by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 9^th of December 2024

Konglingming excels in architectural photography. He constantly strives for perfection to enhance his passion for creation. As a professional who builds stairs, photographing them became his goal. He quotes: 'It is often said that architecture is solidified music. I think we should add another sentence: the spiral staircase is the violin in the orchestra, and its curve is the most beautiful curve in the world. Compared with other kinds of photography, architectural photography has great creative potential and can show the photographer's imagination and creativity. This is also the reason why people are fascinated.'
Discover more through this very interesting interview...

'In the conch'

First of all, please introduce yourself and tell us more about yourself, your hobbies and your relationship to photography!
Dear Yvette, thank you very much for inviting me to this interview. It is a great honour for me.
I am an architectural photographer based in Shanghai. After graduating from university, I worked in a government organisation. With the deepening of China's reform and opening up, I left my government job in 1991 and set up my own construction materials and engineering company. Like most photography enthusiasts, I took up photography after I retired and improved my photography skills through self-learning. My photography is my entertainment and enriches my life.

'Look up'

After retiring, I started learning photography while travelling to enrich my life. I wanted to capture the beautiful moments of my travels and fell in love with photography. I started learning photography to take better pictures. From then on, my hobby became a part of my life. Now photography is an important part of my life. After retirement, I started to learn photography while traveling to enrich my life. I wanted to record the beautiful moments of my travels, and I fell in love with photography. I started to learn photography to take better photos. From then on, my hobby became a part of my life. Now, photography is an important part of my life.

'Look Down'

What would you say is the most important experience that has influenced your steps in photography?
In 2018 I travelled to the United States. When I photographed the sunrise at Mesa Arch, I couldn't handle the high dynamic range of the sunrise very well. After that, I learned about exposure bracketing and realised that taking travel photos also requires certain photography skills. So I began my journey to learn photography. For about half a year, I started systematically learning about photography and PS technology, reading more than 50 photography books.

'Three Musketeers in Shanghai'

Could you please describe in a few words your philosophy as a photographer?
Striving for perfection is the key to my constant improvement and passion for creation. Just like climbing stairs, one step at a time, there is no end.  John Fan (johnfan), a leading figure in the Chinese photography community, encouraged me to stay focused: "It's very hard to do just one thing well. I was a professional who built stairs, so I should take good photos of stairs. That became my goal.

'Shanghai Oriental Sports Center'

How do you maintain and develop your passion for photography?
Before a photographer picks up his camera, he has to ask himself two questions: What to shoot? How to shoot? These questions are inseparable. "What to shoot" focuses on aesthetics, interest and artistic concept. My philosophy of photography is influenced by the Eastern Confucian culture, focusing on subtlety and elegance.

'Think Deeply'

Why are you so attracted to architecture and abstract photography?
It is often said that architecture is solidified music. I think we should add another sentence: the spiral staircase is the violin in the orchestra, and its curve is the most beautiful curve in the world.
Compared with other kinds of photography, architectural photography has great creative potential and can show the photographer's imagination and creativity. This is also the reason why people are fascinated.

'Curve'

What is more important to you, the mood/story behind your images or the technical perfection?
Of course it is emotional. Technology is a means, not an end. Just like when we try to reach the other side of the water, technology is just the boat and the expression of emotion is the destination we want to reach.

'Swan'

What is your relationship to your subject in general, beyond being an observer?
My subject is my mirror, a mirror that belongs only to me. In the mirror, only I can see the light, the shadows and the space. This is the key to my own photographic style. Of course, it is difficult to find and present beauty in a chaotic environment.

'Spiral Staircase'

Do you prepare carefully the places you want to photograph?
I don't usually do much preparation, let alone planning. I just decide where to go with the map on my phone. I pay a lot of attention to the first impression of the object. I am always looking for new objects, which is the source of my creativity.  After shooting, I look at the large images on the computer. If there are some details I am not happy with, I will re-shoot or wait to re-shoot when I have new inspiration.

'Shanghai Oriental Sports Center'

 

What gear do you use (camera, lenses, bag)?
I have a Nikon Z8 camera and a drone, a LAOWA 10-18 mm lens, and a Nikon 14-30mm 24-120mm 100-400mm lens. I usually use two wide-angle lenses to shoot ladders.

'Spiral Staircase'

What software do you use to process your images?
All my post-production work is done in Photoshop. I use very few plug-ins. I like to manipulate the image manually rather than letting software do it for me.

'Honeycomb'

Can you tell us more about your workflow?
I don't have a workflow, I just do whatever my heart desires at that moment. If I do the same photo twice, I won't get the same result.
Usually, when I start post-processing, I look at the original photo for a long time and think about how I can strengthen the idea I had when I took the photo. But I often run into situations where I can't realise my ideas or the effect isn't good.

'Glass Arch'

What is your main advice to a beginner in architecture and abstract photography and how do you get started?
I started learning photography from scratch, from travel photography to landscape photography and then to architectural photography.
The following four points are the most important in my learning process:
1. Master certain photographic skills and take as many beautiful photos as possible.
2. Use your imagination to create innovative images from unique perspectives.
3. Think constantly and you will inadvertently make good work full of emotion.
4. The concept of landscape photography is the same as that of architectural photography. If you are a landscape photographer, the knowledge and equipment you have will be sufficient to support you in architectural photography.

'Spiral Staircase'
 

What would be your favourite photo of the last few years? Please tell us the story behind it.
The one below is my favourite. Two years ago, my wife and I took our granddaughter to a children's play centre. When we saw this colourful staircase, we told her to go up. I took out my phone and took a picture of it. Now I have enlarged it and put it in a beautiful picture frame.

'Upward'

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose work has influenced you and your photography?
Chinese photographer Dr John Fan (johnfan) was my mentor. He gave me a lot of help and guidance when I first started learning photography. I also like the work of two Chinese photographers, Larry Deng (larry73) and Bingo Z (niditop). I must also mention my good friend Leah Xu (leahyu), who is also an excellent landscape photographer in the 1X family. Three years ago, while we were chatting, she reminded me that Shanghai has rich architectural resources and that I could try to photograph buildings. Her advice opened the door to my architectural photography.

'Eggshell'

We are almost at the end of this interview and I would like to ask you to tell us about your future plans or photographic projects you would like to be involved in.
It took me two years to photograph buildings and stairs in Shanghai, and I plan to spend the next three years photographing buildings and stairs all over China. Then I will publish a large and exquisite photo album to present my works in paper form. Of course, during this period, I will also go to different parts of the world to photograph some beautiful buildings and stairs.

'Double-Helix Staircase'

Is there anything else you would like to add and what do you think of 1X as a home base for your work?
1X.com is the best photography platform in the world. It is a great pleasure to share my work on this excellent and friendly platform. I am an architectural photographer who grew up with 1X and I am still trying to get better.

'Dome'