Richard Liu’s elegant and arresting photography shows us glorious contrasts. Vivid colour against drab, smooth against rough, cute alongside fearsome, motion against stillness. His work gently invites the viewer to see the beauty in both.
Richard’s life has offered him many helpful contrasts that contribute to his passion and particular skill with capturing wild creatures and places on camera. Born in China, he had early opportunities to leave the city and follow his father, a railway employee, to wild, uninhabited, and vast places. In his words: “These beautiful places gradually became fixed and clear in my memory. I think this is why I have always liked nature.”
As a young man Richard worked in a large printing company, eventually working up to the position of deputy general manager. The role required knowledge of colour and image-editing that continues to serve as a helpful foundation for his photography.
Skills, however applicable, can only take an artist so far. Passion, stamina, and determination are crucial components of wildlife photography. Since coming to Canada permanently in 2015, Richard has made a mission of travelling to remote and exciting places that most of us have never seen. He is particularly drawn to the Arctic and, at one point, journeyed to the Arctic Circle four times in five consecutive years. The swift and dramatic change of the seasons at high latitudes is something Richard finds particularly compelling:
“As night falls, the northern lights dance in the sky, dreamy and gorgeous. In autumn, the forests are dyed, and the red moss and yellow trees complement each other. Any angle is a natural painting. Winter is coming, and the earth is covered in silver. The river is frozen into a thick layer of ice. At this time, it has become a road called ‘Glacier Road’ that extends to various local villages. Driving on this unique glacier road, you can visit villages full of history and legends. If you are lucky, you may also encounter thousands of migrating reindeer. When they pass by, the ice and snow on the ground are rolled up by their hooves and the sound is as spectacular as thunder. At this time, I can’t help but sigh at the magic and greatness of nature.”
Though a visual art, photography can also activate other senses. It’s as if we can feel the warmth of the grizzly’s coat in the icy stream and imagine the exuberance of the dolphins jumping out of their watery element into a strong wind. By staying true to the scene and emphasizing the contrasts, it is Richard’s hope that the final work will be “vivid and spiritual.”
“Let the work be full of emotion . . . It’s like the visual impact of the work is the appetizer and the expression of emotions the main course. If the emotions are expressed well, the audience will be drawn into the work and feel the passion and thoughts of the creator. So this is what i have always pursued.”
Richard is happy to leave home in pursuit of wonder. A relatively short journey, in this province, lets one experience so much diversity. A few hours travel from our rainy coast to the dry interior can be a welcome change for the senses, and a new challenge for the dedicated photographer. Take that glorious Mountain Bluebird shot, for instance, a signature Richard Liu creation. We see rough grey and smooth bright blue. We see stillness and flight. Capturing this isn’t luck:
“Those Mountain Bluebirds were taken by me in the interior of British Columbia in 2023. I camped for three nights near the birds’ nest to better observe them. Only by spending more time can it be possible to observe their habits and photograph their different forms. Every year I take some time to travel and shoot in different places. These trips also allow me to see many amazing and incredible moments.”
Madeira Park is where Richard and his wife live now, and he cannot say enough about the well-preserved ecology, the generous and helpful neighbours who share the bounty of their gardens, and the community spirit. Additionally, for a wildlife photographer, there’s magic everywhere:
“Sitting in the backyard, you can see whales swimming and bald eagles flying, the scenery is picturesque. We especially like the quietness here. The sound of the waves puts me to sleep, and the sound of birdsong wakes me up. How wonderful it is.”
Explore more of Richard Liu’s stunning photography at richard66.myportfolio.com.