The fragility of life is both natural and man-made. Whether it’s the first wail of a newborn child, the first steps after months of trial and error, or the first kiss after years of longing. With this fragility, however, also come responsibilities to avoid conclusions; the last breath of a beloved pet, the last conversation with a loved one, the last dance before the clock strikes midnight. As a society, not only imperative that such memories are recorded, but it is also vital that narratives are not destroyed due to inaccuracy.

For many photographers, it is a difficult task to record the natural aspects of life, focusing on commercial smiles and appealing to their audiences. Yet with a simple click, photography Patty Navanjo was able to capture reality, regardless of the outward appearance of an occurrence.

She began her search of justice in the domestic realm of weddings; as a graduated student with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art photography, Navanjo initially focused on the elegance and serenity that often characterized thee events. Capturing such intimate moments were vital to represent her skill set, while also preserving life’s greatest moments.

“Every wedding is deeply personal,” Navanjo said. “Once I understand that rhythm, I could anticipate moments.”

After studying the various shades of white on brides’ dresses and capturing countless special moments for 10 years, the truth began to fade away behind broken vows and mascara-stained tears. Navanjo began drifting away from the wedding business in hopes of finding justice elsewhere. She documented the early stages of children, swaddling babies in countless layers of fabric and posing them as if they were porcelain dolls. Her portfolios expanded with images of marathon runners at Disney World and headshots of men in their finest units. Graduation, full of excitement and pets who were bribed with treats, became her forte, yet they were all fabricated scenes. Navanjo realized that her main goal was not to become a technical photographer, but to emphasize the realities life had to offer.

It was then that she was offered a temporary position by the Los Angeles Police Department to work in the technical investigation unit. Navanjo had initially rejected the idea of working with crime. For a great majority of her career, she was avoiding conflict to focus on the joys that life had to offer.

“It sounded scary at first because I was so used to making things pretty,” Navanjo said. “I would have to learn how to document the truth instead.”

And so, she took on the position in the hopes of stepping out of her comfort zone and into the world of technical photography. Unlike weddings, there was no formula to follow and no predictable occurrences to capture. She was faced with dead bodies, fatal car crashes, and police-involved shootings, and began to eliminate the decorative nature of her work. It was terrifying, but also rewarding, as Navanjo began to find peace in her duties. It was almost the same serenity she experienced at ring-bearing ceremonies and morning receptions, as she knew that behind the threatening weapons and lost stories, her goal was to accurately report on the scene to allow justice to prevail.

After working with the LAPD for two years, Navanjo came to the conclusion that all photos cannot be predictable, and it worked better in her favor to capture events as they were presented to her. She decided that she was not going to let life come after her in search of a striking photo, but instead, she would produce the life that would encourage the truth to be emphasized in such a manufactured world.

As Navanjo continues through her photography career, she ensures that within all of her works, the true nature of the story is depicted, regardless of its physical appeal to the world. She reassures her audience that life’s tender nature will forever be prioritized in her photos, preserving stories for generations to come.

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This article was originally written at the East Los Angeles Journalism Education Association Contest at Cal Poly Pomona on February 28, 2026. Kumar’s article won 1st place in the Features category.