by Claire O'Neill

Danielle Levitt, a New York-based photographer, is well-known in the world of art and fashion. Traveling the globe for commercial projects with publications such as The New York Times Magazine and GQ, she often pauses to capture the world around her.

  • Andrew, 13 Graham, Wash., 2007
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    Andrew, 13 Graham, Wash., 2007
  • Jessica, 14, Orlando, Fla., 2005
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    Jessica, 14, Orlando, Fla., 2005
  • Elisianne, 15, Meaghan, 17, Desiree, 16, Scott, 16, Alexander, 15, and Jasmine, 17, Mount Carmel, Calif., 2005. Levitt is interested in environment. "I want to know why the kids make their choices where they come from, their natural habitats," she explains.
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    Elisianne, 15, Meaghan, 17, Desiree, 16, Scott, 16, Alexander, 15, and Jasmine, 17, Mount Carmel, Calif., 2005. Levitt is interested in environment. "I want to know why the kids make their choices where they come from, their natural habitats," she explains.
  • Kristen, 21, and Stephanie, 17 Long Beach, Calif., 2006
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    Kristen, 21, and Stephanie, 17 Long Beach, Calif., 2006
  • Sara, 18, Las Cruces, N.M., 2007. "Kids who are less costumed are interesting to me because their choices seem stranger, more personal, less quantifiable," Levitt says.
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    Sara, 18, Las Cruces, N.M., 2007. "Kids who are less costumed are interesting to me because their choices seem stranger, more personal, less quantifiable," Levitt says.
  • Kalahari Water Park Resort Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., 2006
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    Kalahari Water Park Resort Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., 2006
  • Phillip, 17, Los Angeles, 2007. "I'm fascinated when kids identify so much with an archetype that they feel like it's their own," Levitt says.
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    Phillip, 17, Los Angeles, 2007. "I'm fascinated when kids identify so much with an archetype that they feel like it's their own," Levitt says.
  • Wheatley High School Cheerleaders Houston, Tex., 2007
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    Wheatley High School Cheerleaders Houston, Tex., 2007
  • Fraternity Tailgate Party Nashville, Tennessee, 2006
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    Fraternity Tailgate Party Nashville, Tennessee, 2006
  • Andrea, 16, and Kirk, 17, Los Angeles, 2006
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    Andrea, 16, and Kirk, 17, Los Angeles, 2006
  • Carla, 15 El Paso, Tex., 2007
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    Carla, 15 El Paso, Tex., 2007
  • Cover image for We Are Experienced by Danielle Levitt, A Miss Rosen Edition, published by powerHouse Books.
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    Cover image for We Are Experienced by Danielle Levitt, A Miss Rosen Edition, published by powerHouse Books.

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Levitt's first monograph, We Are Experienced, is a curious presentation of American youth from L.A. skate parks to Orlando living rooms. The subjects include "football stars, tanorexics, wiccans, punks, prom dates, snowboarders and baton twirlers." Levitt explores the ways in which teens articulate individuality through style. She asks real kids to model in their own dress, in environments that are staged, but not unrealistic.

The images are provocative and quirky, but also honest. They may appear slightly unnatural, but that's a proper reflection of what fashion editor Mark Jacobs writes in the introduction: "Youth is a stage, and these kids put on spectacular shows." All images from We Are Experienced by Danielle Levitt, A Miss Rosen Edition, published by powerHouse Books.