Recent Submissions
SHANGHAI, CHINA
"Why was he there? I don’t know. But he was just so cool for me at the moment, squatting in isolation pondering the destinations of his life."
–Jerry
OAKVILLE, CANADA
"These places have a have great meaning to me because it is a place I can go to when I am stressed, bored, or feeling upset."
–Thomas
NEW YORK CITY, USA
"I cross the bridge on the Q train, and when I’m lucky, I get to witness a beautiful sunset over the water between Brooklyn and Manhattan."
–Beatrix
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
"Seoul's Beautiful."
–Yoonjong
PARIS, FRANCE
"Being a Parisian, is not about being born in Paris, it is about being reborn there."
LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS
"The image is distinctively Dutch because of the bicycle."
–Galen
–Sophia
MALTA
"Summer never ends in Malta."
–Liu
CHICAGO, USA
"Chicago is made up of both the city but also has beautiful natural landscapes that you walk by everyday."
BEIJING, CHINA
"Dynasties have risen and fallen, generations have come and gone."
–Tina
–Alaina
What is Archive Your City?
Authentic
AYC prioritizes honest, lived perspectives over polished or trend-driven images, valuing meaning and intention above visual perfection.
Youth
AYC is led by young people, positioning youth not as content creators, but as documentarians and archivists of their own environments.
Community
AYC builds a shared archive of cities through individual contributions, connecting personal stories into a collective record of place and memory.
"A monkey can take a good picture, what is hard is taking a picture that has meaning to you."
- Alec Soth
What Issues Are We Addressing?
Lack of meaningful platforms for youth voices in photography
Algorithm-driven homogenization of photographic work
A narrow definition of “good” photography
What to Archive?
Everyday Moments
Quiet scenes from daily life that feel ordinary now but meaningful when remembered later.
Objects with Stories
Things you pass daily or keep close that quietly carry personal, cultural, or historical significance
People & Presence
Strangers, friends, or familiar faces that shape your city through interaction, routine, or coexistence
Places That Matter
Corners, streets, or spaces tied to memory, habit, change, or your sense of belonging
