Ramapo college student Harlen Cruz has discovered that following along on someone else’s journey can help him and others overcome their own challenges, too.

Cruz won the Fujifilm Students of Storytelling competition for his visual narrative that follows Lina, a performing artist, as she prepares for upcoming auditions. Viewers learn about her challenges and how performing arts has restored her self-confidence.

Fujifilm created the contest to identify the next generation of U.S. storytellers, and to provide them with Fujifilm X Series or GFX System gear to bring their vision to life.

Rangefinder: What interests you as a storyteller? Which stories are you drawn to?

Harlen Cruz: When it comes to storytelling, exploring conflict is really important to me as it can spark much-needed conversations, and it welcomes everyone to share their thoughts and ask questions, which is a great way to discover possible solutions together. I’m always drawn to stories that give me an opportunity to learn about other peoples’ lives.

Rf: What stories do you want to share through your work?

HC: I enjoy listening to stories and taking it all in to learn something I did not know and hear other peoples’ perspectives. I want to use my work to raise awareness of issues affecting others. I get an incredible feeling in even the slightest impact that my work has on other people.

Rf: Describe the evolution of your style and approach. How has it changed over time? Why has it changed? What (and who) has influenced your work, and how?

HC: When I started doing photography, I worked as a second shooter and videographer to a photographer based in NYC, and I learned a lot about portraiture and product photography. I used to really like balanced lighting and keeping shoots very simple but I started to do that for almost every client and felt that my style was very simple and kind of boring. My photos began to change once I started to get creative with lighting setups, chose locations, and gave more thought to creating something cool. One of the photographers that I have followed on Instagram for several years now is Lindsey Byrnes. I am blown away by how her style of photography goes really well with the people in the photographs. Seeing her work has made me rethink my creative approach.

Rf: What are the key things you have learned or done that have helped you advance your career since you began shooting?

HC: Learning how to use lighting equipment has been critical in my advancement since I started photographing. Previously, whenever I presented portfolios to prospective clients, the pictures with controlled lighting would always get a lot of compliments. Some of my clients were convinced to hire me after seeing those pictures. Every opportunity has been helpful to me growing as a photographer. Many of the assignments that I had would not have been possible had I not challenged myself with learning how to use that equipment.

Rf: What is the most helpful piece of advice you’ve received and followed? Who gave it to you?

HC: During a photography class, I accidentally created a print where I added more contrast than I originally intended to. I was in a rush so I took the print and presented it, and I was surprised to get really good feedback on it. My professor provided advice on several lighting techniques and the editing process. I started to shoot a bit more following that advice and I noticed a major change in my portfolio. Again, there were things I was unsure about doing in my photography and filmmaking but reworking my portfolio and reel using the different setup, as well as changing my editing process improved my portfolio and led to landing more work.

Rf: How has your photographic education affected your career and development as a photographer?

HC: Learning about the work of other photographers and their creative approach has been very helpful in providing me different methods on how to approach my own work. It has been very beneficial to also understand the technical aspects of photography. Understanding how to use my equipment and features that I I did not previously comprehend has allowed me to easily obtain the photos I want. While it’s great to be able to solve challenges that present themselves during a photo shoot, it’s also great to know how to solve and work around different types of problems before the day of the shoot.

Rf: Do you have a personal connection to the performing arts? What drew you to sharing Lina’s story in your current work?

HC: I was 5 years old when I started learning to play the piano. I really liked listening to classical and jazz music and I practiced a lot. Part of my motivation was wanting to be better than my older brother. When I saw my first musical, I realized that I wanted to be a part of a show by playing in the pit. Unfortunately, I pressured myself a lot and I eventually stopped playing the piano. I still treasure the memories from when I started to learn music for the first time. I met Lina during high school and the first thing that caught my attention was her passion for the arts. She was a part of several performing arts programs and was dedicated to each role and part she had in every show. We collaborated for the first time three years ago when she needed headshots, and it was great because I also wanted to start building a portfolio, too. Ever since then, we have been very supportive of each other’s work, and there are so many things that I’ve learned from her that have helped me as a photographer and filmmaker.

Rf: Can you tell us about your submission to Fujifilm’s Students of Storytelling program? How did you come up with the project?

HC: Even though my experience as a musician was not the best, I still think the performing arts can be something powerful and worth a try for people who are interested as well as for those who are slowly losing their passion for the arts. There are so many challenges that people face at the start and some that hold people back for a long time. I do not doubt that people can find inspiration in learning about another person’s experience and how they overcame obstacles. And sometimes following along someone else on their journey can help people find answers and a way to overcome their challenges, too. That’s when I knew I wanted to dedicate my project to sharing someone’s journey as an artist.

Rf: What works have you produced with your new Fujifilm systems?

HC: Aside from the Students of Storytelling project, I am also working on social media content for a startup brand in fitness and nutrition. I am really excited to produce more video content using XT-4 because it has so many essential features that make it a great camera for filmmakers too. It is a very versatile camera—it has reduced the size of my setup and allows me to focus more on the quality of the content I create.

Rf: Where do you see your work going from here?

HC: I hope to get back to concert photography soon, and I look forward to more opportunities to create content for brands’ social media accounts, too. My plans for this upcoming college semester are to get into photojournalism. I can’t really see where my work is going but I am really excited for the future.

Rf: Which brand, media outlet or agency is your ideal client? Why?

HC: My ideal client would be a brand, outlet or agency focusing on entertainment, specifically music or sports—I really enjoy being in those fast-paced environments. Although, it can be a bit intimidating to step away from controlled environments where you can simply direct your subjects and keep a lighting setup that works great for your shoot. However, you gain the ability to think fast and capture a great photo. As a runner, I also love brands that promote healthy lifestyles. It’s great to work with brands or clients who promote things that I am passionate about.

Visit the official Fujifilm Students of Storytelling site for more information about the complete program. Follow @harlenlc to stay up to date with Harlen Cruz.