FreshLens 2025 Winter Showcase

Timya Cooks

Timya Cooks, a Chicago-born African American artist and photographer, is currently a sophomore at Senn High School. Her passion for art began as soon as she could hold a pencil from drawing during kindergarten recess to continuing to take art electives since. Now in high school, she is an active participant in her school’s art program.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Timya plays soccer for her school team, enjoys shopping, and loves exploring art shows and museums, and hanging out with her friends. She has a special appreciation for photography, particularly images that capture night, dawn, dusk, and during the golden hour. Her favorite photos are dark, deeply toned, and rich with shadows. Timya draws inspiration from her culture, Christianity, and her friends and family.

Asma Ferhat

Asma Ferhat, of Algerian and French heritage, was born in France and raised in Chicago, where she currently resides. She is a freshman at Lake View High School. Her interest in photography began at the age of 13 when a friend introduced her to a camera, sparking her curiosity and love for experimentation. Outside of photography, Asma enjoys playing volleyball, spending time with friends, and taking late night car rides in the rain. These excursions became a major source of inspiration for her photography, influencing her to capture the dark, moody atmosphere of night lights and the rainy cityscape.

A highly detail-oriented person, Asma’s meticulous nature is reflected in her work. She turned to photography as a way to preserve memories, using images to tie together places, emotions, and experiences. Through her photography, she hopes to encourage others to notice and appreciate the beauty in the small details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Sebastian Juarez

Sebastian Juarez, a junior at Lake View High School, was born and raised in Chicago. He is involved in a variety of sports and activities, including football, track, JROTC, and karate.  

His passion for photography has always been present, but attending Marwen’s photography program twice deepened his interest even further. Sebastian was drawn to photography for its ability to capture and preserve memories and offer a unique perspective on the world. Chicago plays a significant role in shaping his work. As a child, he loved visiting downtown, where he was captivated by the stunning architecture and the energy of people moving about their daily lives.

Miriam Mensah

Miriam Mensah, a determined and passionate junior at Senn High School, was born in Ghana, West Africa before relocating to Chicago. She joined the photography program at FreshLens Chicago to explore her creativity and develop a new skill.

Through this experience, she has learned to capture meaningful moments, convey emotions through visual storytelling, and see the world from a fresh perspective. Photography has also become a creative outlet for her, helping her balance her strong focus with an appreciation for art.

Karla Miracle

Karla Miracle, a senior at Lake View High School, was born in Chicago and lives in the Logan Square neighborhood. Her interest in photography began during her freshman year when she discovered FreshLens Chicago and needed to meet a requirement for her high school yearbook class.

Art has always played a significant role in Karla’s life, influenced by her father, who was both a graphic designer and a photographer. Creativity is one of her greatest strengths, especially in her work. She is particularly drawn to the power of black and white photography, appreciating how it can convey the essence of color through contrast and tone. For Karla, photography is more than just an art form, it is a means of expression and an escape from reality. Through her lens, she continues to explore and capture the diverse landscapes and stories of Chicago.

Sophia Roman

Sophia Roman, a sophomore at Lake View High School, was born and raised in Chicago. Sophia’s love for the arts began in her childhood, whether she was drawing or capturing moments through photography. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her friends, even if it’s just walking together and taking in the world around her.

In her photography, Sophia is mostly drawn to vibrant objects that stand out and catch the eye. Nature serves as a major influence on her work, inspiring her to share the beauty she sees with the world through her lens.

Jazlene Thompson

Jazlene Thompson was born in Honolulu, HI in September 2009, but later relocated to Illinois in 2016 when they were 7 years old. They are currently a freshman at Senn High School, where they are enrolled in the IB program. Outside of school, they enjoy skating, hanging out with friends, fashion, and reading.

Their passion for photography began after attending an art festival in 2020, where they were drawn to portrait photography. Jazlene’s work is influenced by minimalism and empty spaces, using simplicity to convey depth and emotion. Inspired by music artists such as Cigarettes After Sex and Lana Del Rey, they aim to express intimacy and capture vulnerable emotions through their photography.

Vania Uribe

Vania Uribe was born in Mexico and is currently a junior at Lane Tech College Prep. A naturally creative person, she has always been drawn to the arts. To Vania, photography is a powerful tool that captures a myriad of stories, freezes moments in time, and makes them accessible at any time. She is particularly drawn to street and architecture photography as she believes these elements reflect the rich history of a place and the lives of the people within it. Her work is influenced by her aspiration to travel and explore diverse cultures around the world.

Outside of photography, Vania is deeply passionate about social justice and equity. She strives to take on leadership roles and hopes to leave a lasting impact in creating a more progressive society.

Alisson Uribe-Salgado

Alisson Abril Uribe-Salgado was born in Chicago. At the age of 3, she moved to Mexico for a year and a half before returning to the U.S. She was later accepted into Lake View High School, where she enjoys playing sports for her school as a sophomore.

Since childhood, Alisson has been drawn to various forms of art, including painting, drawing, crafts, and photography. When she was introduced to FreshLens, it became a significant opportunity to further explore her passion for photography.  What inspires her most about photography is its ability to capture moments and preserve memories that last forever. She enjoys photographing places, people, objects, different perspectives, and emotions to tell meaningful stories.

Vanessa Venegas

Vanessa Venegas was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago. She is currently a sophomore at Lake View High School. Growing up in the Hermosa and Belmont Cragin neighborhoods, she was constantly surrounded by murals and graffiti, which sparked her passion for capturing the beauty of Chicago’s streets through both painting and photography.

She is particularly drawn to patterns found in nature and the ways people leave their mark on the environment and architecture throughout the city. Through her work, she explores the relationship between urban spaces and the natural world, highlighting their interaction and transformation over time.

Manahal Zafar

Manahal Zafar is a Chicago-born Palestinian-American who grew up in Rogers Park. She is currently a sophomore at Nicholas Senn High School. From a young age, she has been passionate about photography, using it as a way to capture the world through her unique perspective. Her goal as a photographer is to develop a distinct style that sets her apart, whether through the mood, trends, or editing techniques.

Manahal enjoys exploring her interests and discovering more about herself through school activities and clubs. She is currently a member of the Asian American Association at her school. Her heritage, known for its vibrant colors, rich textures in clothing and architecture, and flavorful cuisine, deeply influences her photography. She is drawn to capturing bold colors, intricate textures in buildings, and strong compositions, including leading lines, filling the frame, and pathways that guide the viewer’s eye.