Chasing Light on the Kansas Prairie: Amy Meng on Photography
Amy Meng has lived in Kansas since 2004, when her husband was stationed at Fort Riley. She purchased her first DSLR to document her family’s life. Amy became hooked on photography when landscape photographer Scott Bean taught her how to use the camera, and she continued learning through various online courses. In 2019, she discovered the Click Community, an online network of photographers that offers tutorials, support and other membership benefits. She was later accepted into Click Pro, a women’s organization for professional photographers and other highly skilled artists. In 2020, the pandemic deepened her love for nature and her desire to learn more about the native plants in Kansas. Eventually, she became a docent at the Konza Prairie and later joined the board of the Friends of Konza Prairie, where she organizes their annual Wildflower Walks and produces their social media posts and newsletters. Currently, she is focused on cultivating and photographing the native wildflower patches in her own backyard.
What is one of the most difficult subjects to photograph well?
My active boys constantly challenge my photography skills. I learned to depend on a fast shutter, quiet moments and prayer.
How would you describe your photography in terms of a color wheel?
I love blues, golds, dark greens and shades of red, often repeated over and over again in our prairie landscapes … whether on a road trip across Kansas with golden fields and blue skies or stepping into the prairie filled with pink wildflowers dotting the green grass.
Tell us about the shot that got away.
A shot gets away every day. When you start to learn the rules of photography, you see great photos everywhere you look. It’s a fun game that never gets boring. I often don’t have the right equipment or preparation, and the moment has passed—it was only captured in my mind.
Tell us about the moments leading up to one of the photographs that you are including in this collection of your work.
We visited my husband’s hometown near Kingman. His parents’ farm had seen great drought and had just flooded. I created my photo “Flood Reflection” to symbolize this play on the elements. I picked a Lensbaby lens to soften the edges, then I found a puddle, framed the windmill’s reflection upside down and flipped the image in Lightroom.
What is your most common advice to beginning photographers?
First, learn the rules of photography and your gear. Second, study art and determine your preferences. Finally, conquer your fear of failure enough to courageously break a rule to create your own art—to create your unique view of the world. I’m still learning!
What has photography taught you about life?
Photography has opened my eyes; I notice the everyday beauty in life and have developed gratitude. I see colors, details and patterns that I hadn’t noticed before. And, I have learned so much about myself. I find I am often looking for calming colors and serene patterns … I am often looking for calm in a chaotic life.
What is a Kansas location that you return to again and again to photograph?
I love the prairie, but this was not always the case. When I looked closely at all the life and diversity in the prairie, my appreciation for this endangered ecosystem grew. I love how the prairie changes from year to year. I love how elements of wind, rain and fire shape the landscape. The prairie is a very spiritual place—it’s never boring, and it deserves our attention and respect.
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