Mary Dias is a photographer and senior in high school from the San Francisco Bay Area. 

I intend to shed light on aspects of our lives that usually are overlooked through my photos of seemingly mundane aspects of life. I like to find beauty in the things we view as normal because that way we can appreciate what they are and think about what we pass by in a different light. This often allows for my photos to become a way to navigate my thoughts and serve as a calming space for reflection. I hope to inspire reflection in others as well with the possibility of one piece resonating with someone and changing their point of view. My current project Through the Cracks in the Cement is a more documentary-style project, depicting the story of my 71 year old father. In an attempt to shed light on his story and provide a new perspective, I have changed my perspective and reflected deeply on my relationship with him, which has been so powerful. My earlier project Isolation showed my process of understanding the global pandemic after returning from complete isolation on a backpacking trip In Death Valley, California. This intense navigation of my thoughts inspired deep reflection and a shift in my perspective. I hope to create more work in this realm, while branching out and experimenting in new areas as well!