By Virginia Brown

Ernesto Moreno stumbled into photography through his grandfather’s old Zenit camera. The Russian film camera had no flash and relied on natural light. When his grandfather passed away, he gave the camera to Moreno’s father.

“My dad kept it up on a shelf,” Moreno said. “I played with the camera and learned how to use it, but I never thought, I’m going to be a photographer; photography was only a way to express myself.”

As a teenager, growing up in Lima, Peru, the camera helped him understand the wider world around him.

“We would travel to remote parts of the country to visit family,” he said. With the camera, he photographed the people: their farms, their ways of life. “I got so impressed by seeing how different their reality was from how we lived in Lima,” he said.

A professional photographer today, Moreno recently won a $3,000 Artist Support Grant from ASC and was able to buy a new camera with better capabilities. He will also use the funds to renew his studio space at the VAPA center.

 Artist Support Grants support professional and artistic development for emerging and established artists to enhance their skills and abilities to create work or to improve their business operations and capacity to bring their work to new audiences. This year, 75 ASC Artist Support Grant recipients will receive a combined $209,886.59 in funding and represent creative disciplines from visual art and music to literature and dance.

A life-changing move

Moreno, 45, and his family moved from Peru to Chapel Hill, N.C., in 2016 for medical reasons. The same year, they moved to Charlotte.

“We thought a bigger city would have more opportunities for developing our careers,” he said.

Moreno studied at the Charles Chaplin Institute in Lima, where he learned photography, journalism, film making, production, lighting, and more. But in a new country, he found that path difficult to pursue right away.

“At the beginning, I felt reborn here in a new city, in a new country, with a different language,” he said. “But I had no friends, I didn’t know where to go, and I felt totally lost.”

First, he found work in construction—renovating homes, painting, landscaping—and pursued a photography business on weekends, largely working for free initially for exposure.

During Covid, he was working in a restaurant Monday through Friday, reserving the weekends for photo shoots. But in 2020, he got fired.

“I became a full-time photographer because of Covid,” he said.

Around that time, Charlotte Is Creative approached him in search of photographers. They wanted to share pictures of the “new normal” during Covid. It would prove a pivotal opportunity for Moreno.

“That helped me a lot because many people saw my pictures and called me,” he said.

He’s been a full-time photographer ever since.

Life as a photographer

Moreno’s work today is a blend of wedding and portrait shoots and commercial work for a variety of clients. Much of his work comes by word of mouth.

“But to be sure they like my style, I show them pictures and make sure they like what they see,” he said, since he prefers natural, unposed shots.

“Of course, people want portraits and some specific pictures,” he said, “but I don’t ask for poses or direct the bride and groom,” he said. While he likes photographing weddings, the reception is his favorite part. “Everyone is so spontaneous—you can feel the joy, happiness and fun they are having.”

As for his individual style, he said, “I like to play with colors and shapes and make it vibrant, so I can feel when I see the pictures.”

In 2021, he started Faces: This is Me, a photographic social project aimed at sharing stories of triumph over struggle.

“Anyone, from any background, gender, race or situation can can share with me what they’ve been struggling with and what they did to overcome it,” he said. In time, he sees it expanding from an open invitation to addressing specific themes, like immigration or domestic violence.

With the funds from ASC, he purchased a new Canon digital camera for the project.

“I’d like to include some kind of augmented reality and add video,” he said. “The reason I asked for the grant is so I could get one more camera that I need with a high resolution.”

His dream is to stall the photos on easels in a public park so anyone can access them and engage with the photos, video, and importantly, the stories.

“I’d like to bring them to people so they can see that they are not alone,” he said. “I need them to feel that a lot of people that they don’t know are struggling with something similar and how they overcome it.

“I am totally grateful,” he said. “I’m grateful to the ASC and having the opportunity to get this new camera and keep working, and I’m eternally grateful to my wife and children for their support.”

2023 ASC Artist Support Grant Recipients

Emily Berger, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support increased cost of studio rental space.

Maura Bosbyshell, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to supporting the creation of a marketing catalog for custom work and new product lines.

Granger Brosnan, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to purchase a Bose L1 Pro 8 Portable P.A. System and MacBook Pro to perform with digital tracks at live venues.

