Moorpark student finds her talent through the lens

Teen qualifies for statewide competition



SHUTTER BUG—Moorpark High School yearbook editor Marlene Lazo, 19, was one of 316 students in the Moorpark Unified School District to submit her artwork to the annual Student Art Fair sponsored by the Moorpark Women’s Fortnightly Club. She wonfirst place. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

SHUTTERBUG—Moorpark High School yearbook editor Marlene Lazo, 19, was one of 316 students in the Moorpark Unified School District to submit her artwork to the annual Student Art Fair sponsored by the Moorpark Women’s Fortnightly Club. She won first place. RICHARD GILLARD/Acorn Newspapers

For Marlene Lazo, photography is about more than creating a perfect shot or capturing a rare moment. It is also a way for the 19-year-old to escape from the world and find joy in her art.

Enrolled in courses at Community High and Moorpark High schools, Lazo discovered her passion for photography during her sophomore year, when she joined the MHS yearbook staff shortly after her mother’s death.

“I’ve always loved art since I was young, but summer of 2015 my mom passed away and I got really depressed,” Lazo said. “I was entering my sophomore year (and) I joined yearbook. I loved it, especially taking pictures, but I kept doing it because it gave me joy and made me feel happy. It got me out of my depression.”

Now the editor of the MHS yearbook, Lazo took photos with her Sony camera and Canon T6 camera at school each week and throughout Los Angeles and Ventura counties every other weekend.

“It let me capture the moment and expression on people’s faces not only for the school, but for everyone, including my family,” the senior said. “Photography is my safe and happy place. It’s a joy for me and I will continue to do it.”

This spring, Lazo was among 316 students in the Moorpark Unified School District to submit her artwork to the annual Student Art Fair sponsored by the Moorpark Women’s Fortnightly Club, a service club.

“I always encourage our students to participate, because Community High School students are really great artists. They march to the beat of their own drum, so a lot of them are very talented with art,” said Amy Beattie, a CHS teacher and MHS English teacher who inspired Lazo to enter the contest.

Lazo chose to submit a photo she took of a sunrise at 5 a.m. not far from Moorpark High School.

“I was at school early to finish a project in the library,” she said. “I was there and it just automatically happened. You really get the sun just rising, and you take in the moment and it’s so peaceful and so calm.”

The photo—full of bright blues, pinks and oranges—captured the eyes of judges at the art fair March 14. They awarded Lazo’s sunrise first place.

The photo then advanced to the Tierra Adorada District Federation of Women’s Club Fine Arts Festival in Ventura, where it was in competition with student artwork from Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties March 27.

To Lazo’s surprise, she once again won first place and qualified for the state art competition May 19, which is sponsored by the California Federation of Women’s Clubs.

“It felt amazing . . . I was really proud of myself,” Lazo said.

Even if she does not receive the state honor, the 19-year-old plans to continue taking photos after graduation when she attends Moorpark College in the fall.

There, Lazo will begin her education toward her goal of becoming a neurosurgeon in honor of the struggles her mother faced after she suffered a stroke three years ago.

“I didn’t know how bad it was until I asked the doctors questions and it got me thinking that maybe one day I can prevent that or help fix it,” Lazo said.