Self-taught photographer Julianna Rose Moreno can be seen around town with her camera, at local market gatherings like Divine Sundays in Chico or at punk shows.
Moreno has garnered a reputation in Chico for her bold, colorful choices.
But for all the confidence her work exudes in its willingness to defy photography norms, photography was a medium she came to by accident.
She was an oil painter first. When COVID shut the world down in 2020, Moreno thought she’d bring her camera along to the local Chico markets where she and her mother began selling handmade crafts.
“It feels like the community is just full of these people that really want to create, and it really inspired me. I feel like it's such a safe space for artists.”- Julianna Rose Moreno, photographer
“I wanted to learn how to use it, but if you don't know anything about photography, it's just kind of complicated,” Moreno said.
After a trial-and-error approach, she got a handle on the contraption and saw her photography could aid her oil painting process. But what followed was a desire to expand her repertoire.
“It takes time… you really have to experiment and challenge yourself to do stuff that feels wrong or weird, and just see what happens,” Moreno said.
Moreno used the markets as opportunities to hone her skills, and her practice helped her build connections with the local community, adding to her resume in a place that welcomed her art.
“It feels like the community is just full of these people that really want to create, and it really inspired me,” Moreno said. “I feel like it's such a safe space for artists.”
It was an encouraging start for a self-starter like herself who finds herself still stretching in new directions.
At local punk shows, Moreno will brave a rowdy crowd to get the right candid shot. She said candids are harder than any other type of photography she does, but it’s the most rewarding.
“It's almost addicting, that reaction that you get,” Moreno said. “All of a sudden it's like you kind of see somebody else let go of that fear of being perceived.”
Moreno struggles with social anxiety and considers herself an introvert at heart, but when she gets behind the camera, something comes to life.
“The last six years have really been like redefining for me,” Moreno said. “I feel that through my camera, I've kind of become like a whole person.”
The chance to be creative with others, in this case someone staring at her from the other end of the lens, has changed her work, and her.
