Sentinel, Photograph
Gundam, Photograph
Rockabillies, Photograph
Red Eiffel Tower, Photograph
Confidante, Photograph
Collision, Photograph
By Jocelyn Boren
About Sentinel, Boren wrote, “During my study abroad in Tokyo, Japan, everywhere I went, I kept seeing this same building again and again. It didn’t really have much looks-wise going for it, and yet it kept catching my eye. It became a symbol of my time there in Japan, and even though it turned out to only be a normal office building, I’m still fond of it. It was like a friend constantly saying hello, and by taking this image, I was saying hello back.”
About Gundam, Boren wrote, “This is an image I captured of the giant Gundam in Tokyo. It can move and make noises at certain times. Even though it was gigantic, as tall as buildings around it, I wanted this image to feel like a toy. I never grew up watching Japanese shows or playing with Japanese toys, but still, the Gundam made me feel nostalgic for some reason, and I wanted to capture that.”
About Rockabillies, Boren wrote, “This photo was taken during my study abroad in Japan in 2024. In Tokyo, they have these Elvis-like dancers called Rockabillies that give a spectacular performance every single day. I wanted to capture the confidence and energy that they gave off, especially in a country like Japan, where people are more reserved and quiet, especially in public. I also put this image through Photoshop to give the dancer in the splits this sort of aura around him, which I really enjoy. Overall, this photo really shows the many different and amazing personalities, energies, and situations I found myself in while studying art in Japan.”
About Red Eiffel Tower, Boren wrote, “This was when me and my friends journeyed to the Tokyo Tower! I couldn’t help but think of the Eiffel Tower while looking at it, hence the name ‘Red Eiffel Tower.’ The day felt like an adventure, and I wanted to create that adventure-like quality with the color of the sky, by making it purple and dreamlike. It truly felt otherworldly.”
About Confidante, Boren wrote, “This is my beautiful friend Leia. I met Leia my very first day of class at BYU. We instantly became friends. When I found out we would both be going to Japan together, I was ecstatic! On our trip, we solidified our friendship and have stayed close ever since. She is one of the few people I can truly be myself around and who I would trust to come to when I’m having a hard time, therefore giving her the title ‘confidant.’”
About Collision, Boren wrote, “This was taken in a garden in the middle of Tokyo. I was amazed at how so much of the city mixed with its natural habitat. How you could be in the middle of a bustling city, one of the largest in the world, and then be in a forest with towering trees to compete with the skyscrapers. To me, it was a symbol of how nature and man can work together when we put our minds to it. I feel like this image helps capture that idea.”
Jocelyn (JJ) Boren is a junior at BYU working on getting her bachelor’s degree in art. She enjoys many mediums, but her favorites are charcoal and pencil, photography, painting, and printmaking. In her spare time, JJ likes to read, watch YouTube or TV, and work on her farm in Minecraft.
