Michelle Lucero
Growing up, I was always the kind of person who offered to photograph others at school, family gatherings, or any other social event. Memories play a crucial role in shaping our lives. Unfortunately, memories are difficult to cling to in our heads, which is where photography comes in. I am able to hold on to a bit of those memories and reflect on the happiest moments in my life through photographs. Others may not fully understand every image I take because most of them are personal, but I try to catch close-up shots and pay special attention to the details. It is always the simplest of things in life that get the most reactions out of me. I tend to use low lighting in my pictures to bring a feeling of peace and relaxation, and to capture the viewer's attention to the object or person in the center. I almost never plan out my shots during the photographing process. I believe the location and moment are more important, since they provide motivation and inspiration and let the camera capture the emotion. I don't have a favorite artist because I have had the amazing opportunity of being able to learn from so many different people, but I've been able to take small bits from each of their works to develop my own. With the artist Ming Smith, I learned to adapt methods such as her blurry photographs like Casablanca (1983). Blurry photos, in my opinion, are distinctive in that they portray an "out of mind" or adventurous feeling. Living in New York City opens up so many opportunities for pictures because there's so much to explore and capture.Beyond the Path, 2022The Depths of Mind, 2022