Liwen Tao - Photography to preserve nature

by Yvette Depaepe
Published the 12th of May 2025

Liwen Tao travels a lot with her husband and 1x member HJ Yang. To her, the influences and learning from photo travels are endless. She quotes: I love nature! Nature is my soul! The wilderness is so pure! Nature heals us and provides us with the essential elements. By photographing landscape and wildlife, I can enjoy the wonder, peace and happiness and share it with others to achieve the same goal - to respect and preserve nature.'
Let's travel with her and learn in this this interview how she uses good light, colour, tone, emotion and atmosphere to create images that tell a story.

'Glory2!'

Dear friend, first of all I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer this questionnaire! First of all, please introduce yourself and tell us more about yourself, your hobbies or other projects you are involved in!
My name is Liwen Tao. I grew up in China. I have been living in the USA with my husband HJ Yang - also 1x member - for 40 years. We have two grown children. I have been a dental specialist (endodontist) for 33 years to relieve people's dental discomfort. In addition to photography, I enjoy playing tennis and pickleball, travelling and hiking.
I love all wildlife, but polar bears and emperor penguins in polar regions are my favourites as they are more vulnerable to climate change and human interference. In 2024, I published a children's book called "Yukio's First Day Out", which is filled with my original photographs of polar bear cubs and their mother, taken in Churchill and Baffin Island in Canada and Svalbard in Norway. By telling the story through the real photographs, I hope that future generations will appreciate what our generation can preserve for them.

My photo "We are A Big Family" taken in Antarctica has won the Highly Honoured/Polar Passion in Nature Best Photography 2024.

'WE ARE A BIG FAMILY'

“Everyone wants Mom’s Love” also taken in Antarctica won Polar Passion in Share The View in 2023.

'Everyone wants Mom's Love'

When and how did your photographic journey begin?
Ten years ago I had no knowledge of photography. I liked travelling as a family activity and for my own relaxation. When we visited Egypt, we couldn't get our programmed camera to work. I decided to learn! Then I took photography classes at the community recreation centre, where I learned the basics of ISO, shutter speed and aperture. With a busy job and family, not much progress in 2 years. Then one of my friends introduced me to a local camera club (Tampa Bay Camera Club). The monthly photo show opened my eyes! Mr Robert Rostick became my teacher. His guidance and critiques are the most important in my photographic journey. At the same time, my husband (https://1x.com/hjyang/overview) has always joined me to learn and travel together. My family and friends always appreciate and encourage my photography.

'madly in love'

For many of us, photography is either a hobby or a way of life. How would you define your relationship to photography?
In the beginning, photography was just a challenge to myself to learn something new. Then it became a hobby to relax and enjoy outside the work environment. Now I feel that photography is part of my life! In my spare time, if I am not out shooting, I will be doing post processing or learning from others by watching YouTube, videos or other media related to photography.

'Lovely Moment'

What would you say is the most important experience that has influenced your steps in photography?
Every time we travelled we met different photographers. Each photographer has their own unique experience. So many exchanges from many trips have really influenced me, no matter if they are famous photographers or average amateur photographers, from small technical tips to inspiring presentations and stories. The influences and learning from photo travels are endless.

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You have a very unique style. Why are you so drawn to landscape and wildlife photography?
I love nature! Nature is my soul! The wilderness is so pure! When I smell the fresh air, listen to the birds singing, watch the loving interactions between mother and baby, I feel like I am in another world! Nature heals us and provides us with the essential elements. By photographing landscape and wildlife, I can enjoy the wonder, peace and happiness and share it with others to achieve the same goal - to respect and preserve nature.

'ice sprouts'

What is more important to you, the mood/story behind your images or technical perfection?
The mood/story behind the images is more important than technical perfection. However, technical perfection can help the mood/story. The painter has to know how to use the brush in the right place with the right colour to tell the story.

What is your relationship to your subject matter in general, beyond being an observer?
Do you carefully prepare the places you want to photograph?
I am a visitor to my subject. I have to respect my subject when I observe it.
All my wildlife photographs have been taken in the wilderness with guides. There are rules we have to follow, such as 100m from polar bears, penguin highway, etc. I often wish I could get better angles.

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Describe your overall photographic vision.
To use good light, colour, tone, emotion and atmosphere to create images that tell a story and influence others.

'sunset and sand dune'

What do you think are the main characteristics of a successful landscape photographer?
The main characteristics of a successful landscape photographer are that they love and respect nature and inspire others to love nature through their heart touching images. They are willing to go to the most remote and difficult areas and overcome tons of obstacles to get the eye-opening shots. They are also able to find amazing beauty in their own backyard.

'Morning at Florida Coast'

Could you please tell us more about your workflow from idea to final product?
My normal workflow is quite simple. After downloading the images from the memory card to the external drive, I import the images into Lightroom. Most of the post processing is done in Lightroom, especially for wildlife. For landscape I use Photoshop more. I don't use any plug-ins except for the Topaze sharpening tool.

'Going'

Where do you look for inspiration and what inspires you the most?
1X is the first place I look. I also look at Marc Adams and Paul Nicklen's Instagram. What inspires me is that there are so many great images with their own personality and creativity. I have to keep learning and practising.

'storm is coming'

Many people think that the equipment is not very important when the passion for photography is strong. But could you please tell us what equipment you use (camera, lenses, lighting, tripod, etc.)?
I use Nikon Z8 and Z7ii for landscapes, Z9 for wildlife. For wildlife I use Nikon Z 400mm with 1.4 TC f 2.8 and Nikon Z 100-400mm f 4.5-5.6. Nikon Z 14-24mm f 2.8, 24-70mm f 2.8 and 70-200mm f 2.8 are used for landscape. RRS tripod is my first choice. I don't use any light source other than natural light.

untitled

What is your favourite photo? Please tell us the story behind it.
"We are one big family" is my favourite photo. The day started with a sunny blue sky with no wind at Snow Hill, Antarctica in 2018. It was an easy walk to the emperor penguin colony. We were informed that we could spend the whole day at the colony. In a few hours the wind got stronger and stronger. The snow was blown from the ground in a heavy blizzard. The sky came down quickly. "White Out" was announced. Everyone had to leave the colony at once. At that moment I went to the tent for a cup of hot drink, because my fingers were so frozen that I could not work. I had to walk over 1km against the crazy wind back to the colony to get my gear. Before I packed my gear at the colony, I saw this big family. I could not resist clicking the shutter.

'We are a big family'

'A big family'

Who are your favourite photographers or mentors whose work has influenced you and your photography?
My favourite photographer is Marc Adams. His philosophy and vision of photography has influenced me a lot. I have been on his photo tour a few times. It has helped me a lot.

Now that we are almost at the end of this interview, I would like to ask you to tell us about any plans or photographic projects you would like to be involved in.
I have collected a lot of pictures of emperor penguins. I am planning to publish another children's book with my own photographs to bring the South Polar region closer to more people. I would like to be involved in any wildlife conservation photographic project.

Is there anything else you would like to add and what do you think of 1X as a home base for your work?
I would like to thank the 1X team and the 1X community for supporting me in my photographic publishing journey. It is a great honour and encouragement for me to have my images published and awarded on 1X. I love the critiques. 1X will always be my home base. I would also like to thank my local community for their support and love. I am grateful to Yvette for giving me this interview to share my photographic journey.

You're welcome, dear Liwen Tao ...