Projects
Nurturing Growth Through Understanding
The love and support Amanda Guerra receives from her family is of the utmost importance to her. Its impact on her life fuels her desire to educate children on subjects that can be difficult for them to understand or talk about, like child abuse and neglect.
As Wesley Smith grows older, he has began to further desire personal freedom, despite his acute autism. This is opening new doors for himself, his mother, Karey Riddell, and her recently opened business.
As COVID-19 creeps into our world, the town and residents of Bowling Green, Kentucky are left with no choice but to adapt to its place in society, and the regulations constructed to limit its spread.
Editorial
Shelby Mathews was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and deadly form of epilepsy when she was four months old. Along with the seizures that are common amongst all forms of epilepsy, this debilitating disease has lead to developmental delays, which makes communication challenging for her. According to a report by the National Institute of Health in July-August of 2018, Medicinal Marijuana can greatly benefit individuals with Dravet Syndrome because of its anti-convulsant properties. Though her mother would like to provide this treatment for her, Medicinal Marijuana is illegal in their home state of Kentucky. 
“Tarantulas aren’t as dangerous as they are made out to be,” said Diana Terranova, one of the numerous demonstrators at the Los Angeles Natural History Museums 32nd Annual Bug Fair on May 19, 2018. 
Amateur Muay Thai fighter Daniel Chappell spends at least five nights a week training at Saekson’s Muay Thai in Van Nuys, Calif. Chappell credits Muay Thai for much of his personal growth, “I have never been this disciplined and focused with anything in my life. I have never felt connected to something as much as this. I guess you can call it purpose? – I’m more calm I don’t let situations that ultimately don’t matter get to me the way they would before.”, said Chappell. 
A man gazes upon a home that was destroyed by a tornado that stormed through North Nashville, Tennessee in the early morning of March 3, 2020. 
Leilani Cifuentes performs Baile Folklórico, a traditional hispanic folkloric dance as part of the Pico Block Party on October 14, 2017 in Santa Monica, Calif. 
Penny and Ron Stark relax at an evacuation center located at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, California after being evacuated from their home in Oak Park, Calif. due to the Woolsey Fire on November 9, 2018. The couple has lived in Oak Park for the last 50 years, and have been evacuated from their home three times due to fires, but they refuse to move because they cant imagine living anywhere else. 
California State University Bakersfield Forward Justin McCall (22) lands on top of University of Southern California (USC) Forward/Guard Jordan Usher (1) during their game on November 25, 2018 where USC won 90-75. 
Civilians who were infuriated by the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Officers on May 25, 2020 vandalized the General Sessions Court in Nashville, TN on May 30, 2020. The group formed after a peaceful protest organized by local activists marched through downtown Nashville. 
“I Cant Breathe”, the last words of George Floyd, who was killed on May 25, 2020 while being apprehended by Minneapolis Police Officers, is displayed on an upside-down American Flag outside of the Legislative Plaza in Nashville, Tennessee during a demonstration against police brutality on May 30, 2020. 
University of Southern Mississippi Mens Basketball Coach Jay Ladner instructs his team during a timeout against Western Kentucky University (WKU) on February 8, 2020 at the EA Diddle Arena in Bowling Green, Kentucky where WKU won 75-72. 
An evacuee of the Skirball Fire records footage of a house burning while a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department readies a hose to put out the flame. The Skirball Fire shut down the 405 Freeway and burned 450 acres of land on December 6, 2017 in West Los Angeles, Calif. 
Scott Kwasigroch prepares his hose to battle the Skirball Fire. The fire burned 450 acres and shut down the 405 freeway on December 6, 2017 in west Los Angeles Calif. 
Los Angeles Football Club fans celebrate the teams 2-0 victory against the Minnesota United Football Club at Banc Of California Stadium on May 9, 2018. 
Migrants currently living at El Barretal, a night club turned migrant shelter, struggle to grab bags filled with goods being thrown from a pickup truck in Tijuana, Mexico on December 1, 2018. 
Christian, a migrant seeking asylum, sheltered at El Barretal migrant shelter, draws an American Flag on the ground in Tijuana, Mexico on December 1, 2018. 
After he graduated high school as the only three sport athlete in his county, Michael Cooper started working as a coal miner. Though the job is extremely dangerous and he lost many friends to mining accidents, the financial burden of having to raise his four children on his own kept him coming back to the mines, day after day. After a 20 year tenure, and four serious neck injuries, Cooper decided to retire. Nowadays, he helps raise his grandson while his son attends college classes. Nothing is closer to Cooper’s heart than his children, “If any of my kids became a coal miner, thats the only time I’d whoop ’em,” said Cooper.
Contact
(310)-592-7780
About
Zane Meyer-Thornton is a visual journalist currently living in Bowling Green, KY. There, he attends Western Kentucky University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Photojournalism, minoring in Sociology. He believes visuals develop the strongest sense of emotion and understanding within us, and wants to use this knowledge to produce content that furthers societies understanding of sociological issues that continue to impact individuals everywhere. He knows none of what he does would be possible without individuals giving him a glimpse into their reality. For that, he promises to always show them accurately depicted with undoubted authenticity.
Outside of storytelling he enjoys music, mixed martial arts, cooking, writing, and photographing his daily life.
