Surfing, Skateboarding, Music, Photography, Travel, Culture and general antics of the youth on the run.

Photo Credit: Monroe Alvarez Portfolio 024: Studio, lifestyle and maybe the world’s most legit “selfies”

what youth photo credit monroe alvarez

Monroe Alvarez might take some of the world’s greatest “selfies.” She once did a road trip solo just to shoot them. But her portfolio and website are filled with incredible lifestyle and studio images. We recently chatted to her about her style and got this impressive sample of images. Redefining “selfie” series included.

What Youth: How old were you when you got into photography? How were you introduced?

Monroe Alvarez: Well… my father is a photographer and my mother was a model so I grew up around photography.

Do you remember the first time you realized, “This is what I want to do”. Like the first time that you made a photograph that made you want to keep doing it or that felt like your own?

I’ve always had a camera on me, but it wasn’t until two years ago that I decided to go forward with it as a career. It was one of those “A-HA!” moments… I remember thinking, “Oh wait, I can get paid to do what I love? So I wouldn’t ever have to “work” a day in my life. Down.” And ever since then I’ve been going after my dream.

How did you develop your skills? Technically and creatively. Did you go to school or have a mentor?

Being a model for 10 years I always made sure to pay attention to what was being done on set. Lighting position, camera settings, etc. And with my dad as a photographer, he is the best teacher I could ever ask for. Everything else I taught myself. I took a course for photography for one semester but I got very bored with it because I had already taught myself everything they were teaching me, and I felt as if it wasn’t a very creative surrounding. I could have kept going at it with school but I made the executive decision to take my schooling to the streets and teach myself, just like I have done with everything else.

What are you into shooting now?

I love shooting men. There’s something about them that I understand better than women. I know how to capture their essence in such a raw way that comes off genuine instead of “modely.”

Any recent travels for photography?

I went to Maderas Village in Nicaragua three times in the past five months. I can’t get enough. I became very close with the residents at the hotel and we all decided one drunken night to take nude photos the next morning. Those nude photos are some of my favorite pictures I have taken. It represents an Adam and Eve feel, a very exposed but comfortable way of being. The photos have gotten some traction with magazines and on social media, its pretty cool.

What inspires you?

People. Traveling. Stories. So many ideas and inspiration for projects come from random conversations you have with people, its just whether or not you are open to see it.

Any plans for this upcoming year?

Focusing on myself and work more than ever. I plan to make 2016 my biggest year yet, the year that everything will really be put into motion on a grander scale. I won’t be holding back with anything that I want to do. I can’t fucking wait!

alec castillo photography

Photo Credit: Alec Castillo Portfolio 029: The epitome of youth on the run

Alec Castillo is the bassist of self-proclaimed “boner rock” band The Nude Party. He’s also a photographer dedicated to depicting the world and lifestyle he inhabits. Whether capturing antics on tour or portraying the most intimate of moments amongst friends, this dude’s eye has our attention. And he’s only just begun. “I use photography to…

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Photo Credit: Tobin Yelland Portfolio 028: San Francisco skateboarding in the late ’80s

Tobin Yelland picked up photography early. And it was skateboarding right away. The subculture and lifestyle surrounding it especially. He was first published in Thrasher when he was only 15. We caught up with him below to learn a bit more about his path to being a revered skate photog. WHAT YOUTH: How old were…

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Photo Credit: Michael Cukr Portfolio 027: A look back at Michael “Horse” Cukr’s year

Michael Cukr works here at What Youth. He’s a horse. We call him that because of another Warren Smith quote moment, but beyond that he’s an incredible filmmaker and happens to be ridiculously good at photography. Which we benefit greatly from. In fact, he’s so good that he shot the following over the course of…

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Photo Credit: Molly Steele Portfolio 026: Train-hopping, fantasy and photo journalism

Molly Steele’s photography caught us off guard. Poetic, playful and beautiful but also tough and raw. This Girl We Adore from a few weeks ago submitted a batch of photos so good we had no choice but to feature them in a new Photo Credit. She’s a badass train hopper with an affinity for getting…

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Photo Credit: Hunter Martinez Portfolio 025: In a busy California winter, this young photog’s work is a step ahead

Hunter Martinez is 21 years old and from Pasadena, California. Not exactly a spot many of you would know if you surf. But that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a major standout in what has become an overwhelmingly well-documented California winter. Hunter has the eye. And the hustle. And our very own Nate Lawrence saw…

what youth photo credit monroe alvarez

Photo Credit: Monroe Alvarez Portfolio 024: Studio, lifestyle and maybe the world’s most legit “selfies”

Monroe Alvarez might take some of the world’s greatest “selfies.” She once did a road trip solo just to shoot them. But her portfolio and website are filled with incredible lifestyle and studio images. We recently chatted to her about her style and got this impressive sample of images. Redefining “selfie” series included. What Youth:…

Photo Credit: Skyler Dahan Portfolio 023: Paris, LA and how to take a strangers photo

Skyler Dahan is a Los Angeles based photographer who we were introduced to through industry legend and RVCA founder Pat Tenore. When he looped us in with Skyer, we were immediately blown away by the imagery and how evolved and intimate they were. We hit Skyler up and realized we all could learn a lot…

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Photo Credit: Wiissa Portfolio 022 features an exotic photography duo

Wiissa is photography duo Vanessa Hollander & Wilson Philippe. They have roots everywhere from Minnesota, Brazil, France and Miami. And have photographed just about every strange subculture and genre you can think of in music and fashion, as well as mainstream outlets like The Huffington Post. But the thing that we love is their ability to take…

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Photo Credit: Cory Hansen Portfolio 021: Classic Santa Cruz, flash, stars and Dane

When Nate Lawrence rings and recommends a photographer for a Photo Credit feature, we know we had better answer. Because it’s going to be a doozy. Especially when the name comes from Santa Cruz. We called up Cory Hansen and his submission blew our mind. A mix of beautiful and retrospective moments that define an…

what youth photo credit cole barash creed mctaggart

Photo Credit: Cole Barash Portfolio 020

Cole Barash photographed one of our favorite things we’ve ever printed in What Youth. You can find it in What Youth Issue 7, it’s called 6 Girls, 6 Cities and features 6 beautiful girls in London, Tokyo, Paris, Sao Paulo, Moscow and New York. It’s beautiful photography and it was no easy feat to juxtapose…

Photo Credit: Alana Paterson Portfolio 019

Alana Paterson is a reminder of the great things in life. The great outdoors, great times, travel, drinking beers and skateboarding with friends. Captured in such a transparent, honest way. She currently lives in British Columbia, and graduated from Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver B.C., as well as The Lesley University of Boston….

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Photo Credit: Terence Connors Portfolio 019

WHAT YOUTH: “Terrence M. Connors has been recognized by his peers as one of the pre-eminent trial attorneys in the state.” How do you feel about that being the first thing that comes up when you google your name? TERRENCE CONNORS: [Laughing]. That’s awesome. Where did you grow up? How did you end up where you are…

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