Keith Bryant, Mecklenburg – $2,494 to fund a small CNC plasma cutting table to integrate new technology into studio practice.

Jose Valentin Ramirez Cardiel, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the creation of interactive murals in Charlotte.

Chad Cartwright, Mecklenburg – $2,966 to fund an investment in education that will lead to art that is more varied, compelling and impactful.

Ernesto Moreno, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to buy a camera with better capabilities and to renew lease at the VAPA Center in order to keep having a creative space and a photography studio.

Katlyn Cornelius, Cabarrus – $3,000 to acquire needed power, safety and clean-up tools for indoor and outdoor studio spaces.

Micah Cottingham, Cabarrus – $3,000 to provide support for the recording, mixing, mastering and marketing of a new EP release for solo project “MICVH.”

Sarah Council, Mecklenburg – $2,000 to pay for the costume design, as well as its construction, and the hire of a dramaturg to consult on “The Shift Project.”

Roxanna Dimitriu, Mecklenburg – $2,900 to fund “The Number of Friends in My Garden,” a garden-inspired book – with creatures and adventures – to teach numbers and early math.

Avram Dodson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the purchase of musical score, sound design and mixing for the project, “The Fruit of the Silver Tree.”

Rosemary Dykstra, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help support the development of artistic voice and professional growth through a well-vetted, guided curriculum.

Ingrid Erickson, Rowan – $3,000 to support a month-long artist residency at Kunstnarhuset Messen (KH Messen), in Alvik, Norway.

Elliana Esquivel, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the next project in the series called “Lagwa.”

Joel Ferdon, Mecklenburg – $1,800 for professional and personal development at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference.

Kathleen Finch, Gaston – $3,000 to support the creation of a traveling version of the “Your Voice” performance art piece.

Brandon Flowers, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to advance Jamelle’s Independent Musical Output and Promotion.

Jessica Floyd, Cabarrus – $3,000 to support the production of “The Beast,” a short narrative. 

Kelsea Foster, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support a home music studio to self-produce a new extended playlist(ep).

Mikel Frank, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the publishing of “On the Backdrop of Eternity: Paintings and Poems,” a book consisting of poems that are inspired by the artist’s paintings.

Whitney Galasso, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to purchase a kiln.

Maja Godlewska, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to cover the costs of shipping, travel and installation of a large site-specific 3D work at finalists’ exhibition in Venice, Italy.

Juanita B. Green, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support training that will explore methods and techniques from Theatre of the Oppressed.

Adele Greenfield, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the completion of two writing projects as well as to hire social media and website expert(s) to help with online platforms that cater to the writer’s target audience.

MacArthur Harris, Gaston – $3,000 to support “Talent Never Sleeps: Youth Open Mic & Showcase.”

Tynesha Harris, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the “Perseverance from Trauma to Triumph” photography showcase.

Ade Herbert, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support a self-produced solo album.

Justin Hicks, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help support the solo exhibition “Mark of the Ronin.”

Jeff Jackson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support attendance at the artist residency Virginia Center for the Creative Arts for 40 days to thoroughly edit and revise the drafts of a trilogy of inter-connected novels.

Javon Jeter, Mecklenburg – $2,691.82 to purchase a Nikon Z5.

Adam Jochim, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the design and build of a 18th century inspired Roubo workbench.

Makeda Johnson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help with executing a visual design project (music video).

Kim Jones, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support training and education on the “lost” Korean modern dance due to Japanese occupation and Korea’s civil war.

Kenneth Knudtsen, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the completion of “Power House,” a new graphic novel that the artist will be illustrating from a script by Paul Maybury.

Lauren Koulesser, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to provide support for vocal lessons, studio time, access to music software, promotion of a finished album and album visuals.

Anne Lambert, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the purchase of a theatrical lighting package and pipe and drape (curtains) needed to activate a 65-seat black box venue inside the VAPA Center.

Jermaine Nakia Lee, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support a new movie musical, “A Walk in My Shoes,” adapted from the stage musical of the same name.

Calin Lupanu, Mecklenburg – $2,886 to purchase an iPad and necessary supplemental materials (iPad music stand, digital page turner, and software applications for reading music digitally) in order to rehearse and perform from digital music.

