Photographer Sissi Lu Interview
“If your work can move someone,
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New York based photographer, Sissi Lu.
Sissi is a young female artist who primarily captures her images with the Hasselblad 500CM. She also explores various other cameras and film types to experiment with different styles.
When her gaze lands on something or someone, it warms up - life in a cut throat city, people strolling the streets alone, or even the pigeons wandering the streets. Harbour Press has felt the warmth in her photographs for a long time. After going back and forth through emails and video calls, we finally met in person at Abingdon Square Park in the West Village, a place she often visits for inspiration.
Expectant I arrived at Abingdon Square Park, only to find it unassuming. It was a modest park with just a few benches scattered in the corner of the city - at least, that’s how it appeared to me. I was tired from traveling around New York with two young children, and I was curious. What did she find so appealing about this place?
After hearing her thoughts on why she takes photos and about her work, I began to understand, even if vaguely. To her, even a small, insignificant park in the neighborhood seemed to have beauty. It was something I couldn't see, as I was too busy to sit still and appreciate the beauty around me.
I’ve left the full conversation with her below, both in Korean and English. I hope it inspires you as well.
Eunwoo Hwang, Harbour Press
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Sissi, Sissi Lu. I originally come from mainland China, born and raised, and came to America 10 years ago. I lived here for 10 years and have been doing photos, doing film photography for the past five. It's an honor to feel like I have something to say in this space and I still am learning in this process so that's who I am.
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Can you tell me more about how you got into photography?
So a little bit of a backstory, I studied opera for almost my entire teenage years and when I came to the States I was doing recitals. For recitals you need posters and for some reason I had a vision in my head that I didn't know was a vision.
I just wanted something really specific but no one was able to achieve it for me. So being a DIYer I started trying to make a visual out of my imagination and then I realized that I have such a voice to say in making things the way I want, so I must see something that other people might not have seen. And from then I picked up a third hand or fourth hand camera as the start of my photo journey. I followed my heart to make something that was true to me, and that people recognized that in me and they started to trust my ability to make it for them and that's how I started.
So when people ask you, what do you do? What do you say?
It took me a long time to feel qualified or secure to say that I am a photographer.
For the longest time I would say I take photos because I feel like that's more just like I take photos for fun or sometimes I say I work with a camera. Because photographer - once you put it in those terms, or even more scary as an artist, I still don't feel like I could use that word.
Can you tell me more about that?
An artist to me is someone who not only can produce good art but they literally live and breathe art. Everything they do has a purpose and has such intention that only a select few can achieve. This is eventually where I want to be but I feel like in my toolbox I don't have enough to claim it yet.
Eventually one day… And it's not monetarily either. I had a conversation with someone who is also in a similar space as I am who said they wanted to prove to people that they can make money by doing art and that's what makes them artists but I don't think that's entirely true.
For me it's just a state, a level, a standard I have vaguely in my head that maybe is recognition from certain institutions, but then at the same time contradict myself saying that if your work can move someone, can make someone think, you're an artist by default.
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What do you think about how far you are on the way to becoming an artist?
The process of becoming an artist is your own security in your work. So I guess I'm not entirely secure in the work that I produce. Eventually one day I will. I have already come really far. The way that I will claim that word artist for myself is when I can confidently love what I make and trust the process that it will deliver the way that I wish to deliver to everyone.
Why do you take photos?
So I think in the beginning I realized that people don't see the way I see. I'm not saying it in a prideful way, I think everyone has a vision.
I just struggle seeing things that I find particularly aesthetic. If no one's doing it then I should do it, I think that's one way [to think].
But in the deeper level of answering this question, there is one time I used to serve at my church and I remember walking into the service and the photo lead came to me and said, “Okay you got a camera, this is our rule: we don't take more than 20 photos, you can only submit 20 or less and usually we have like a topic for people to photograph but I trust you just do whatever you want.” I was like wow that's a lot of trust, I feel really blessed.
Then before I walked down into the room, I prayed a little prayer:
“Open My Eyes to See,
Open My Ears to Hear,
Come Before Me and Lead My Way.”
and I also said, “God, can you show me what you see?” When I put that camera viewfinder to my eye I saw Him actually putting his hand on people. There were people who came from a long work day and they are exhausted and they're just like weary - I saw that. But then what I saw was God giving them a hug because they're okay - they're okay to be weary in that space.
At that moment I realized everyone's walking in front of me and no one's stopped and looked at those moments and I realized God is opening my eyes to see him working. So, long story short, I was provided the vision - I still view it as a gift - whether it's singing or taking photos and I hold that as I am a channel of delivering what I see to other people and what I see is provided to me from God and that's just what I believe.
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So what kind of things do you like to capture these days with your camera?
