Behind the Lens

Hi there! I'm Marlena Swain. I'm 19 and a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, majoring in Equine Science and Management and minoring in Agricultural Economics.

I've always been fascinated by photography, but I really got my start when my high school launched its multimedia program my sophomore year. I earned industry certifications in Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and AfterEffects, plus social media management and WordPress website design. I also designed and built game-day graphics for every team, using photos I took at media days alongside my teacher.

In the evenings, after the barn,  it was back to school to photograph games, sometimes several at once. At horse shows, between grooming for others and competing myself, I photographed my friends' rounds and occasionally took portraits of them and their horses.

Throughout high school, my photos consistently placed in the top 3 score ranges in Florida Scholastic Press Association contests.

I'm always experimenting with new ideas and eager to learn. I love freezing those fleeting moments, and the unexpected shots often end up being my most cherished photos.