The Zebra Monochrome Magazine Issue #1 The Zebra Monochrome Magazine Issue #1 | Page 106

How did you start in photography? How did
that blend in with your life as a doctor?
Growing up as a teenager in Canada, I have
always wanted to be a National Geographic
Photographer. I dream about traveling all
over the world, discovering foreign lands
and cultures, and to be able to come home
and tell other people about them. I guess my
initial interest in photography is really a result
of my love for adventure and discovery and
the desire to share these unique experiences
and stories with my friends and family.
My career as an optometrist is actually quite
complimentary to my work as a photographer.
My optometrist career provides the financial
stability I needed to be flexible in my
photograph. I am able to pick and choose
my own projects, the places I want to visit,
and the issues I want to cover. It allows me to
place the issue and the story as my number 1
priority. I do not need to take images that will
sensationalize a story so news magazines will
pick it up, nor am I driven to take an image
that is pleasing to the eye so it will be popular
with the general public for sale.
As a result, I am able to cover important
but little known humanitarian crisis or
environmental issues. At the same time, I am
also able to take and document images that
may be very mundane but of interest to me. (I
spent an amazing week in Dhaka, Bangladesh
in Oct. 2010 documenting the lives of people
on the streets. )
I want to tell the stories as they are, and
make people take notice of issues that might
otherwise be left untold. Hopefully by
bringing some of these smaller issues upfront,
there will be some positive impact in peoples’
lives. Right now, I am very fortunate to have
a good balance of both worlds. I really enjoy
my career as an optometrist and working
with my patients. I have worked hard over
the years to build up my optometric practice

to allow me to indulge, as I need to, into my
photography. My optometric practice allows
me the freedom to take on photo projects
that interest me and mean something to me
personally. I take great joy in my photography
because of this freedom. Generally and
realistically speaking these projects are not
great revenue generators.

© Larry Louie http://www.larrylouie.com/