Witness & Participant: Capturing Youth with Teen Photographer Nico Young

For more on Nico’s photography, follow @nicobyoung on Instagram.

Nico Young (@nicobyoung) wants the world to understand that teenage photographers are a force to be reckoned with. He should know: The 17-year-old had his work published on the cover of The New York Times Magazine — teasing to a 12-page spread inside. “I just want other teens to understand how valuable their perspective is,” says the native Californian. “Young people can be so creative.” Nico has been photographing his friends since the point-and-shoot days, but landed this assignment when a teacher shared his work with the Times.

“Young photographers are in a special position because no adult can capture teenage life with the same intimacy and honesty that a teenager can,” says Nico. “I am not just a witness to the actions in the photos; I am a participant. I am in the images.” Nico plans on preserving his time capsule of teenagehood as long as possible: “I feel a lot of pressure to capture it all before I’m not a kid anymore. I want to appreciate it while it lasts.”