FreshLens Expands An Artist's Perspective
FreshLens Chicago Alum, Vanessa Luna
Have you ever felt directly responsible for launching and supporting an artist? Supporters of FreshLens are also supporters of Vanessa Luna, a senior at Lakeview High School and a graduate of the FreshLens Summer 2020 program. Vanessa has been an artist since she was 10, focusing on drawing. She discovered the FreshLens Chicago program through Instagram, when one of her Lakeview High peers posted images and gratitude for the camera she received by participating in and completing the FreshLens program. Vanessa began following her peer’s journey, one click leading to another, and eventually stumbled onto WGN’s coverage of the program. “That sealed the deal. I recognized other faces from school, and I wanted to apply to the program. I showed the WGN clip to my mom and she encouraged me to apply.”
Vanessa had always loved shooting photos, and she taught herself how to edit with Photoshop from YouTube videos. She was always the photographer, model and editor, simply using her phone because she didn’t have the equipment to go beyond that. Photography tied in well with her passion for drawing, and allowed her to experience a richer, fuller form of expression. Vanessa is a fan of shooting wildlife, landscapes and street photography.
“FreshLens expands an artist’s perspective. Class discussion and the instruction and being with others in the field...it’s not just about recreating the moment, it’s about putting your own twist onto it. And once you know the basics of photography, you add your own style and tell your story.”
Vanessa attended FreshLens classes twice a week for eight weeks, and along with everyone else who successfully completed the program, received her own camera. “I still don’t believe it’s real,” Vanessa laughed. “I have a camera!” Vanessa is looking forward to the advanced FreshLens classes and intends on applying for an internship with the program.
“I had this crazy moment of self-realization when I received the camera, and I really wanted to thank the donors for making this program possible. It’s the most generous program
-- it gives you all the equipment you need plus t he tools and knowledge to succeed. I’m able to continue pursuing my passion in a way I wasn’t able to as a child.” Vanessa said, with the biggest, sunniest smile on her face.
Now it’s natural for Vanessa to carry her camera with her all the time -- for family trips and visits, and even walking around her neighborhood. “You never know when you could find the money shot...I have instinct for what will be an interesting shot now. With more experience I’m learning about myself as a photographer and editor. I can spend 20 minutes to an hour editing one image.”
“The program taught me to expand seeing what I like, and I’ve learned about the different settings on a camera -- I’m not on auto! We had great instruction and review and now these lessons are habit. The mindset of our instructors was to keep encouraging us and wanting us to succeed -- even after the program ended. I didn’t know how personal and encouraging Sharlene and Shirley would be.”
“Shirley always said ‘You are the master of your universe;’ we create what we make of ourselves and I want to push myself to do better. FreshLens encouraged us to grow our extrovert social skills -- we were part of a team, and we got to know people in the program. My class still keeps in touch and together discuss any future group shoots. FreshLens changed my summer.”
And it really did. Vanessa had her heart set on a summer program offered by her school to paint murals, and was so disappointed when she learned she wasn’t accepted to that program. “This summer was the definition of ‘One door closing and another opening.’ I learned about the FreshLens program a few days after I found out I wasn’t going to be painting murals. And when I found out I was accepted to FreshLens I was literally jumping in the air.”
Eventually, Vanessa would love to travel to Greece and Iceland for a photo shoot. “It’s so beautiful there, and rich in culture. COVID won’t last forever.” In the meantime, however, she’s going to keep growing as a photographer, getting out and exploring, and giving back. “Before FreshLens I was planning on majoring in psychology, maybe with an art minor. Now I’ve flipped that and I’m considering Columbia College Chicago & other arts schools. This program changed my life and I’m happy to give back however I can. We must give back to move forward.”
You can follow Vanessa on Instagram @photossbyvee