I asked people from outside of the USA what they think of the USA.
This is an online recreation of my first physical photography gallery. I was a part of the internationally respected CEPA Gallery Photoworks program, a class sponsored by Fujifilm, and many other sponsors. I was able to meet many great photographer mentors. With that, great teachers, and great online friends, I was able to complete this project. This is by far my proudest accomplishment in life, thank you for the support and looking at these pictures.
Here’s the gallery featuring my student biography, project statement, and the pictures with the given answers and flags of countries of where they came from.
Student Bio
Jack Voltz is a 17 year old currently enrolled at Williamsville North High School and BOCES Harkness. He spends his free time working as part of the stage crew club at North, enjoying the thrills of live sound mixing with his classmates, for his classmates. Always working behind the scenes, Jack also has deep passion for photography. Initially interested by his older sister, Eva, Jack bought his first camera when he was 12. In 2022, Jack set out to start and complete a daily photography project, and being supported by his online friends, he accomplished it. What draws Jack into photography is the simplicity and intricacy of the art form. When asked by his photo teachers, should his work be nuanced or stereotypical, that question isn’t just set for his current project but all projects. Jack sees no other choice but to step outside of the box if he wants his work to be more appreciated. Anyone can take a picture, but everyone can do it right. Finding what’s “right” to Jack still falls in bounds with the world of creative technology, something he’s trying to utilize differently from others, while learning something new every time he creates photos. Like all students his age, Jack is torn and can’t decide which passions to pursue for possible professions. Jack is still extraordinarily grateful to have pre-college learning experiences in photography and sound engineering. He’ll always be interested in the creative tech field, and hopes he can continue his passions for himself and for the folks around him.
Project Statement
I’ve always had support from my online friends and folks around the world, so as a token of gratitude, I decided to take their unbiased viewpoints of Americana culture from non-Americans and present them back to America. America as a whole tries to stand out from other countries. American exceptionalism isn’t new, but it also isn’t dwelled on by the average person. If this country is placed on such a high pedestal for others to look at, what do people not from America actually think about America? That’s the question I asked my online friends, and that’s the question I hope to answer with this project. I was initially inspired to complete this idea when photojournalist mentor Brendan Bannon gave me this idea. I thought it was a fantastic idea that could include my friends, but I never understood how hard executing it would be. Either nuanced or stereotypical, it would be hard to find answers to my prompts. Instead of overthinking it, I just started taking pictures and I was able to stay in bounds surprisingly easily. No one ever told me that my project would be easy, and it wasn’t. Once I got in the groove, I had enough confidence and willpower to complete the project. With so much that has gone into this project, I don’t want it to end here. I hope to extend this project outside of CEPA and Photoworks into potentially publishing a book with a more diverse set of answers and photos. I am very grateful for all the support from my teachers and all the photo mentors I’ve met this year. I’m beholden to my Dad for having the will to drive me out to all these places for picture taking. I’m indebted to all the folks online for giving me answers, because I wouldn’t have been able to produce this project without their opinions.
