A combination of optometry and photography has allowed Larry Louie to travel the world, pursuing humanitarian work as he goes
WORD PAULNUTTALL PICTURES LARRY LOUIE
For many Professional Photographers, winning the overall prize at the Travel Photographer of the Year awards would be somewhat of a pinnacle of their Professional Photographer career. Each year Professional Photographers from over 70 different countries enter the international competition, with just one being crowned the overall winner, making it one of the most hotly contested prizes in photography. However, for 2010 winner Larry Louie it was merely the latest instalment in an extraordinary life not only as a photographer, but also as an optometrist and humanitarian aid worker. Louie manages to combine all three of these fields both at home in Canada and in his travels all around the world. But how exactly has Louie come to combine these three in a harmonious and mutually beneficial partnership?
Unlike many Professional Photographers at the top of their field. Louie arrived to photography fairly late in his youth. 'My first memory of photography was a visit I made to the Rocky Mountains with a friend of mine when I was 18. I was just mesmerised by the beautiful warm light on the cold rock of the mountains, and it's stuck with me ever since.'
As a result of coming to photography later, Louie learnt the majority of his trade through, in his words, 'just practice and experimenting with different exposures' rather than any kind of traditional photographic teaching.
The lack of formal Professional Photographer training may well have been down to Louie being busy training for his profession. Louie, or Dr. Larry Louie to use his full title, is an optometrist by trade based in the Canadian city of Edmonton. Indeed, it was this upbringing which Louie credits with founding his 'insatiable curiosity with other cultures and places' which remains with him today and is clearly still a driving force in his photography.
Being an optometrist obviously gives Louie a unique insight in the visual science behind the photograph, but in what other ways does it influence his photography? Well, as an optometrist with humanitarian concerns, it turns out that photography is a great vehicle to aid his plight.
'One of my main interests is to photograph the global concerns of preventable blindness and to help fund the work of people trying to help those in need. My wife and I work closely with Seva - a foundation which works at restoring eyesight in developing countries. We use the photography to help fund their cause to eliminate preventable blindness by the year 2020.'
The Seva foundation was established in 1978 by a group of people, including medical professionals, with a view to alleviating suffering around the world. One of the current focuses of Seva's work is the worldwide prevention of blindness - according to the World Health Organisation, there are currently 39 million blind people globally, and of these some 80% of them could be cured if they simply had access to an eye doctor. To date, Seva's programs have helped three million people and, with the work of Louie, aim to cure many many more.
So although Louie travels the world with his photography,capturing breathtaking images of the scenery he encounters on the way, he's as much a documentary photographer as a travel Professional Photographer. In fact, on being questioned as to the main consideration when choosing a photography project, this element shines through.
'There are two main considerations - if there are any interesting humanitarian concerns in the region where we are visiting and if the Seva Foundation has any interest there. The most important consideration for me, however, is most certainly the documentation of humanitarian concerns.'
The Seva Foundation and humanitarian concern go hand-in-hand, and as such Louie has found himself photographing in all corners of the world. Whilst these images aren't always easy viewing, the powerful messages and gritty realism of Louie's work has bought much critical acclaim.
Last year's 'Travel Photographer of the Year' title was the latest in a host of awards and accolades bestowed on to Louie. Among these are the World Documentary Portfolio Grant from the World Photography Gala Awards and National Geographic Photo Essay awards. The one which Louie prizes above all others, however, is the Lucie 'Discovery of the Year' award for international Professional Photographers at the 2007 ceremony.
Photographing the subjects Louie encounters is never going to be an easy task. While he is invariably visiting the areas he's shooting to help the people in the images, there's no doubting that producing a camera could cause a difficult situation. So, what advice does Larry have for anyone looking to do the same?
'It's important that you be respectful of your subject, but at the same time you must not be shy. I always find that a smile is most welcome. With regards to the technical elements, I try not to be so hung up on photo gear and to keep it as simple as possible.
'It's also really important to be visually alert in the field and be prepared to capture a moment in time at any time - this is aided by being familiar with one's equipment.
'You need to know your camera like it's an extension of your body, knowing how to change the settings quickly and get the settings you want for a photograph so that you're ready to respond in an instant. Practice changing the settings so you're always ready to take the shot you want, with minimal time taken fiddling about in the field.'
Despite owning a tripod, Louie far prefers to keep the camera in hand when he is out in the field. 'Not only does carrying a tripod weigh you down, but having the camera static for a portrait can intimidate the subject and make them uncomfortable. For this reason I like to concentrate on shooting handheld.'
Another habit Louie has is something that he maintains from his days of shooting film. 'I'm always careful not to take too many shots. It's difficult when you're photographing people who may not be that comfortable in front of the camera - you don’t want to annoy them by snapping away. I'm also considerate as to taking too many images as I want to get the whole thing in one.'
The common consensus for travel photographers is to travel
light, and to make the most of the gear you've got on the go. As for documentary photographers, they are also fans of keeping the gear to a minimum in order that they can concentrate on nothing but the shot. Both of these sentiments ring true with Louie.
'My favourite lens is the 24mm prime f/1.4 -1 use it for about 80% of all of my shooting. I like the sharp optics and the fast speed in low lighting conditions, while the perspective allows me to tell a whole story in just one image.' With the Travel Photographer of the year award in the bag, you could forgive Louie for potentially sitting back and enjoying his prize, but when speaking to Louie you soon realise that sitting back definitely isn't an option. So. what does he have planned for the immediate future?
'My wife and I are going to western Nepal in October. We're part of an organisation that is helping to provide an eye surgery camp in the remote areas of Humla. I'm also going to be photographing the local indigenous tribes while I'm there, and I'm very excited about the opportunity. After that, I'm planning a trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh, in December this year to continue my work in the slums.'
Wherever Louie's travels take him beyond this year, one thing for certain is that he'll continue to produce breathtaking images to help bring the message to a wider audience. Not only that, but once he's finished visiting these countries, there'll be a few more people that will be able to view them with their new-found sight.
LARRY LOUIE
4/
5
Oleh
Unknown
