Refracted Democracy: Pennsylvania's Fight For Fundamental Rights
Photographer Hannah Yoon explores the tension in the state's electoral landscape, documenting Philadelphia and Harrisburg as Pennsylvania remains a critical battleground
The refracted light carries symbolic weight for Pennsylvania's upcoming election—yet it illuminates and distorts simultaneously, suggesting both clarity and confusion, protection and vulnerability. This temporal quality matters: like judicial decisions that cast shadows over future lives, the choices voters make now will reverberate for years. This moment of hope doesn't simply pass; it bends forward, shaping the landscape for generations to come.
– Editor's Note: Lianne Milton, Contributing Photo Editor
Left: An American flag on 3rd Street in Harrisburg. Right: Pennsylvania State Capitol.
"This is an important election, yet it feels elusive because it isn't a national election. Some people I talked to didn't know it was happening, nor did they understand the importance of some of the issues on the ballot, especially regarding Pennsylvania's Supreme Court judges. I wanted the photos to demonstrate the uncertainty that most people may feel. However, I also wanted to use light and shadows to convey hope. Every election topic is significant, especially to our local community."
– Hannah Yoon, photographer
Left: Domonique Burton, 8, held by his mother, Victoria Moon, at their home in Philadelphia, PA, on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Center: Domonique with his family. Right: Domonique Illuminated by sunlight in his West Oak Lane neighborhood.
Left: Victoria Moon, left, walks hand-in-hand with her son, Domonique, at their home in Philadelphia. Right: Domonique with his mother in their West Oak Lane neighborhood.
Left: A pride flag hangs in the Gayborhood neighborhood in Philadelphia, on Friday, October 3, 2025. Center: Chantel Carden in the Germantown neighborhood in Philadelphia, on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Right: An election sign regarding Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court judges sits on Stenton Avenue in Philadelphia, on Monday, October 6, 2025.
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Hannah Yoon
Hannah Yoon (she/her) is a freelance photographer and photo editor based in Philadelphia, PA with a focus on portraiture, documentary and photojournalism work.
