New York–based photographer Julia Abbonizio has always been magnetized by theatrical forms of art, from the confrontational aspect of theater and performance art to the bold yet introspective imagery of surrealism. “I’m constantly trying to challenge norms and inspire new thought through subversion—nondescript gazes, off-kilter poses and unconventional beauty,” she explains. “I gravitate toward high contrast lighting and lots of post-production and compositing that creates a heightened or altered state of reality.” Encouraged by her experiences in homeschooling to be self-directed, Abbonizio eventually attended a STEM-oriented high school and then the Rochester Institute of Technology, all while pursuing photography. “Art school is such a layered, abstract experience, but I aimed to get everything possible I could from it—leadership skills in directing, training my technical eye in post-production, or conceptualizing and executing multidisciplinary event production,” she recalls. “One of the most meaningful parts of that chapter was my mentorship under David Turner; his influence continues to shape not only how I create but how I think about mentorship, creativity and impact.” Through photography, she explores how to familiarize her audience with the unorthodox, whether highlighting nontraditional forms of beauty or conveying new technological ideas. “At large, my goal is to make meaningful technologies and ideologies more exciting to broader audiences,” Abbonizio says. “There’s immense power in the meeting of art and commerce, and I believe that being intentional about how we operate at that intersection can lead to truly transformative outcomes.”