Edgar Marcano, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help fund a new cinema camera.

Jamea Marlowe, Mecklenburg – $2,455 to support the project “The Lost Boys.”

Tina Martin, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help support an audiobook production for eight novels.

Ethan McKellar, Mecklenburg – $2,880 to provide support for individual studio upgrades and work production supplements.

Jennifer Mecca, Gaston – $2,000 to purchase an iPad and accessories for promotions creativity and business purposes.

Juan Mejia, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support “Latinx/e Portraits: Faces of a Community” by purchasing equipment, software and individual honorariums for the community being photographed.

Eric Mullis, Mecklenburg – $1,072.49 to purchase a theatre-grade hazer that will help develop a dance technology piece that features a life-sized digital hologram of a live dancer.

Nadia Ogunfowora, Mecklenburg – $1,855 to help continue establishing & furthering the “artbynadiao” brand.

Molly Partyka, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help develop new art and rework artist website.

Diane Podolsky, Cabarrus – $500 to help fund the raw documentation from the exhibition of artist books at the Hickory Museum of Art edited by a skilled video producer for promotion of the artist’s work.

Lauren Puckett, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the purchase of a CNC Plasma table to investigate the use of new technologies and material practice to generate an innovative approach to stained glass structural design.

Shauna Respass, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to attend The Sync Summit 2023 in Los Angeles and obtain knowledge in the field of Sync Licensing as well as build connections.

Antonio (A.J.) Riggins, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help fund “The World of Toine,” a custom landing page experience to promote director A.J. Riggins’ most recent short film, “Fireflies Save The Night,” and previous derivative projects that support the world-building and character “Toine.”

Irlanda Ruiz, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to publish a poetry book.

Kimberly Saunders, Mecklenburg – $2,465 to help fund “Office Hours,” an original play about the challenges and triumphs of working in higher education.

Matthew Seneca, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help fund travel to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to train and network with master Argentine tango dancers.

Kyle Shawell, Cabarrus – $3,000 to support professional development by pursuing two dance certifications: the Nan Giordano Certification Program® (NGCP®) jazz technique and the Lester Horton modern technique at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Ju-Ian Shen, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support art studio space rental and funding for associated materials and tools purchasing, or through in-depth workshops at Penland School of Crafts.

Nill Smith, Mecklenburg – $2,500 to help support the creation of a large scale hanging light project, focused on the refraction of light, how the body reacts to color, and the heavy weight of what drugs (pills) means to individuals.

Jah Smalls, Mecklenburg – $2,299 to help support “Unheard FootSteps.”

Santarius Smalls, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the purchase of camera accessories for Sony a6300 and canvas prints.

Bree Stallings, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to help fund the creation of “Southern Prophets,” a 78 card, custom tarot card deck.

Tyler Starr, Mecklenburg – $2,998 to purchase a new digital camera (Sony A7RIVa) to take high resolution photos of historical documents for artist’s books and large-scale works on paper.

Malu Tan, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to explore and create suspended installation art.

Zachary Tarlton, Mecklenburg – $2,800 to support the production of “Angels in America, Parts 1 and 2.”

Lydia Thompson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support “Mumblings: After Hour Conversations.”

Caswell Turner, Cabarrus – $3,000 to support the purchase of a Wacom Cintiq, which will allow for higher quality designs and career advancement as a graphic designer, illustrator and muralist.

Britney Vanderlaan, Gaston – $2,624.28 to purchase clay equipment for the exploration of dinnerware and trays using a slab roller, pottery wheel and forms.

Kate Victory, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support a two-week artist residency in Montcabrier, France.

Dylan Ward, Cabarrus – $3,000 to help support new music commissioning/recording project.

Sean Watson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support the completion of the first issue of “MCs,” including inks, colors, dialogue on pages, printing and physical/digital distribution.

Thomas Whichard, Gaston – $3,000 to purchase a camera.

Jordan Wilson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support studies and performances in Russian classical song.

Patrice Wilson, Mecklenburg – $3,000 to support a website and engagement resources.

Robin Witt, Mecklenburg – $1,000 to design a website and produce headshots to support marketing efforts.

Joyce L. Wynes, Mecklenburg – $2,700 to Join the Artist Alliance Collective.