Archie
Anand U
Student
Los Angeles
2025
Honorable Mention
Archie is my Best Friend. He is my puppy. He is my joy because he's so cute. He also does many tricks like roll over. Everything he does brings me joy!
Archie
Archie is my Best Friend. He is my puppy. He is my joy because he's so cute. He also does many tricks like roll over. Everything he does brings me joy!
My Cat
Colin C
Student
Los Angeles
2025
Honorable Mention
My cat jumps, runs, and hunts. She brings me joy because she is cute. She also sleeps with me.
My Cat
My cat jumps, runs, and hunts. She brings me joy because she is cute. She also sleeps with me.
This is my dog, named Cosmo. We got Como when he was 2. He is very funny and mischievous. One day, I went to the restroom. I left my pizza on my plate. When I got out of the restroom, Cosmo had my pizza. I laughed. These things brings me joy.
My Dog, Cosmo
This is my dog, named Cosmo. We got Como when he was 2. He is very funny and mischievous. One day, I went to the restroom. I left my pizza on my plate. When I got out of the restroom, Cosmo had my pizza. I laughed. These things brings me joy.
I like my neighborhood. When I go outside I can see birds chirping. I can visit friends. This brings me joy.
My Neighborhood
I like my neighborhood. When I go outside I can see birds chirping. I can visit friends. This brings me joy.
This image represents joy because the flower falling can represent losing joy and hope. The hand represents a person losing joy.
2024-2025
This image represents joy because the flower falling can represent losing joy and hope. The hand represents a person losing joy.
This photo was took at school on our Senior crown day, which every senior made themselves a crown that represents their personality. This resembles joy as Graduation is something to look forward to as a senior in High School, and a very joyful moment for everyone that has graduated and achieved success of 12 years of school.
2025 Graduation
This photo was took at school on our Senior crown day, which every senior made themselves a crown that represents their personality. This resembles joy as Graduation is something to look forward to as a senior in High School, and a very joyful moment for everyone that has graduated and achieved success of 12 years of school.
This photo was taken at school just a couple days after we had returned from evacuating the Eaton fire. My friend Carson seemed more melancholy than normal, so I offered to take him golfing because it is his favorite thing to do, and he responded with the first smile I had seen from him since the fires.
A Beautiful Smile from Carson
This photo was taken at school just a couple days after we had returned from evacuating the Eaton fire. My friend Carson seemed more melancholy than normal, so I offered to take him golfing because it is his favorite thing to do, and he responded with the first smile I had seen from him since the fires.
I can assume that most of your life you have been in one certain area. But as we live in a certain area sometimes we can forget how big the world truly is. There will always be a sight that you will never see, but that's the fun part. New plants, people, animals, cultures, food, and even more. Perhaps one day you will find a place to settle or maybe a new special person in your life. When I think about it I just get so excited to see more. And when you go home to find yourself back in that one certain area you can always find joy in looking forward to something new.
A Big World
I can assume that most of your life you have been in one certain area. But as we live in a certain area sometimes we can forget how big the world truly is. There will always be a sight that you will never see, but that's the fun part. New plants, people, animals, cultures, food, and even more. Perhaps one day you will find a place to settle or maybe a new special person in your life. When I think about it I just get so excited to see more. And when you go home to find yourself back in that one certain area you can always find joy in looking forward to something new.
The smell of fresh food filled the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and clinking plates. The Chinese Buffet that was randomly picked for our breakfast destination was where the next memory was formed. Our table—packed with family and friends—was full. My cousin, sitting next to me, picked up a small dessert cake, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She wanted a picture, but the second she took a bite, something changed. Her smile wasn’t just for the camera anymore—it was real. She closed her eyes for a second, letting the layers melt on her tongue, savoring every bit of it. It was such a simple moment, but it felt like more. The kind of happiness you don’t plan, the kind that just happens when you’re surrounded by good food and the people you love. Looking back, it wasn’t just about the cake—it was about the memory, the warmth, the pure joy of being there, together.
A Bite to Remember
The smell of fresh food filled the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and clinking plates. The Chinese Buffet that was randomly picked for our breakfast destination was where the next memory was formed. Our table—packed with family and friends—was full. My cousin, sitting next to me, picked up a small dessert cake, her eyes lighting up with excitement. She wanted a picture, but the second she took a bite, something changed. Her smile wasn’t just for the camera anymore—it was real. She closed her eyes for a second, letting the layers melt on her tongue, savoring every bit of it. It was such a simple moment, but it felt like more. The kind of happiness you don’t plan, the kind that just happens when you’re surrounded by good food and the people you love. Looking back, it wasn’t just about the cake—it was about the memory, the warmth, the pure joy of being there, together.
