River Portraits

After checking in to The 22nd La Gran Limpieza, volunteers went their separate ways dotting the river bed on a mission to make a difference.  While clearing trash from the Los Angeles River is the purpose of The Great Los Angeles River Cleanup organized by FoLAR each year, I realized something else was at play.  Watching a young man dig a cell phone out from under some river rocks with a stick, hearing the uncontrolled laughter between friends as one of them waded with drive and dedication to dig up soggy trash, feeling the energy generating from a Girl Scout troop filling up all their bags, it dawned on me.  This was ultimately a form of self expression.  Each person had an individual vision of what their contribution would be.  I was catching them at an intimate moment.  They generously allowed me to capture these portraits, then continued with humility, making their mark on the world.  Did I mention they were all having fun doing it?

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