Pasadena Now Section Editor, Photographer Debuts Work Alongside Chocolate Fountain

Art is about more than just creating beauty – it has the power to change people by providing a new perspective.

Using photography as her medium, Veronica An, tells the story of life in Los Angeles and brings awareness to the issues of community, public transportation and urban life.

From Here to There is her first photo essay to be exhibited in a group show.

“As someone who rides the bus everyday, I wanted to show others what I experience on a daily basis – public transportation gets a bad rap in L.A. and this is my chance to show that riding the bus shouldn’t be looked down upon,” said An.

Her series of dreamy, humanistic photos pay homage to the city and portray the temporary community that forms between passengers and bus operators.

She collaborated with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and shadowed a veteran bus operator on the 111 bus route to Florence.

“As a bus driver, you get to see the real side of Los Angeles…it changes you and makes you a better person,” said Vanessa Maldonado, a Metro bus operator who participated in the photo essay.

From Here to There is a series of photos and short essay that debuted at the Chocolate and Art Show in Los Angeles on August 19 and 20.