I like the smile in this portrait.

This is a photo taken of the shrine I see everyday at my home. It matches with my prior photo and lights my heart up with love and joy. There’s a freshly lit incense in this photo that contributed to this feeling.

This is my final photo. At its center is a carefree deity that represents laughter and abundance. When I was editing this photo I wanted to make the gold and the yellow in the lights pop.

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