FreshLens 2024 Winter Showcase
featuring the latest graduates of the program
Opening Reception
Friday, April 5, 2024
5pm to 7pm
Chicago Photography CLasses
4001 N. ravenswood ave, suite 105
Chicago, IL 60613
Please support our fantastic students by purchasing their work either for yourself or you can donate a print to our friends at Over The Rainbow, a non for profit that is dedicated to providing independent living solutions for individuals with physical disabilities.
To purchase a large scale print, please contact Shirley Nannini at freshlenschicago@gmail.com
Available Large Scale Print Sizes:
22x30 Framed Print $225
20x30 Print $120
28x38 Framed Print $300
Rodrigo Aguilar
Rodrigo Aguilar is a Sophomore at Amundsen High School. He was born and raised in Chicago, IL. He likes to skate, cook, and spend time with his friends at school. He first became interested in photography back in 2020 when his friend introduced him to a skateboarding magazine called Thrasher Magazine. He was impressed with the imagery on their magazine covers due to the angles and lighting they used.
Ever since, he has been interested in street photography and the different techniques used with angles and lighting. He hopes to take photos for a magazine one day.
Janay Blackwell
Janay Blackwell was born and raised in Chicago, IL and is currently a Junior at Whitney M. Young High School. She has loved photography since her childhood, always experimenting with a family member’s camera and seeing the world through the creative lens of her eyes.
Janay enjoys dancing and writing in many ways, including poetry, short novels, and songs. If she could, she would capture the sounds of music in a photograph. People’s daily lives and vibrant, abstract colors catch this artists’ attention, but she remains open to the many other, exciting, photographic opportunities.
Arianna Diaz Brown
Arianna Diaz Brown was born in Toronto, Canada and then moved to Chicago when she was 1 and a half years old. She is currently a Junior at Lake View High School and first became interested in the arts at a very young age. Her mother exposed her to most arts being a contemporary dancer and choreographer of her own dance company.
Arianna’s interest in photography blossomed when she saw videos of people doing street photography, more specifically of people in the moment and their raw emotions as it has always been difficult for Arianna to express her own emotions. She has always excelled and enjoyed any science and art classes in school, giving her that push of interest in these subjects.
Asia Fletcher
Asia Fletcher is a 14-year-old Freshman who attends Lake View High School on the North Side of Chicago. Asia enjoys playing sports such as volleyball and softball. She also enjoys being outside to take in the scenery of any environment.
Photography has been known by many to simply be a quick snap of a picture, but for Asia, is it something more. It’s the voice of someone who can’t speak, it’s the prime example on why one should never judge because a story can always be deeper than what it appears to be.
Aydan Huesgen
Aydan Huesgen is an amateur photographer who was born on the West Side of Chicago. He is a Junior at Lake View High School and has been interested in photography for 2 years and joined FreshLens to get into photography fully.
When it comes to themes and subjects, Aydan is drawn to architecture and nature as well as sports photography. Aside from photography, Aydan is an entrepreneur from selling snacks in school to reselling shoes and clothes. He is heavily business minded.
Jocelyn Miranda
Jocelyn Miranda was born in the City of Chicago in the Hermosa neighborhood and is a Junior at Disney II Magnet High School and is part of the graduating class of 2025. They became interested in art ever since Freshman year since taking an Intro to Art class. Some of Jocelyn’s favorite activities are writing poetry, reading manga, creating typography art and photo collages. They were mesmerized by photography ever since they did photo printing.
Since then, that’s when they decided to join the FreshLens program. The program exposed them to different aspects of art like black and white or forms of composition in art.
Sabeida Lopez
Sabeida Lopez was born on Chicago’s North Side on December 22, 2006. She is currently a Junior at Senn High School. She has always had an interest in photoshop, drawing, and editing.
Through her Digital Imaging class, she discovered photography as a new way to express her personal thoughts and ideas. More than anything, Sabeida finds a passion for portraying emotion in her photos.
Keira McCarthy
Keira McCarthy is a Chicago born artist who focuses in visual arts, specifically photography. Ever since she got a polaroid for her ninth birthday, her and the camera became inseparable. Over the years, she became more comfortable with the camera as she moved from polaroids to disposables to her dad’s Nikon point and shoot. When she received a professional camera at fourteen years old, she was able to find her own style in photography.
She discovered that visual art is not truly about what’s in front of you, but what the pieces reveals about the artist behind it. She wants her viewers to see parts of herself in her work. She believes every photo has a story and photography is so valuable because thousands of stories can be interpreted from just one image. Art is a vital part of humanity because it allows artists to express themselves and connect to their audiences. It increases individuality and creative expression in both parties. Keira prefers street photography because she is able to express herself through candids of others that show raw emotion. She finds that she is a reflection of the strangers she sees daily, and she has always been extremely perceptive. She knows that connection is the most important part of life and she wants her art to allow people to connect through the emotions she portrays.
Pamela Menchaca
Pamela Menchaca was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. She is currently a Junior at Lake View High School. Pamela started to become interested in photography after covid slowed down. She realized how much she missed the outdoors, which at any moment could be taken away.
After quarantine, Pamela started to appreciate the small things in life. She learned how to bake and cook for the people she cares about. She became obsessed with flowers and plants, surrounding herself with them. She learned how to make jewelry and she also started to take more pictures of her environment. Pamela realized that a picture can capture a moment that will never occur again, so she started to photograph architecture, nature, and her friends and family.
Norma Pasillas
Norma Pasillas was born and raised on the North Side of Chicago. She is currently a Junior at Lincoln Park High School. She first became interested in photography when she found an old Canon camera at her grandfather’s house and she began to experiment with it. Much later, she researched different photography programs within Chicago and realized it was a hobby she wanted to pursue. That is where she began her journey at FreshLens.
Norma loves yoga and working out as well as trying new hobbies with her cousins such as: candle making, jewelry design, and rug making. She enjoys exploring the city and spending time with her 2 dogs and cat. She is drawn to photographing people, animals, and the breathtaking architecture in Chicago.
Ariana Sullivan
Ariana Sullivan is a Freshman who goes to Lake View High School. She was born on the North Side of Chicago. She first became interested in photography and art at the age of eleven when given her first phone and started to experiment with the camera. Some activities she enjoys in and out of school is flag football, drama club, and FreshLens.
The many things Ariana likes to photograph include sunsets and the city. This is the first photography class she has ever been a part of and hopes this is where her dreams of being a photographer will start.
Thanh Ta
Thanh (Tea) Ta was born in Soc Trang, Vietnam. She came to the United States when she was only 2 years old. Growing up, Tea always had a passion for art. She believes that there are a variety of types of art and she loves to experience photography. Like the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” she likes to go to arts museums outside of school.
Tea is a Senior at Senn High School. This is her last year before entering her adult life. She wants to have the best time with photography. She is drawn to emotions, colors, and street life photography.
