Raised in San Francisco, artist Kaya Marina Levin has been making images since they were a teenager, first borrowing cameras from their father before developing a practice rooted in analog photography. Kaya graduated from SF’s Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and then UC Santa Cruz, where they earned a BA in Studio Arts with a focus on analog photography. Levin's work is informed by a dedication to the slow and methodical analog process and a fascination with the human form.

Kaya was introduced to photography around age fourteen when their father handed down his point and shoot camera and later his Nikon F3. Both cameras remain part of Kaya’s practice today. In recent years, Kaya has expanded into medium and large format photography, working with 120 film and 4x5.

"I have always been fascinated by the human form," Kaya shared with me over email. "As a child, I was often told I had a staring problem. The camera gives me an excuse to stare."

Influenced by photographers such as Francesca Woodman, Nan Goldin, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Mary Ellen Mark, Richard Avedon, and Dylan Hausthor, Levin creates images that feel intimate, emotionally charged, and attentive to the people in front of the lens.

Music has been a presence throughout Kaya’s life. Growing up in the Bay, surrounded by parents who were immersed in local art and music, they spent their childhood around musicians and live performances. By middle school, Kaya was attending shows regularly. Sitting at 5'3", they shared that navigating shows wasn't always easy but carrying a camera changed that.

"When I started bringing a camera to shows in high school, I realized it was the perfect way to move through a crowd. For some reason, people are much more accepting of being shoved past when you have a professional looking camera strapped to you."

A formative influence came from flipping through their father's copy of Fuck You Heroes by Glen E. Friedman as a teenager. While Kaya was drawn to the intensity of the photographs, they found themself wanting something different.

"Male rage wasn't interesting to me. I wanted to see pictures of angry women and queer people instead." So Kaya started photographing their own community.

“In college about 90% of my friends were in bands and I carried a camera on me every weekend and that's where it really began for me. My housemate Emma played in a two piece band called Half Calf with their girlfriend Jackie, and taking photos at their shows is what really made me get comfortable getting up close and personal at concerts.”

This is part one of a two part feature. You can find more of Kaya’s work here and follow them on instagram here.