“In an increasingly stressful and gloomy world, photography should serve as an extra source of imagination, happiness and beauty.” - Leo Lam (林力)

This time, Hong Kong borned Seattle fashion photographer Leo Lam come with me, share his personal experience of photography. In his photos, girls remain soft and beautiful, always elegant. A little warm smile, and very questioning eyes. I’m obsessed with his photos’ sexy desire, so let’s begin interview.

Shall Zou: Could you describe yourself just like a good friend?

Leo Lam: I was born in 1976 in Hong Kong and now live in Seattle. I am a fashion photographer, a classical musician, an electrical engineer and an entrepreneur.

Shall Zou: What is your childhood dream? is there some special experiences?

Leo Lam: I was very fortunate that my parents exposed me to any different things, from science to Art. It gave me the opportunity to explore and develop interests in many different ways. At some point I was hoping to become an opera singer, and even though that wish was nurtured (and I am a pretty good singer), other factors didn’t allow it to happen ultimately. It is ok, though, because now I have found another voice with photography.

Shall Zou: You are a trained classical singer for 16 years, is there any relationship between singing and photograohy?

Leo Lam: To me, both media exist to make the world a more beautiful place, one is visual, and one is auditory. There are no better things in the world than to bring beauty, joy and happiness to others, and both media, if done right, can achieve the same thing. Most importantly, both bring me an immense amount of joy.

Shall Zou: Which artists do you especially like and enjoy?

Leo Lam: There are many. In fashion photography, Terry Richardson, Juergen Teller, Ellen Von Unwerth and Mario Testino are my current favorites. And of course my friends and mentors Richard Goldstein, Sam Hessamian, D. Brian Nelson, Chip Willis and Marko Cecic-Karuzic.

Musically, I am a fan of Puccini’s operas (all of them), and most compositions from the late Romantic period, particularly Brahms and Rachmaninov. And I have to mention that I am my brother’s biggest fan (Fung Lam, who is a classical music composer in the UK). I am also interested in some bands, Sigur Ros, Pulp, my music taste is very wide.

Shall Zou: In your creative process, what is the most concerned about? Aesthetics, style, artistry quality, readers feelling or others? Why?

Leo Lam: To me, the most important element in a photograph is whether it produces a connection. For fashion, we attempt to create a fantasy world that one aspires to be. That said, my humanistic approach brings me to place a lot of emphasis in the connection between myself and the model, beyond the surface. I am a natural born romantic, and romance is the guiding light for the result, and it is how I have developed my work process.

Adding to that, coming from an engineering background, I demand myself to produce work that is absolutely technically perfect, and I leave nothing to chance.

Shall Zou: What/Who inspires you? what does photography mean to you?

Leo Lam: Inspiration comes from daily experience. By observing the world, inspiration is everywhere. Once in a while, I would meet a special model and she would be inspiring enough I would want to build a visual story around her. They are few and far between, though. News, political climate, and social issues, other media like movies and music can also lead up to a fashion story forming in my head.

Photography is my way to repay the world, and a way to bring happiness and beauty back into this increasingly gloomy world.

Shall Zou: What’s important in photography and Imaging today?

Leo Lam: Images still have the same purpose as it did in the past, documenting events, human atrocities and other environmental wonders, although the impact it has today is significantly lower than it did in the past. Photography has become a commodity that while products could sell with a unique photo in the past, the uniqueness is simply a necessity today. That said, it actually makes the photo market larger and the importance of images higher - because it is now an essential part of everything.

What I think is even more important, though, is how digital images can now create physically impossible fantasies, where people can go places that transcend reality. In an increasingly stressful and gloomy world, photography should serve as an extra source of imagination, happiness and beauty.

Shall Zou: What are you doing now? What the plans are for the future?

Leo Lam: I just moved into a new studio and my hope is that I will find new creative energy and keep improving my work and take it to a new level. I hope to be shooting for first tier international magazines in the next few years.

Text, interview, design by Shall Zou @ NONZEN.COM

Download 2.51MB PDF File

This interview is available in the 92th issue of Chinese Life Element Magazine.

More Information about Leo Lam @ www.leolam.com

Leo Lam (林力) is a photographer in Seattle, WA with a focus in fashion and beauty. He learned photography from his father when he was 7 year-old on a Rollei medium format camera and only started shooting commercially in the past four years. Leo was fortunately published a few times last year both locally and nationally, online and offline.

Originally trained on film, Leo is uniquely knowledgeable in digital imaging technology from strong microelectronics engineering and software programming background. He is committed to a fully calibrated digital workflow. A natural communicator, Leo can efficiently work with any team and Art Directors to produce images that are effective, high-impact and artistically beautiful.

Besides photography, Leo is a trained classical singer for 16 years, which gives him a unique insight on the other side of the lens.

While he is not shooting, Leo is a lecturer and a PhD candidate at the University of Washington’s Electrical Engineering Department. He is the co-founder of a high tech startup in Seattle and a marketing consultant for many local businesses with a proven track record.

Leo holds a Master degree in Electrical Engineering from UW, BEng (with highest honour) from Imperial College, University of London, Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate from the UW Business School and multiple management related certificates.

Leo was nominated for the 40 under 40 Award at the Puget Sound Business Journal, Iconique International Fashion Photography Competition and the Black and White Spider Photography Award in two categories in 2006, First Award Edition of Iconique Societás Fashion Photography Awards 2007