2019 Portraits – RIT NPPA

Morgan Monteith poses for a portrait on Feb. 27, 2019 in the Gracie’s Field in Henrietta, N.Y. Morgan volunteers with CP Rochester’s Shared Ski Adventures, an adaptive learn to ski program that assists people with disabilities learn to ski on their own. Photo Illustration using the Photoshop clone tool to remove reflections on light stands.

Tabitha Emo sits for a portrait in her parents home on December 4th, 2018 in Hornell, New York. ÒI have to acknowledge to myself that, ÔOkay I’ve got to bring it to an end, IÕve got to put all this stuff away,” Tabitha said. “You know, I’ve got to go to sleep and tomorrow is another day where Ray exists again.Ó Tabitha is transgender and struggling to express her gender identity as unspoken tension in her family leaves her feeling alone and halts her from moving forward.

Shoe cobbler Mario Gagliardi, 79, of Al’s Monroe Shoe Service in Rochester, N.Y. on Feb 28, 2019. Originally from Matera, Italy, Gagliardi immigrated to the United States when he was 24 and has been working as a shoe cobbler since he was 14. He and his family lived in Utica, N.Y. for several months, and moved to Rochester on March 4, 1965 because there was little work to be found repairing shoes. He works alone, having taken over the business from his friend five years ago. Other than repairing shoes, Gagliardi loves to garden and recalls times when his late wife Josephine, enjoyed watching him. *Image has been color graded.

Alma Mickle, 3, poses for a portrait outside of her home on August 31st, 2018 in Brockport, NY. According to Waste Management, Americans use 100 billion plastic bags a year, of which only 1 percent are recycled. Our negligence is the reality for future generations.