Students were welcomed by Ms. Lucidon and learned a little about her White House experience, how she pursued her passion for photography to land such an incredible opportunity.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library invited a group of BDS students that are interested in photography to attend a special workshop with photographer Amanda Lucidon. Ms. Lucidon worked as a White House photographer to First Lady Michelle Obama and spent years documenting the First Family.

Students were welcomed by Ms. Lucidon and learned a little about her White House experience and how she pursued her passion for photography to land such an incredible opportunity. One student wanted to know if Ms. Lucidon went to a special college specifically for photography. Lucidon explained that she wasn’t in the financial position to go to an art college, so she got her education in journalism. She took on internships and worked jobs that gave her the experience she needed, but it was her perservance and resiliance that allowed her to develop her career.

When asked if one should go to college if they wanted to be a photographer, Ms. Lucidon offered that a degree definitely helps, but that college isn’t necessarily the perfect fit for everyone. She did encourage those scholars to at least consider a 2-year program and seek mentorships with industry professionals.

Senior Leah Moore asked what kind of camera Ms, Lucidon preferred. “It’s not about the gear, it’s about your eye” she said. And led into an activity where students used a piece of paper to create a lense. Ms. Lucidon used the simple exercise to demonstrate composition, scale and depth as she encouraged students to use their lense to focus on an object in the teen library and consider from multiple lense points.

The lesson transitioned into a reflection of Ms. Lucidon’s work, photographs from her book Chasing Light displayed throughout the 2nd floor gallery of the Pratt Central Library where she encouraged students to consider the pictures and what they conveyed. She discussed the composition, and how she used scale, lighting and timing to capture the First Lady and her family in such a personable way. Students experienced the story behind the photos and learned how they can use their phone, camera, or any means to capture an image in just the right way to let the picture tell the story.  Ms. Lucidon impressed our scholars and inspired them to be passionate, persistant and resiliant.

Eight grade scholar Aniya B. thought the workshop “was interesting, I learned a lot from what Ms. Amanda taught us and felt inspired to show my creativity through pictures.”

You can see Ms. Lucidon’s work displayed at the Pratt Central Library until February 28, 2020. Learn more here.

Ms. Lucidon will also be offering a creative online course, which you can learn more about here

Thank you to the Youth Adult Services Programs and Outreach Department at the Pratt Free Library, and the members of their board that made this event possible.

Our students are inspired to Chase their own Light.