Kellen Aguilar
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PHOTOGRAPHY

My girlfriend standing in front of the ocean in Malibu, CA. It was Memorial Day weekend and we were taking a short road trip along Pacific Coast Highway. We pulled over at this spot to take photos.
Two protestors in Los Angeles during nationwide Black Lives Matter demonstrations. One of them wears a "Black Panther Party" shirt and raises her fist while the other carries a sign that says, "Stop killing my people! Bitch!" Los Angeles was quite literally set ablaze during the protests—the black smoke in the background of this photo billows from one of many nearby fires.
A stand-off between protestors and police in Los Angeles in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Shortly after I took this photo, the police dispersed the crowd by lobbing flashbangs and tear gas and shooting rubber bullets.
Protesters in Los Angeles stand in front of police with their hands up and signs that read, "No Justice, No Peace." These protests were part of the nationwide demonstrations that erupted after the killing of George Floyd.
A woman hangs outside of a car carrying a sign that reads "All Cops Are Bitches" during a Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles. This was a prominent phrase at all of the nationwide protests that occurred after the killing of George Floyd.
A woman watches a Black Lives Matter protest unfold in front of her apartment in Los Angeles. The details in this image matter—the small, handwritten BLM sign, the woman's expression, the way she's holding her phone. Is she worried about what will happen if the protests turn violent around her? Is she filming the protest? Is she video-chatting with a loved one? Is the sign in her window a genuine show of support for the movement or a spurious attempt to deter the protestors from directing their anger at her home?
Black Lives Matter protestors yell at police as they drive by. I like this photo because it does a good job of capturing the action in this moment—the protestors expressing their anger at the motion-blurred police cruiser as it passes by.
Protestors—one with a sign that says "Silence=Violence"—rest during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles. This scene occurred after police dispersed and herded protestors off a main street into a residential area.
A Memorial Day wreath set up in front of the Whittier Police Department. A POW-MIA flag waves in the background. I took this picture to post on Whittier College's social media when I worked there as Associate Director of Digital Communications.
The Rock—a famous landmark on the Whittier College campus—painted with Black Lives Matter in white lettering against a black background. The Rock was painted like this shortly after nationwide protests erupted in response to the killing of George Floyd. I took this picture for Whittier College's social media when I worked there as Associate Director of Digital Communications. It was the highest-performing single-image post the College had ever presented on its social media pages, and it was used as a feature image on Facebook and Twitter for several months afterwards.
A yellow flower on the Whittier College campus. I took this photo as a "campus beauty shot." These were images I would use in social media posts containing important communications from senior leadership at the College when I worked there as Associate Director of Digital Communications.
A line of red flowers I photographed on the Whittier College campus as a “campus beauty shot” for the College’s social media. I tried to get a bit fancy by using a long lens to make the center flower the only one in focus.
A PIH Health volunteer and a therapy dog making an origami crane. In 2019, the Downey Rose Float Association and PIH Health partnered together to submit a float to the Pasadena Rose Parade. The float was named, "On the Wings of Hope," and was themed around the Japanese tradition of making origami cranes as a message of hope. I was sent to photograph PIH Health's volunteers as they helped make the thousands of cranes that would be donated to PIH Health's different service areas. This was a fun image I captured from my coverage. The words in the background -- "Devoted," "Caring," "Compassionate," -- are fitting.
I took this photo of a PIH Health employee at the hospital organization's Downey campus. The subject exudes confidence and professionalism. The message to the viewer is that patients and their families are in capable hands at PIH Health.
A registered nurse at PIH Health. The image is very rich, with strong primary colors. Traditionally, green, red, and blue symbolize health, energy, and trust, respectively. The image tries to create a subliminal connection between what the colors signify and PIH Health as a brand.
This photo I took of a PIH Health employee was featured in the organization's internal newsletter, PULSE. The subject smiles welcomingly while the PIH Health logo is clearly visible in the background. The streak of sunlight leads the eye to the center where the two portions of the image -- the subject in the foreground and the logo in the background -- meet. The light creates a natural link between "PIH Health" and the subject's radiant bonhomie.
A PIH Health physician spotlighted for social media. I enhanced the colors in the image to match the subject's warm and friendly demeanor. I also made a few Photoshop edits, such as removing an outdated hospital name and logo on the physician's lab coat and adjusting the text on his sign to make it more visible.
An employee at PIH Health who I interviewed and photographed for the organization's Employee Spotlight series on social media. I took this photo at one of PIH Health Whittier Hospital's lunch spaces. The image conveys authenticity - the subject is smiling, facing the camera, and striking a relaxed posture while the even juxtaposition of light and shadow on the fountain in the background is pleasant and draws the eye to subject's face.
