Culture

Freshmen Class /  by Justin Merriman

The freshman class of Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences visit the Heinz History Center for their orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Carnegie Mellon University freshmen participate in 'House Wars,' an orientation activity, as they begin a new semester on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 on campus in Oakland, Pa. 

Carnegie Mellon University freshmen participate in 'House Wars,' an orientation activity, as they begin a new semester on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017 on campus in Oakland, Pa. 

The freshman class of Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences visit the Heinz History Center for their orientation on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Eid al-Fitr /  by Justin Merriman

Eheze Hassani, 8, of Sharpsburg, Pa., sits in a chair as she waits for the prayer to begin during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Young boys wait for the beginning of a prayer during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, which marks the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Aya Attal, 17, of Crafton, Pa., hugs a friend at an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

(left to right) Omar Sultan, 21, Majeed Hawsawi, 27, and Sultan Alsaykhan, 22, take a selfie together as they join hundreds of Pittsburgh muslims to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Women stand in prayer during an Eid al-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, on June 25, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. More images at Getty Images. 

Dezmaire Baker /  by Justin Merriman

Dezmaire Baker, 17, gave birth to her son in eighth grade and is now a sophomore at Woodland Hills High School. Her son, Dorian, has just celebrated his second birthday.

Dezmaire Baker sits on the couch watching her 2-year-old son, Dorian, play at her family's Braddock home. Dezmaire gave birth to Dorian when she was in eighth grade.

Dorian, 2, plays with a flashlight at his Braddock home on Feb. 28, 2017.

Dorian Baker, 2, stands in the doorway of his Braddock home on Feb. 28, 2017. 

Dezmaire Baker, 17, poses for a portrait at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Homestead on Feb. 16, 2017.

Ronnika Baker, 36, holds her grandson, Dorian, 2, in the dining room of their Braddock home on Feb. 28, 2017.

Dorian Baker, 2, lays on the ground and laughs at a family gathering to celebrate his 2nd birthday at his Braddock home on April 3, 2017.

Dezmaire Baker, 17, helps her son, Dorian, 2, to ride a scooter along the sidewalk in front of their Braddock home on April 3, 2017.

Ronnika Baker, 36, holds her grandson, Dorian, 2, as she sits on the porch of their Braddock home on April 3, 2017.

Dezmaire participates in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit’s Project ELECT Program, which helps low-income pregnant teens and teen parents focus on education, training and employment goals. Here, her son, Dorian, looks out the window at his grandmother, Ronnika Baker, 36, at their Braddock home.

As the family gathered for her son's second birthday, Dezmaire Baker watched after him and stood near the edge of the sidewalk to stop Dorian from running into the street.

Dezmaire gave birth in eighth grade. As a teen mom in Pittsburgh, she’s fighting to beat the odds and graduate. Read her story at PublicSource. 

Sabrina /  by Justin Merriman

Sabrina Snyder, 9, coaxes her hamster out of its cage in the bedroom of her Brookline home as her bother, Miles, 5, stands by on Monday, January 30, 2017. Sabrina was mauled by a Rottweiler in Aug. 2014, leaving her with several physical injuries as well as emotional scars from the incident. 

Sabrina Snyder, 9, draws as her brother, Miles, 5, and sister, Gabby, 10, look at their pet hamster.

A journal written by Sabrina after she was mauled by a Rottweiler in Aug. 2014.

Sabrina, second from left, sits at her dinner table with her siblings, from left, Miles, 5, Gabby, 10, and McKenzie, 5.

Sabrina sits at the dining room table of her home. 

Sabrina, right, sits on her swing with her sister, Gabby, 10,

Sabrina Snyder, 9, of Brookline was mauled by a Rottweiler in Aug. 2014, leaving her with several physical injuries as well as emotional scars from the incident. Read more about Sabrina and her story in PublicSource.

NOLA /  by Justin Merriman

People march in the street during the Prince of Wales 88th anniversary second line parade in New Orleans' Irish Channel neighborhood on Oct. 9, 2016. 

A car sits in the street of New Orleans.

The Prince of Wales second line parade makes its way down a street of New Orleans' Irish Channel neighborhood on Oct. 9, 2016. 

Men dance on a float with Queen Terry during the Prince of Wales second line parade in New Orleans on Oct. 9, 2016. 

A young boy stands on top of a concrete wall at a cemetery as he watches a second line parade pass by in New Orleans. 

A young boy holds a snake during a second line parade in New Orleans. 

Homes along a New Orlean's street. 

A home in New Orlean's Garden District. 

Steph looks out of the door of our Airbnb in New Orlean's Garden District. 

A mural on the side of a building in New Orleans. 

A voodoo shrine in the French Quarter on Monday, Oct. 10, 2016.

Chopokthiinitka Taiyi, whose name translates into “Hummingbird Woman,” is the last full-blooded member of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana. With around 1,100 members today, many in the tribe have married into other tribal nations. Although, of its remaining members, 85 percent still speak Koasati, the native language. Known for their basket weaving, the Coushatta traditionally use Louisiana native longleaf pine needles to make their baskets.

Graves at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 in New Orleans. 

A man holds his pet snake in New Orleans. 

The swamps in Des Allemands, La. 

A 12-foot-long alligator climbs aboard an airboat in Des Allemands, La.

A crucifix stands in the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Killona, La., as the Dow Chemical Plant looms in the background. 

A woman stands on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter with a sign asking for money for photos with her on Oct. 10, 2016. 

A sign in Voodoo shop window in New Orleans.

John Boutté sings his popular song 'The Treme Song' at a bar on Frenchman Street in New Orleans. 

A man in a cowboy hat listens to musicians play at a zydeco jam session at the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette, La on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. 

A drummer plays in a window of a bar along Frenchman Street in New Orleans on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016. 

A woman leans against a car during the Prince of Wales second line parade in New Orleans on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016.

I traveled to New Orleans with my fiance and fellow photographer Stephanie Strasburg for a little vacation in October. These are some of the images from our travels.