"I first picked up the camera this summer in June, but I hardly knew how to use it. I started asking friends to teach me and watched many tutorials so I could shoot manually using a digital camera. In so many ways, I am a beginner who still has much to learn. Having taken a History of Photography class, I started reading and watching documentaries about many different street photographers, but Diane Arbus remains one of my biggest influences. Although I am only just beginning this intense journey, I know that I would like to capture images of people who are marginalized in society be it because of economics, age, race, disability, or sexuality. In the future, I plan on learning how to use a film camera so I can stay true to pioneers of Street Photography."

Cheryl Nyasha Johnson graduated from Principia College in May 2014 with a major in Business and a minor in Art History. She is currently taking classes at the International Center of Photography in New York City.