A man holds up his number card to bid at PIH Health's 2019 Golf Tournament Fundraiser and Auction. I appreciate how the action and the shallow depth of field in this image work in concert. The bidder is the focus of the image, but you can see the auctioneer in the background accepting the man's bid. The shallow depth of field also suggests there is a large crowd in attendance, which is important to highlight when taking photos at an event.
Some local kids from Matanzas, Cuba horsing around in the street. At the time, I was studying abroad as part of a course on Cuban music and culture. We had just arrived in Matanzas, so my roommate and I were exploring the city when we came across a group of local youth. They saw the cameras around our necks and began motioning for us to take pictures of them. Of the photos that my roommate and I took, this is my personal favorite. Cubans take pride in being a resilient, determined people, and I think this photograph channels those qualities. Of course, another theme is simply the carefree joy of being young. And another theme is simply, "boys will be boys."
I took this photo one morning from the balcony of my hotel room at the Hotel President in Havana, Cuba. As soon as I looked out of the window and saw the shafts of sunlight piercing through the clouds (what are known as "God Rays," or crepuscular rays), I grabbed my Nikon camera and captured this image. This is one of my favorite photographs from my trip to Cuba, largely because of the chiaroscuro effect of the sunlight contrasted with the early morning darkness of the city. I traveled to Cuba in the summer of 2015 as part of a study abroad course on Cuban music and culture.
A monument in Camagüey, Cuba dedicated to the leaders of the Cuban Revolution. The monument features the faces of Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, among others. At the time that I took this photo, I was studying abroad in Cuba as a part of a course on Cuban music and culture.
A young man and woman enjoy each other's company on a warm summer evening in Cienfuegos, Cuba. At the time that I took this photograph, I was studying abroad in Cuba as part of a course on Latin American music and culture. This was my first attempt at night photography. My roommate, a much more seasoned photographer than myself, was helping me. There is some motion blur in the image. This is due to the extremely low shutter speed that is required to capture images at night. The shutter speed must be low so that the camera sensor can absorb as much light as possible. As a result, the slightest movement is recorded by the camera.
I took this photo on a summer night on a fishing dock in Cienfuegos, Cuba. My roommate and I took our cameras out to do some night photography around the city and ended up spending most of our time at this dock. There were plenty of photo opportunities - bright lights beaming across the water in the darkness, a series of music videos being projected on a nearby wall, people enjoying the warm sea air. Cienfuegos was one stop among many during my time studying abroad in Cuba as part of a college course on Latin music and culture.
A display of three statues in odd, narrowed dimensions at the 2017 Los Angeles Art Expo. One of my writing students had an extra ticket to the Expo and offered it to me, so I went with my camera in tow. I can't remember the name of the artist who created these statues, nor can I seem to find the artist or these figures online. I think the optical effect of these statues is absolutely brilliant. I really like this photo of them because the people milling about around the statues emphasize how difficult and frustrating it can be to process the statues' dimensions. It almost seems like they were photoshopped into existence.
A cluster of clouds cover the sun in an otherwise clear sky, creating shafts of light (what are known as "God Rays," or "crepuscular rays") that beam over the Los Angeles cityscape. I took this photo from the top of a trail on Hadley Hill in Whittier. I like this photo because of the contrast between light, dark, and color, that creates an interesting chiaroscuro effect. I think the photo is striking and unsettling because of this effect, but also because of the wide expanse of the landscape, which seems to go on unimpeded. Under the magnificent sky and behind the blackness of the immediate landscape, Los Angeles looks like a shadow.
Violinist and American Youth Symphony alumnus Simone Porter performs alongside conductor Yehuda Gilad and AYS musicians at the 2016 Members Priority Concert at the Capshaw Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice in Santa Monica. I took this photo while I was a public relations intern at the American Youth Symphony.
Yehuda Gilad leads the American Youth Symphony at the 2016 Members Priority Concert at the Capshaw Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice in Santa Monica. This photo isn't a particularly good photo - the lighting on the musicians is too harsh, there is excessive motion blur everywhere except for Gilad's face. But I like this photo for its rawness. The motion blur suggests the intensity of emotions that are apparent in Gilad's expression and the frenetic energy in his movements.
American Youth Symphony musicians perform at the 2016 Members Priority Concert, which was held at the Capshaw Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice. This concert featured Yehuda Gilad as conductor and a solo performance by violinist Simone Porter.
Promotional image of the membership renewal booth at the American Youth Symphony's 2016 Members Priority Concert. The Symphony relies heavily on the support of it's members and donors. I took this photo while I was a public relations intern at the American Youth Symphony.
American Youth Symphony promotional collateral arranged on a table at the 2017 Members Priority Concert, which was held at the Gelfand residence in Beverly Hills. The collateral includes a CD of highlights from AYS's 51st concert season, a company annual report for 2016/17, a membership brochure, and a program advertising the Champions sponsorship program. In fact, I designed these materials during my internship with AYS as a public relations specialist. I took this photo after my internship, however, when AYS hired me as a photographer for the event.
