Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by Corey Torpie
Being based in Brooklyn I had never heard of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez until her incredible victory a few weeks ago. Since then I have learned a little more about her and with every new piece of information or sound clip my heart skips a beat. Maybe there is hope for the future of the country, she got 19 year olds to vote in an off year primary election, if you can do that maybe you can do anything.
Corey Torpie is a member of the Bushwick Community Darkroom who photographed Ocasio-Cortez during her campaign. Below are her words on the experience and incredibly inspiring images.
-Lucia Rollow, BCD Director
For the past couple of weeks I've been photographing the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaign. Since Trump's election I knew I wanted to get more involved with the politics of change in this country but didn't really know how to proceed because I felt so powerless and stunned. A friend from high school and at the time ACLU's voice on twitter, posted on facebook offering to connect people she knew, and she connected me to the chief of staff for Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas. We sat down to coffee with our babies and she told me to find my candidate in 2018 and do whatever I could to help. Now here we are. There can be a lot of vitriol on internet but never underestimate the power of putting good stuff out there. I'd never have had this amazing experience without their help and wise words.
In college I studied Political Science and Photojournalism. I work as a wedding photographer and photography teacher for local community organizations in Brooklyn and the Bronx. This is the kind of work I've long aspired to create. It has been humbling and a huge honor to document Alexandria and the team of people behind her.
-Corey Torpie, BCD Member/Photographer
