A child waits for their parent at a voting booth at the Henrietta Fire Company No. 1 in Henrietta, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2022. While the child’s parent requested to withhold their information, she told me that, “[she believes] that getting them excited about

A child waits for their parent at a voting booth at the Henrietta Fire Company No. 1 in Henrietta, N.Y., Nov. 8, 2022. While the child’s parent requested to withhold their information, she told me that, “[she believes] that getting them excited about voting is one of the most important things [she] can do as a parent.”

Festival goers walk by a partially inflated hot air balloon on the second day of the Dansville Balloon Festival on Sept. 3, 2022 in Dansville, N.Y. This special hot air balloon in the background is slightly inflated for children to run in. The festiv

Festival goers walk by a partially inflated hot air balloon on the second day of the Dansville Balloon Festival on Sept. 3, 2022 in Dansville, N.Y. This special hot air balloon in the background is slightly inflated for children to run in. The festival ran from Sept. 2-4 and was recently announced that they will not be having the festival in 2023.

Protestors demonstrate at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) offices on Saturday, Aug. 16, in Portland, O.R. While protestors remained largely nonviolent, I.C.E. officers and Portland Police detained approximately five people, wit

Protestors demonstrate at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) offices on Saturday, Aug. 16, in Portland, O.R. While protestors remained largely nonviolent, I.C.E. officers and Portland Police detained approximately five people, with one later being driven to the hospital. Their current condition remains unknown.

Tarot reader, Rauncie “MZ Medusa” Ryan, poses for a portrait in her Victorian Parlor room in Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 10, 2022. Ryan has been a Pagan High Priestess for over 20 years and is the current Pagan Chaplain at the Rochester Institute of Tech

Tarot reader, Rauncie “MZ Medusa” Ryan, poses for a portrait in her Victorian Parlor room in Rochester, N.Y. on Nov. 10, 2022. Ryan has been a Pagan High Priestess for over 20 years and is the current Pagan Chaplain at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. In addition to Tarot reading, Ryan is also a member of RocDommes, a BDSM organization in Rochester. She is also the co-founder and art curator of the Rochester Erotic Arts Festival and holds the Annual Rochester Vampire Ball. After growing up in strict, religious Southern town, Ryan says that, “[her] goal is to live [her] life as authentically as [she] can,” and, “[she] never [holds back] from expressing [herself], regardless of the judgment.”

A protestor assist another after the first round of tear gas was deployed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) officers and Portland Police outside the I.C.E. offices in Portland, O.R. on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

A protestor assist another after the first round of tear gas was deployed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) officers and Portland Police outside the I.C.E. offices in Portland, O.R. on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

Dancers from the RIT Vis Viva Dance Company perform the opening act before the A Capella Showcase for RIT’s Brick City Weekend in Henrietta, N.Y., on Oct. 14, 2023.

Dancers from the RIT Vis Viva Dance Company perform the opening act before the A Capella Showcase for RIT’s Brick City Weekend in Henrietta, N.Y., on Oct. 14, 2023.

A local farmer shows her granddaughter how to use wool cutting shears during the Pedigree Open Sheep Show at The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse , N.Y., on Aug. 3. 2023.

A local farmer shows her granddaughter how to use wool cutting shears during the Pedigree Open Sheep Show at The Great New York State Fair in Syracuse , N.Y., on Aug. 3. 2023.

Professional mermaid, Kat “Katfish” Cercelli, poses for a portrait in her home office in Scottsville, N.Y., Nov. 17, 2022. Cercelli has been a professional mermaid for seven years after officially starting her career as “Katfish” in 2015. In addition

Professional mermaid, Kat “Katfish” Cercelli, poses for a portrait in her home office in Scottsville, N.Y., Nov. 17, 2022. Cercelli has been a professional mermaid for seven years after officially starting her career as “Katfish” in 2015. In addition to mermaiding, Cercelli is also a Twitch streamer in her free time. “Katfish” is Cercelli’s mersona, mersona being the name for a mermaid’s stage persona. She says that a mersona is, “a completely different character than who you are as a person so that you can escape into that, or it can just be an extension of yourself.” Cercelli also says that, “to [her, Katfish is] a more relaxed version of [herself],” and that, “[she feels] more [herself] as a mermaid than [she does] on a normal day. It feels more like [her], it feels more free, it feels more fun. [She feels] more relaxed in how [she] can react to things. So, for [her], it's about being the better version of [herself], the more fun version of [herself].

A member of the Monroe County Sheriff Scuba Team waits in the water for the The 25th annual Rochester Polar Plunge at Charlotte Beach in Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, N.Y. on February 2, 2025. The scuba team waits prepared for every polar plunge i

A member of the Monroe County Sheriff Scuba Team waits in the water for the The 25th annual Rochester Polar Plunge at Charlotte Beach in Ontario Beach Park in Rochester, N.Y. on February 2, 2025. The scuba team waits prepared for every polar plunge in case of emergency.

Comedian Francesca Maglione (right) points to an injury she received during her performance to Andrew Steiner (left) after their show, “How to Meditate: A Burlesque Show” at The Spirit Room in Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 14, 2022. Their show is part of

Comedian Francesca Maglione (right) points to an injury she received during her performance to Andrew Steiner (left) after their show, “How to Meditate: A Burlesque Show” at The Spirit Room in Rochester, N.Y., on Sept. 14, 2022. Their show is part of the Rochester Fringe Festival and was performed on Sept. 13, 14, and 16 with all sold out shows. Francesca and Andrew got married a week before this performance and say that this show is part of their honeymoon.

Drag queen Samantha Vega gets ready for her second performance of the night at the Roar nightclub in Rochester, N.Y. on Dec. 15, 2025. "I probably still be performing in the wheelchair" Vega states. "I just I like music. I like dancing, I like the pa

Drag queen Samantha Vega gets ready for her second performance of the night at the Roar nightclub in Rochester, N.Y. on Dec. 15, 2025. "I probably still be performing in the wheelchair" Vega states. "I just I like music. I like dancing, I like the pageantry of at all. I don't think that's going away any time."