A picture of the American Youth Symphony's 2016/2017 concert season program in the foreground, with the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert reception in the background.
A picture of the American Youth Symphony's 2015/2016 concert season program in the foreground. In the background, audience members enter the auditorium of the Capshaw Spielberg Center for Arts and Educational Justice for the American Youth Symphony's 2016 Members Priority Concert. featuring conductor Yehuda Gilad and violinist Simone Porter. I took this photo when I was a Public Relations intern for the American Youth Symphony. I like this photo in particular because of the motion blur caused by the audience members walking into the auditorium.
An American Youth Symphony concert volunteer attending to matters in the background behind a sign advertising "Become a Member Today!" This was one of many photos that I took during my internship at the American Youth Symphony. As a public relations intern, one of my responsibilities was to photograph the American Youth Symphony's concerts. I like this photo in particular for a few different reasons: it gives some credit to the volunteers who work behind the scenes to make the Symphony's concerts possible; it promotes membership with the American Youth Symphony, and implies that one way to become a "member" is to volunteer; and it features the venue for the concert, the Kailey and Amanda Rappaport Gallery.
World renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos performs at the American Youth Symphony 2017 Members Priority Concert at the Gelfand residence in Beverly Hills. In fact, Kavakos is performing alongside the famous pianist Yuja Wang, who is just out of frame to the right.
World renowned pianist Yuja Wang performs at the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Members Priority Concert. In fact, Wang is performing alongside another famous musician, the violinist Leonidas Kavakos, who is just out of frame. This was one of several photos that I took when I was hired by AYS to photograph this private concert, which was held the Gelfand residence in Beverly Hills.
Violinist Nigel Armstrong gives a solo performance to American Youth Symphony members and donors at the 2017 Members Priority Concert at the Gelfand residence in Beverly Hills. Nigel Armstrong is an American Youth Symphony alumnus.
Three attendees of the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Members Priority Concert have a friendly conversation in front of a large oil painting of three young girls while another attendee of the concert looks on admiringly. I captured this scene at the Gelfand residence in Beverly Hills, where I was hired as photographer by AYS to photograph the concert. I really like this image for its parallelism and cohesiveness: the three attendees and the three young girls in the painting, the lone attendee taking in the scene as if noticing the symmetry.
A photo of the double bass sheet music for Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances. In the background, a violinist practices from their own sheet music. I took this photo from backstage during rehearsal for the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert at UCLA's Royce Hall. In addition to Rachmaninoff, this concert also featured Wolfgang Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro" and Erich Korngold's "Violin Concert Op. 35, D Major."
A young pianist practices during rehearsal for the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert, held at UCLA's Royce Hall. I was hired by the American Youth Symphony to photograph this concert, and was able to gain access backstage before the concert began to steal some candid shots like this one. What I personally like about this photo is the way that the musician's hands are reflected in the board above the piano's keys.
Various name tags indicating assigned seating are laid out on a table. Among them, Academy Award nominated composer David Newman's name is in focus. I took this photo at the America Youth Symphony's 2017 Members Priority Concert, held at the Gelfand's private residence in Beverly Hills. David Newman is an American composer and conductor known particularly for his film scores. In a career spanning more than thirty years, he has composed music for nearly 100 feature films.
The American Youth Symphony performs at the 2017 Gala Concert at UCLA's Royce Hall. At the top of hall/stage is a message that reads: "Education is learning to use the tools which the race has found indispensable." The concert featured a solo performance by AYS alumnus and violinist Rachel Ostler, with AYS Music Director Carlos Izcaray leading the symphony as conductor.
Concert attendees underneath the archway in front of Royce Hall at UCLA on the night of the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert. The archway is in focus in order to showcase its beautiful architecture and to demonstrate, by the length of the archway extending farther and farther back, the large turnout for the night's concert.
Elegant chandelier lights in UCLA's Royce Hall. I took this photo on the night of the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert.
A table centerpiece for the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert reception. The centerpiece is made of thick stems from which glass cups of orange flower petals are suspended. I think the unfocused lighting in the background adds a nice touch to the photo, overall.
A table display for the post concert reception at the American Youth Symphony 2017 Gala Concert. The photo uses lighting to place focus on a dinner menu with the text, "Catering by Maxine Banks Events." While I was hired to photograph the concert and the reception for the American Youth Symphony, Maxine Banks asked me if I could take some photos to promote her business. This was one such photo.
