Member’s Gallery – (In-Person):Colena Turner – The Faces of Cuba

Colena’s passion for photography began in high school when a family friend gave her a film camera. She quickly became the go-to photographer for family gatherings. In 2003, she upgraded to her first digital camera, the Nikon Coolpix E4300. Over the years, she used several Nikon digital SLRs, including the D90 and D7100. Thirteen years later, seeking a lighter camera for a cruise, Colena purchased a Fujifilm X-E2 and became an immediate fan. Since then, she’s added the Fujifilm X-T2, X-T5, and X-T30 to her collection and sold her Nikon gear.

Colena’s main passion lies in capturing people in various settings. Over time, her interests have also grown to include abstract, macro, and nature photography. Her work has been featured in juried exhibitions such as the Mid-Atlantic Photo Visions and the Joseph Miller Abstract Exhibit.

Colena became a member of NVPS in February 2012 and has held various roles, including coordinator for the Members’ Gallery, the Ask Me A Question Table, and Board Secretary/Historian. She credits the Club with fostering her ongoing growth and passion for the art and craft of photography. As a volunteer photographer, Colena has contributed her skills to organizations such as the Professional Woman’s Alliance, Help Portrait, Loudoun Foto Trek, Cornerstones, the Library of Congress National Book Festival, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Wreaths Across America, and Honor Flight. In 2016, the Reston Association recognized her with the Adult Volunteer Group of the Year Award. For the past twenty years, she has also been actively involved in the Photography Ministry at Heritage Fellowship Church.

For the March Members’ Virtual Gallery, Colena will showcase images captured during a Street Photography workshop in Cuba. One of the featured images, titled “Reflection,” was published in CubaSeen Issue 09, a bilingual art zine that highlights works by both Cuban and American artists.