Leann Walker
By
Geok Hwa Ventrice
The Camera Corner presents Leann Walker as the June featured photographer of the Cookeville Camera Club.
An avid nature photographer who won the Tennessee Wildlife Magazine Photo Contest of 2023 by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), Leann first developed her interest in photography in the late 1980s. Her love for photography blossomed in 1997 when a digital camera was purchased by her school. Having reflected on the photos taken during routine activities and special occasions, Leann realized that there was a difference between photography and snapshots. She enrolled in the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) in the early 2000s. Although Leann couldn’t complete her training at NYIP because of parental obligations and financial constraints, she continued to enlighten herself by reading books and magazines about photography at the local library. The Putnam County Library was where Leann learned about the existence of the Cookeville Camera Club.
One of the best decisions I ever made was joining our club in 2015. While I was so intimidated to go to the first meeting, I found a community of people who were warm, welcoming, encouraging and most of all wanted to help train and improve everyone’s photography. From field trips, guest speakers, and master photographers my photography has gone to a whole new level. I have learned editing programs, rules of photography and had experiences I could not have had anywhere else.
As the technology director of the club, Leann ensures that monthly meetings are carried out smoothly. Furthermore, as a board member, she helps make decisions that have warranted the longevity of the club.
I want to help others as much as possible. If there is a skill I feel like I can help other emerging photographers learn then I offer to teach a workshop within our club to share what knowledge I have but more so to offer up hands-on practice for everyone to learn from each other. I incorporate photography into my daily life by trying to give back to those that need assistance to have photos they otherwise might not be able to afford.
As a macro photographer, Leann brought gears, materials and props for members to practice during her macro photography workshop. Through trials and errors, members learned from one another and expanded their photography repertoire.
As a special educator, Leann was the first-place winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award of 2024 by the Cookeville Rotary Club (RC Cookeville). She photographed her students with special needs engaging in sports activities of the annual May Day celebration. She provided what she had captured at no cost to the entire school so parents could have somewhat decent photos of their sons and daughters doing something spectacular.
As a wildlife photographer, Leann wanted her audience to experience the WOW factor of birds of prey by freezing her subjects in motion as they were flying or grabbing a meal. The world was shown all the beautiful things that she had seen in nature and loved so much.
As a portrait photographer, Leann conveyed her love towards her grandchildren by setting up a home studio just for them and by bringing out their emotional connection in family portraits.
Leann sees herself as a hobbyist not a professional photographer. For many club members, however, she is a role model. Her advice on practice, for example, is well received. “Photography is something that takes practice. I try to practice the skills I learned as soon as possible to engrain the skill into motor memory which is important to retain the knowledge”. Leann, a well-rounded, yet humble photographer has made life beautiful through her perseverance and compassion.
Join us at our monthly meeting, second Monday of each month between 7:00 to 9:00pm, at the Cookeville Art Studio and Gallery. Enjoy a sense of camaraderie among like-minded people. Check out our schedule at https://www.cookevillecameraclub.com.