Will Berlin ’19 held a photography show for his self-edited series, which focused on diverse faces of pedestrians, in Feldman-Horn Gallery on Jan. 16. The event, which culminated Berlin’s independent study, was the largest showing of photos on campus organized by an individual student.

Berlin’s photography show, titled ‘Rodeo Drive’, included 64 pictures taken of local pedestrians on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.

The show included a combination of traditional street photography as well as candid pictures.

As a nearby resident, Berlin said he chose Rodeo Drive as the location for his photography in order to capture the diversity of people in the area.

“Growing up Rodeo Drive was merely another street in Beverly Hills, one I walked on going to dinner every Friday,” Berlin said. “As I get older, I became interested in the various people who visited this unique collection of blocks which inspired my project.”

Berlin said he received guidance from both the Independent Study Board and visual arts teacher Joe Medina for the photography show.

“I must extend my sincere gratitude to the Independent Study Board, the Harvard-Westlake Art Department and my mentor, Medina for all the support they have given me,” Berlin said.

Students who attended the photography show said they enjoyed Berlin’s photography.

“I was impressed with [Berlin’s] photos,” Matthew Gross ’19 said. “He took a lot of time in order to get the final product. It’s really cool that he got to showcase it at the school.”

Berlin said that putting together the show changed the way he views his photography.

“Putting on a show was an entirely new experience for me which required me to think about photography in an entirely different way,” Berlin said.
Medina said that the project helped Berlin develop as a photographer.

“[Berlin’s] work became more about the people and the impact this site plays upon them,” Medina said. “I feel the [series] push the parameters of the established genre of ‘Street Photography.’”