With Momtographie Online about to begin next week (hurry…you can still register here), I’ve been putting the finishing touches on our class website and generally reminiscing about the incredible work the last round of students did during our work together. Today I’m going to introduce you to another one of those moms. But she’s not only an amazing mom, she’s an amazing grandma too! Kay is the first grandama (besides my own mother…) who I’ve had the privilege of teaching, and I sure hope she’s not the last. I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about her and her Momtographie journey below.
Name
Kay Lucien
Camera/Lenses
Nikon D5000
18-55mm kit lens, 55-200mm 1:4-5.6, 50mm 1:1.8 and a new 28mm 1.8, that I haven’t even taken out of the box yet!
Tell us a bit about you and your family
My husband and I grew up in Ohio, but we have lived in Virginia for 35 years. We live in Leesburg now. We have two grown children. Our daughter, Sara, and her husband and 7 year old son live nearby in Ashburn, VA. Our son, Chad, lives in Arlington VA with his wife and two daughters, ages 7 and 5.
Tell us what you love about being a mom and a grandma.
Being a grandma is so much fun. I can love, adore and have fun with my grandkids without having the responsibility of making sure they learn their manners, how to treat others, eat right, get enough sleep and do their homework, but I haven’t been able to figure how not to worry about them. I am so lucky to have them all pretty close!
What sparked your interest in photography?
I have always loved taking and having photos. Digital photography got me more interested in achieving a better skill level. With film, I was always conscious of the cost. You just didn’t take a roll of 24 or 36 of your child baking cookies. Or at least I didn’t. Once I got a digital camera, I loved being able to take as many pictures as I wanted and seeing them immediately, but then I wanted them to be better. And when the grandbabies started coming, I really wanted better pictures.
What was your biggest frustration before Momtographie?
I had no idea how to use any of the functions on my camera. The manual was overwhelming and I didn’t know where to start. I took a couple of classes, but what I learned didn’t stick with me and I wasn’t picking up my camera often enough. I needed someone to walk me through, step by step–I needed Momtographie!
Were there any ah ha moments during the class? What were you able to put to use right away?
I think I had an ah-ha moment every week in Momtographie! This was the first course that kept me engaged and learning almost daily. From learning how to work with light, to learning how to manipulate ISO, aperture and shutter speed and why, and learning about perspective, I find myself constantly looking for photo opportunities.
Do you have a favorite photo you’ve taken since our work together? Tell us about it.
I think my favorite is a photo of my grandson, missing front tooth, swinging on a rope at Great Country Farms. I love the expression on his face and was thrilled that I was able to capture it as he was swinging towards me.
Where do you hope your photography journey takes you in 2014?
As often happens, the more you learn, the more you want to know. I’d like to work more on action shots, and macro photography really intrigues me. I am currently doing a Project 52 and a Project 365, so I am using my camera daily, hoping to improve with experience. And I will just keep taking classes as Beryl offers them, I know I’ll learn something in each class!
The class may be called