by Yvette Depaepe 
Published the 17th of January 2022

To Louie Luo, photography is an endless discovery that brings light into his life. He is  always in search for a special angle to capture interesting people and things. He strives continually to increase his skills but his ultimate goal is to enjoy photography and have fun. 
Let's put Louie in the spotlights through this interview and listen to what this artist has to tell us.

'Wavy Fences'

Dear Louie, can you briefly tell us about yourself, your hobbies and other jobs.

I was trained as doctor in China. After working in a hospital for a few years, I had the opportunity to study in US where I studied computer sciences at the University of Toronto. Today, I  live in Toronto and my profession is scientist. 
I love cooking, DIY, and photography. In the most recent years, I devoted much of my free time to photography. Research is a crucial and an integral part of my life, whether it is related to work or hobby. I always research thoroughly and work through a trial-and-error approach to experiment with what I have learnt, and isolate the techniques that achieve ideal results – this is how my award-winning photos came to be.

'Autumn Impression'

'Fire'

How has your history and life experiences affected your photography?
Which are your most important experiences that has influenced your art?

I have been interested in painting since I was a child. When I took my children to a painting class, I usually practised painting alongside them. Poster design is my favourite subject due to the process of getting the ideas, organizing elements, and learning to deal with the relationship between the subject and the companion, and so on. Such exercises have a certain impact on the composition and creative expression of my photographs.

What first attracted you to photography?

I bought my first SLR in 2012 to take photos on vacations, but Auto mode was used most of the time. My fascination for photography began a few years later after I attended a workshop about what makes a good picture by a great photographer, Mr. Chen. Since then, I started taking photos seriously by studying the parameter settings, practising shooting photos, and learning Photoshop for post-processing.

'Winter Dream'

'Through the Window Shadow'

Describe your overall photographic vision.

Photography is an endless discovery that brings light into my life. I always search for a special angle to capture interesting people and things. To make good works, a photographer should first understand the appeal of the artworks of others and reflect on what techniques can be applied to photography. Secondly, a photographer needs to continually improve his ability to observe the world and discover its beauty.

'Summer Day'

'Sunrise on the lake'

You have your very own style but your work is very diversified.  Can you explain why this is?

The world is so big, only a small part of it can be photographed no matter how wide lens is being used. I explore the world in many ways through photography. In terms of photographer's style, it requires the accumulation of experience. Currently I do what I can achieve well  through my passion for photography. My photos published on 1x.com cover 16 out of 20 categories, including architecture, abstract, action, creative edits, wildlife, landscape, street, still life, and portrait, etc... During my photography journey, I will gradually find out my favourite genres. More works will reveal my personal style once I hit on the right path.

'Eddie and his girlfriend'

'Sunset at the lighthouse'

What is more important to you, the mood/story behind your images or the technical perfection?

A good image can speak for itself and reflect the emotions experienced by the photographer. The mood and story together are the soul of photography. But technical perfection is a necessary requirement for a good picture.

'Gone with the wind'

'Proud'

'Small Town Church'

What generally is your relationship to your subject matter beyond being an observer?

I always try to empathize with my subject matter. What I’m looking for are people’s expressions, the unique cultures they have, the environment surrounding them, and how these elements may differ from my own life. A deeper understanding of my subject matter helps me to make a better photo.

Do you prepare carefully the locations where you are intending to photograph?

It depends on the themes. For landscape, I always conduct thorough research before I go. But for street photography, they are usually taken spontaneously.

What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?

I am using Nikon D850. The lenses are 14-24 mm, 24-70 mm, 70-200 mm, and 200-500 mm.

What software do you use to process your images?

I primarily work with Photoshop and NIK Collection.

Can you tell us something more about your work flow?

I always shoot photos in raw format. The image selection is based on the needs, for example, the theme of a competition or the category of publication. Then I do the adjustments with ACR before refining it by using Photoshop and Nik Collection.

'Like a Family'

What is your most important advice to a beginner in Photography and how do you get started?

Good photography is a perfect combination of art and technology. The learning process also requires both. When you start learning photography, it is beneficial to join in a good atmosphere and continue to nurture yourself. For example, one of great options is attending a local camera club where you can expose yourself to various activities, such as workshops, field trips with other photographers, photo competitions, evaluation group, etc...

'Battle'

'Sprint'

Who are your favourite photographers and more importantly, how has your appreciation of their work affected how you approach your own photography? 

The first photography book that I read is Art Wolfe’s The Art of Photographing Nature, which affected my work a lot. For sure he is one of my favourite photographers.  The 1x photography gallery is a great resource for me to learn something on a daily basis. I devote some time to observe the excellent photos published on it and to look for the elements that inspire me in some way. All photographers behind a large number of excellent works have an impact on my work. Among them are Charlaine Gerber, who expresses mood along with the rhythm of music, Larry Deng, who has a unique shooting perspective, and Bingo Z  who is a master of composing with light and colour.

Are there any specific directions that you would like to take your photography in the future or any specific goals that you wish to achieve?

I'll shoot whatever touches me. I’d like to travel and discover more new places or re-visit some areas that I went to a long time ago to record everything that interests me with my camera.  In addition, I’d like to try photographing as many new perspectives as possible. Ultimately, my goal is to enjoy photography and have fun!

'Curves'

'Museum'

Describe your favourite photograph taken by you and why it is special to you?

My photo called ‘Modern City’ is very special to me, because it is connected with me emotionally. I live in the Greater Toronto Areas (GTA). These iconic buildings represent the architectures of GTA where I have been lived for more than two decades. I’m driven by the desire to tell the viewers about the beauty of the place where I live. My great effort was paid off. This image won the first place in CAPA Lines & Curves competition in 2021.

'Modern City' (GTA Buildings)

Is there anything else you wish to add  and what do you think about 1X as a home base for your work?

I have learned a lot from the great works of excellent photographers of 1x.com since I became a member one and a half year ago. This is great photo platform that provides many resources for both new and experienced photographers.

Finally, I would like to thank Yvette and the 1x team for the opportunity to show my work here.

Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions, dear Louie.  It was a pleasure to interview you. 
Cheers, Yvette