By Lauren Farberman
Staff Writer
Mira Costa junior Lucy McDonald has turned her room into a private photography studio for her close friends and other fellow Costa students, and she is documenting the photos she takes on her own Instagram account named @lucyartdrop.
McDonald began getting interested in photography during middle school when she used her parents’ cameras to take pictures of anything from landscapes to close friends, she said. However, after she received her own camera as a gift from her grandparents, her passion for photography grew.
“I love photography as a medium for art,” McDonald said. “It’s fun to capture moments that you see everyday and appreciate it for how beautiful they truly are.”
This past summer, McDonald purchased light-emitting diode strips for her room because she loves bright colors and sees them as a source of happiness. McDonald thought it would be interesting to incorporate the colors into her photography.
“I have always enjoyed using apps to edit my pictures so that they are all one color,” McDonald said. “With the LED lights, I can get the same effects as an app but without the editing.”
In January of this year, McDonald had Costa sophomore Allegra Papera model in pictures with her LED lights. Through this experience, McDonald discovered the effects that the lights had on the pictures and how positive they made her friend feel, she said.
“Modeling for Lucy has taught me to be more comfortable with myself in front of a camera or an audience,” Papera said. “I think that her shoots have a way of building community between the people who participate.”
After photographing her close friends, such as Papera and Costa senior Natalie Olivares, McDonald set out to find more people to photograph in her bedroom studio. She texted 20 more friends and acquaintances, hoping that a few would be interested, but was surprised when 19 people came to her house to be photographed.
“I started taking pictures to make others feel good about themselves, and I never hoped for anything more than that,” McDonald said.
McDonald created @lucyartdrop to share her pictures. The account has gathered over 250 Instagram followers since its creation in January.
“Instagram likes and positive comments act as an incentive for me to keep creating more content,” McDonald said. “I utilize Instagram to stay inspired.”
McDonald says the only thing that she hopes to achieve through her photography is to bring happiness and positivity to others.
“I love that people want me to take their pictures, and I had no intention to get myself or my photography attention, but it is cool how it has all happened,” McDonald said. “I am not trying to make any statement with my work; I just want to spread happiness, positivity and make people feel good.”
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