Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie Lucas.
Hi Debbie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I came to photography through science. I studied biology, and a college professor first introduced me to photography. For many years, it was something I pursued alongside my career in clinical and healthcare services research, especially as I traveled and became increasingly drawn to nature, wildlife, water, and the small details we often overlook.
A turning point came during a conference in Baltimore. I went down to the Inner Harbor late one afternoon simply to take a walk. I wasn’t looking to do a lot of photography, but I noticed reflections from the Baltimore World Trade Center breaking apart across the water. In the late light, the harbor looked like liquid gold. I stood there photographing the ever-changing patterns as they shifted with each ripple, and that simple walk changed the way I saw water.
What began with architectural reflections has evolved into a much broader exploration of the interplay between light, movement, and whatever water reflects or contains—from buildings, boats, and sky to shells, lava, coral, and sand. Water can distort and transform these familiar elements into compositions that exist only for an instant, often becoming almost unrecognizable as photography.
Today, I photograph water abstracts, wildlife, the natural world, and weathered surfaces—peeling paint, rust, and layers of patina—with the same curiosity and fascination for color, texture, pattern, and transformation. I hope my work encourages people to pause and to come away with a sense of wonder, beauty, joy, hope, and a deeper appreciation for the world we share. The Baltimore Inner Harbor series will always be special to me because it was where this way of seeing began.
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?
I wouldn’t describe the road as especially difficult, but it certainly hasn’t always been smooth. Like many people, I spent years balancing photography with work, family, and the practical realities of limited time and resources. There were always places I wanted to travel, equipment I wanted to try, and more time I wished I had to devote to photography.
One of the more personal challenges has been living with chronic pain. There are times when it limits what I can do or how long I can be out photographing. At the same time, I think it has also shaped the way I see. Photography gives me a reason to focus outside myself—to look for light, movement, beauty, humor, and moments of calm. Being absorbed in making photographs simply makes me feel good.
In that sense, some of the bumps in the road have also reinforced why photography is so important to me. It keeps me curious, connected to the world around me, and always looking for something positive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work spans abstract photography, coastal scenes, nature, flowers, and wildlife, but the common thread is that I’m always looking for something that might otherwise be missed. With flowers, I tend to treat them almost like portraits, focusing on their individuality rather than simply photographing them as decoration. With my abstract work, especially water, I’m drawn to images that transform something real into something unexpected—so much so that people often have a hard time believing the image is actually a photograph.
What I’m most proud of, though, is the way people respond to the work. Years ago, one of my photographs was selected for the cover of my company magazine after I won a photography contest. A person I didn’t know contacted me afterward to say that her son loved the image so much he wouldn’t put the magazine down. I’ve also had people tell me they look at one of my photographs every morning and that it makes them smile. Those reactions mean more to me than awards or recognition because they tell me the image has become part of someone’s life.
I’ve been told many times that my work looks different from other photography, and I think that comes from the way I look at ordinary subjects. I’m less interested in documenting exactly what something looks like and more interested in what else might be there—personality in a flower, abstraction in moving water, or an unexpected moment in nature. I think curiosity is really at the center of my work.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that surprises people is that my professional background is in science which seems very different from creating abstract photography. But I actually think the two are closely connected. Science taught me to observe carefully, look for patterns, and stay curious about what is happening beneath the surface. Those same instincts are very much part of how I photograph today.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies based on print size, medium, and whether the work is offered as an open or limited edition.
- Custom sizing, framing, and presentation options may affect the final price.
- Volume pricing may be available for designers, hospitality, healthcare, and corporate projects.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.debbieonaturephotography.com
- Instagram: debbieophoto
- Facebook: debbieophotography
- LinkedIn: debbieonaturephotography
