Life & Work with Minnie Lucas

Image Credits
Samantha Toale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Minnie Lucas. 

Hi Minnie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first became interested in photography when I was nine years old. When I was in 4-H. I used to walk around my parent’s yard and took photos of whenever I found. I first started using my mom’s point-and-shoot camera. In middle school and high school became more interested in drawing. 

When I started school at Columbus College of Art & Design, I became more serious in photography. During this time, I learned more about film. In college, I mostly photographed nature and the farms in my hometown. 

Shortly after college, I started getting into restoring my old family photos in photoshop and started a project where I turned my family into aliens. I also have been working on projects where I’m working on street photography and going to antique shops. Where I’m capturing weird and creepy things. Currently, I’m working at Columbus Museum of Art as a gallery Associate and at Franklinton Arts District as a photography fellow. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
2020 was a really hard year. It was my senior year of college. When covid hit, I was forced to move out of my dorm room. Everything that I was looking forward to for four years was canceled. Covid depression didn’t hit me until the summer. Before then I was mostly focused on graduating and never gave myself a chance to process what had happened in March. I didn’t really know where to go with my art nor my career. I tried working on the same projects I was working on before but I just could never get back into them. I was burned out on everything. In August I decided to give myself a much-needed break. I didn’t shoot much for the next few months. I didn’t start getting back into things until 2021 because that’s when I finally started to feel okay. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When I am out taking photos, I like to shoot with film and digital. Sometimes I have two different cameras with me. I shoot with black and white and color 35mm film. When I am on the street or at an antique shop, I like to find things to capture. I don’t really go out with a plan on what I will find. I just kinda find that object or the moment. 

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I look at a lot of art at the Columbus Museum of Art where I work and I have been inspired a lot there. Currently, there’s a Women’s photography show on display. I was inspired to capture street photography by this show. 

Contact Info:

• Website: minnielucas.com
• Instagram: @minnielucasphotography
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minnielucasphotography or @minnielucasphotography

Image Credits
Minnie Lucas