A Break
Caroline R
Student
Los Angeles
2025
Honorable Mention
The photo was taken in Oxnard, on Mandalay Beach close to Channel Islands Harbor. The photograph relates to the theme of joy because sunsets bring me joy. After a long day, it is nice to take time to enjoy the sunset and take time to reflect on the day. Seeing the sunset always makes my day better, especially when they are this beautiful.
A Break
The photo was taken in Oxnard, on Mandalay Beach close to Channel Islands Harbor. The photograph relates to the theme of joy because sunsets bring me joy. After a long day, it is nice to take time to enjoy the sunset and take time to reflect on the day. Seeing the sunset always makes my day better, especially when they are this beautiful.
It was my first week to attend this school and we went on a field trip to Cover's Farm. I love animals and was given permission to go into the animal pens to get close up photo. I was so happy to be around the farm animals. I had not had good experiences at my formal school, so this day brought me joy. I love the school I am at now, and I am allowed to be creative in my expressions and art.
A Day at the Farm
It was my first week to attend this school and we went on a field trip to Cover's Farm. I love animals and was given permission to go into the animal pens to get close up photo. I was so happy to be around the farm animals. I had not had good experiences at my formal school, so this day brought me joy. I love the school I am at now, and I am allowed to be creative in my expressions and art.
My photo shows the way a dog's happiness can make people feel joy and smile whether they are personally connected to the dog or not. The image was taken on a hike when everyone was exhausted, this happy and silly photo of him made everyone smile and laugh despite our exhaustion. This photo still makes me smile even on a difficult day and I hope it brings you joy too.
A dog's joy
My photo shows the way a dog's happiness can make people feel joy and smile whether they are personally connected to the dog or not. The image was taken on a hike when everyone was exhausted, this happy and silly photo of him made everyone smile and laugh despite our exhaustion. This photo still makes me smile even on a difficult day and I hope it brings you joy too.
We took the photo in a makeshift studio in the classroom, we were laughing and having a good time, I feel like that really emulates the topic of joy. She is also a good friend of mind and we always have fun together.
A Good Time
We took the photo in a makeshift studio in the classroom, we were laughing and having a good time, I feel like that really emulates the topic of joy. She is also a good friend of mind and we always have fun together.
As the pigeons sit and bask in the sundown glow, trying to heat up on a cold spring day, they experience no thoughts beyond pure survival instinct. They have no anxieties over a superficial mistake that will only cost reputation—no, they worry not for things so petty. They have seeds to eat, bagels to steal, lamps to sit on, and miles to fly. The pigeons do not comprehend the extreme power of the white line behind them. They do not know what it took for Homo erectus to develop flight, for they were born with it and shall never know life without. Thus, a pigeon shall only know the purest joy something can experience, for they are so gleefully ignorant that they will never know anything but.
A Joy Without Thought
As the pigeons sit and bask in the sundown glow, trying to heat up on a cold spring day, they experience no thoughts beyond pure survival instinct. They have no anxieties over a superficial mistake that will only cost reputation—no, they worry not for things so petty. They have seeds to eat, bagels to steal, lamps to sit on, and miles to fly. The pigeons do not comprehend the extreme power of the white line behind them. They do not know what it took for Homo erectus to develop flight, for they were born with it and shall never know life without. Thus, a pigeon shall only know the purest joy something can experience, for they are so gleefully ignorant that they will never know anything but.
If you had to choose food from one cuisine to eat forever what would that be? For me it's my comfort food, my joy. My comfort food will always be Korean food. Korean food was always with me from day one. It's food where if I got served with it every meal I wouldn't get sick of it. This picture is a prime example of my culture and its food. The bright lights and lines make it very visually appealing to the eye. The unique and creative foods you see on the menu are only a fraction of the Koreans beliefs to our food.
A Koreans Crunch & Comfort
If you had to choose food from one cuisine to eat forever what would that be? For me it's my comfort food, my joy. My comfort food will always be Korean food. Korean food was always with me from day one. It's food where if I got served with it every meal I wouldn't get sick of it. This picture is a prime example of my culture and its food. The bright lights and lines make it very visually appealing to the eye. The unique and creative foods you see on the menu are only a fraction of the Koreans beliefs to our food.