American Youth Symphony promotional material arranged on a dinner table at the 2017 Gala Concert reception. The material reads: "Yes! I want to sponsor a musician!" and includes a section to write in contact information. AYS's musician sponsorship program is one of many ways that audience members and patrons are able to support the Symphony. Such sponsorships and donations provide musicians with the financial support they need to continue to hone their musical craft. I like this photo because the darker corners of the frame contrast with the lighter center of the photograph to focus the eye towards the promotional material. Also, I think the real flower petals on the table complement the graphic flower petals on the promo card rather nicely.
A father carrying a young boy walks by a sign advertising the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA. The sign shows a jazz musician playing the saxophone. I took took this photo at the American Youth Symphony's 2017 Gala Concert. I think the photo speaks to one of the primary missions of AYS -- to make the pleasure and pursuit of classical music accessible to all young people. I imagine the young boy in the photo being interested in the jazz musician in the sign, and the father wondering if his son will become a talented a musician too.
A "wall of signs" at the 2017 Los Angeles Women's March. The signs have various political slogans written on them such as, "Art Inspires Empathy, Save the NEH/NEA/CPB," "Muslims Welcome, "Rise in Peace." I want the viewer to focus on the sign that reads "Really?!" behind the man in the center of the frame with his back turned to all of the signs. I think there are multiple ways to interpret what the man might be thinking. Perhaps the "Really?!" sign conveys his feelings of incredulousness and outrage at the subject of the protest - namely, the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States. In this sense, the man is an ally of the protesters. Conversely, the "Really?!" sign could convey the man's feelings of dismissiveness towards the protesters as he walks away from the wall of signs. Suffice to say that the ambivalence in this photo is what makes it interesting to me.
A photo of the "wall of signs" at the 2017 Women's March in Los Angeles. The signs are of a mostly political bent and include phrases like, "#GirlPower," "Rise in Peace," "And Justice for All," "I'm with Her." What I specifically like about this photo is the "Road Work Ahead" construction sign in the foreground. The Women's March and other protests that occurred around this time were in many ways a reaction to the 2016 Presidential Election, but regardless of any one person's political views, most could agree that work needed to be done to resolve the tensions and ruptures in the United States after the election.
Crowd at the 2017 Los Angeles Women's March. Many of the attendees are wearing the pink "pussy hats" that have become symbolic of the March. Two people are holding signs. One reads: "Who is illegal? Show me YOUR papers!" The other sign displays a young Chicana or Latina woman in coloring reminiscent of President Obama's 2008 "Hope" campaign. I feel that these two signs enhance each other - one can imagine the woman in the second sign actually saying the phrase in the first sign.
A sign at the 2017 Los Angeles Women's March that reads: "My Choice." Next to the sign, someone raises their fist in solidarity or support.
I took this photo while I was a public relations intern at the American Youth Symphony in the summer of 2016. The day that I took this photo, I was walking up and down Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles in search of the famous Miracle Mile sign. The Director of Community Engagement, Alice Dutton, wanted a photograph of the sign that could be used in the banner of the American Youth Symphony website to advertise our office's new location. I never found the Miracle Mile sign (apparently, it had been removed due to some construction), but I did capture a pleasing image of an American flag waving in the background behind a Wilshire Boulevard street sign near the famous Johnie's Coffee Shop Restaurant. This was the photo that we ended up using for the website banner.
The "Rocket Robin" art piece at Parnell Park in Whittier, California. This art piece is one of several of the City of Whittier's Art in Public Places projects. According to the City of Whittier website: "The artwork celebrates the beloved harbinger of Spring, the robin, while adding a humorous, retro science fiction quality with its construction, which is reminiscent of the Airstream Travel Trailers, an icon of Spring vacations from years gone by." I think the skewed angle of this photo and the light rays beaming down from the top right corner of the frame make the Robin seem somehow alive.
A close-up shot of a lizard on a trail in the hills of Hadley and Turnbull Canyon in Whittier. What I like about this photo is something rather obvious - how the lizard is camouflaged by the ground in color and texture.
An art piece entitled "Azarosas andaduras para un zapato sucio" (translation: "Unfortunate Journeys for a Dirty Shoe") on display at an exhibition at an art school near Matanzas, Cuba. The display is of an old, ragged, weather-beaten shoe with two wheels attached underneath. I took this photo while I was studying abroad in Cuba during the summer of 2015.
A photograph of me standing on a ledge at the top of Lion's Head Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa with the South Atlantic Ocean stretching to the horizon behind. When I reached the top of the mountain and saw this scene, I felt compelled to capture it, so I asked my friend to take this photo. This was at the end of a two week conference that I was attending in Cape Town as part of my Mellon Mays research fellowship. After many days of hiking and being out in the hot sun, I looked (and felt) like the walking dead: scabbed and bruised legs, dirty clothes, sunburnt face. It was all worth it in the end.
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© 2020 Kellen Aguilar