The joy she felt when I first opened my eyes. The joy I felt every time she said she loved me. To be loved is to be changed. She manages to break down the walls I've built for myself when something bad happens to me - a bad grade on a math test, a scrape on my knee, a fight with my friends. My mother is the source of my happiness and love. She can bring me up, even when I'm buried down as deep as a fossil. Not only is she the source of my joy, but I'm the source of hers. She cried with happiness when I ran my first race, when I received my first medal. Every time she smiles, I don't see the shine it brings - I feel it.
A Mother with a Lot of Love
The joy she felt when I first opened my eyes. The joy I felt every time she said she loved me. To be loved is to be changed. She manages to break down the walls I've built for myself when something bad happens to me - a bad grade on a math test, a scrape on my knee, a fight with my friends. My mother is the source of my happiness and love. She can bring me up, even when I'm buried down as deep as a fossil. Not only is she the source of my joy, but I'm the source of hers. She cried with happiness when I ran my first race, when I received my first medal. Every time she smiles, I don't see the shine it brings - I feel it.
A Nest
Sakura D
Student
Los Angeles
2025
Honorable Mention
This picture is of my close friend Ally. Ally is one of those people you’d meet once in a full moon. She is passionate, funny, and incredibly intelligent. Knowing me I wouldn’t have ever said these things about her before 8th grade. As we’ve gotten closer she’s gotten to be like family or a place of comfort for me and I think that in itself is pretty joyful. It’s always nice to have someone there for you.
A Nest
This picture is of my close friend Ally. Ally is one of those people you’d meet once in a full moon. She is passionate, funny, and incredibly intelligent. Knowing me I wouldn’t have ever said these things about her before 8th grade. As we’ve gotten closer she’s gotten to be like family or a place of comfort for me and I think that in itself is pretty joyful. It’s always nice to have someone there for you.
This photo was taken at my dining room table on the morning of my birthday. This photo relates to the theme "Joy" because my eighteenth birthday was a huge part of my life and was an exciting day for me. Joy was brought to me on every birthday but my eighteenth being a big jump to adulthood was a big impact on my life.
A New Chapter Begins
This photo was taken at my dining room table on the morning of my birthday. This photo relates to the theme "Joy" because my eighteenth birthday was a huge part of my life and was an exciting day for me. Joy was brought to me on every birthday but my eighteenth being a big jump to adulthood was a big impact on my life.
This is a photo of my nephew, taken in my home. I had just gotten home from a long and horrible day of school; and there my nephew was. He looked very happy, mainly because my sister was entertaining him. I volunteered to take her place because I knew she'd be leaving for work soon. I had never seen him smile as big as when I approached to say hello. He was making a lot of noises; the ones that babies usually make. It was something small that meant a lot to me because it really made me realise that my nephew was experiencing a whole new world. He's feeling new things, experiencing new things, and he wasn't the only one. I was experiencing new things with him. That's why I took this photo of him. I don't feel joy often, but this was one of the few times I truly felt it. I have my new world thanks to my nephew. That is why I believe this photo embodies joy, and I hope that it brings you a sense of happiness, or joy, too.
A New World
This is a photo of my nephew, taken in my home. I had just gotten home from a long and horrible day of school; and there my nephew was. He looked very happy, mainly because my sister was entertaining him. I volunteered to take her place because I knew she'd be leaving for work soon. I had never seen him smile as big as when I approached to say hello. He was making a lot of noises; the ones that babies usually make. It was something small that meant a lot to me because it really made me realise that my nephew was experiencing a whole new world. He's feeling new things, experiencing new things, and he wasn't the only one. I was experiencing new things with him. That's why I took this photo of him. I don't feel joy often, but this was one of the few times I truly felt it. I have my new world thanks to my nephew. That is why I believe this photo embodies joy, and I hope that it brings you a sense of happiness, or joy, too.
This is a photo I took at the FireAid Concert this year. I attended this event with two of my friends, and together, we experienced an unforgettable five-hour-long show filled with music and energy. This photograph captures the theme of "Joy" because it shows the way music can bring people together. All the people there, including us, were immersed in the performance and showed excitement every time a new artist came up. The vibrant colors and the word "LOVE" displayed across the stage create an atmosphere filled with happiness and connection.
A Night of Music and Joy
This is a photo I took at the FireAid Concert this year. I attended this event with two of my friends, and together, we experienced an unforgettable five-hour-long show filled with music and energy. This photograph captures the theme of "Joy" because it shows the way music can bring people together. All the people there, including us, were immersed in the performance and showed excitement every time a new artist came up. The vibrant colors and the word "LOVE" displayed across the stage create an atmosphere filled with happiness and connection.