Is it still portraits?
I realize everything I do is so true to me. How I'm feeling is how I see. I really don't think I'm doing too much technically to take a photo.
I think the urge to take portraits is during the pandemic and after the pandemic there is such an urge of human connection that I want to establish and still show people that they still exist. As much as people wanted to say how scary or dangerous [New York] is, I feel like there is a true community and connection of people on the street.
I personally enjoy that so much so I wanted to share that with people. I still find portraits the most beautiful thing because everyone is unique and I see the beauty in literally everyone around me, but also sometimes it could be a non-portrait.
If you make a photo book, what theme or title or kind of content you want to produce?
I would love to wrap up my projects of portraits and their stories. I think there is more than just photos. I would like whatever I put out to propose a question to whoever might come across that book - to inspire or to prompt them to see the world a little differently than what they're used to seeing. So I think that's how I will approach it.
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What does your day look like?
Every day is shaped differently.
Sometimes I'm walking around trying to feel my soul. I know when there's nothing happening in my soul, I can't produce. So to make myself healthy, my heart healthy, my spirit healthy, I try to treat it well, as well. Whether that is walking around, talking, chatting with friends, like my new friends and getting inspired by different aspects of life and walks.
So yeah, it really is how I feel. It sounds so bougie!
What are you interested in these days?
I'm getting into perfumery. I think it’s fascinating ….
I've recently heard someone who described scent and perfumery in such a delicate and interesting way that I feel inspired in a way that I didn't even know there is so much vocabulary to describe something. And I find that it's so visual that I almost wanted to use it in the photo.
So somehow it ties back to photos?
I think it just will never get rid of me - the photo world. It's the way that I express the best, from my own feelings. So all that happens here [in my mind], needs an outlet. For me, photography is an outlet or just anything visual is an outlet to let me release some of the thoughts, the crazy ideas.
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Sissi Lu, Self-portrait
“If your work can move someone,
can make someone think,
you're an artist by default.”
New York based photographer, Sissi Lu.
Sissi is a young female artist who primarily captures her images with the Hasselblad 500CM. She also explores various other cameras and film types to experiment with different styles.
When her gaze lands on something or someone, it warms up - life in a cut throat city, people strolling the streets alone, or even the pigeons wandering the streets. Harbour Press has felt the warmth in her photographs for a long time. After going back and forth through emails and video calls, we finally met in person at Abingdon Square Park in the West Village, a place she often visits for inspiration.
Expectant I arrived at Abingdon Square Park, only to find it unassuming. It was a modest park with just a few benches scattered in the corner of the city - at least, that’s how it appeared to me. I was tired from traveling around New York with two young children, and I was curious. What did she find so appealing about this place?
After hearing her thoughts on why she takes photos and about her work, I began to understand, even if vaguely. To her, even a small, insignificant park in the neighborhood seemed to have beauty. It was something I couldn't see, as I was too busy to sit still and appreciate the beauty around me.
I’ve left the full conversation with her below, both in Korean and English. I hope it inspires you as well.
Eunwoo Hwang, Harbour Press
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Sissi, Sissi Lu. I originally come from mainland China, born and raised, and came to America 10 years ago. I lived here for 10 years and have been doing photos, doing film photography for the past five. It's an honor to feel like I have something to say in this space and I still am learning in this process so that's who I am.
Can you tell me more about how you got into photography?
So a little bit of a backstory, I studied opera for almost my entire teenage years and when I came to the States I was doing recitals. For recitals you need posters and for some reason I had a vision in my head that I didn't know was a vision.
I just wanted something really specific but no one was able to achieve it for me. So being a DIYer I started trying to make a visual out of my imagination and then I realized that I have such a voice to say in making things the way I want, so I must see something that other people might not have seen. And from then I picked up a third hand or fourth hand camera as the start of my photo journey. I followed my heart to make something that was true to me, and that people recognized that in me and they started to trust my ability to make it for them and that's how I started.
So when people ask you, what do you do? What do you say?
It took me a long time to feel qualified or secure to say that I am a photographer.
For the longest time I would say I take photos because I feel like that's more just like I take photos for fun or sometimes I say I work with a camera. Because photographer - once you put it in those terms, or even more scary as an artist, I still don't feel like I could use that word.
Can you tell me more about that?
An artist to me is someone who not only can produce good art but they literally live and breathe art. Everything they do has a purpose and has such intention that only a select few can achieve. This is eventually where I want to be but I feel like in my toolbox I don't have enough to claim it yet.
Eventually one day… And it's not monetarily either. I had a conversation with someone who is also in a similar space as I am who said they wanted to prove to people that they can make money by doing art and that's what makes them artists but I don't think that's entirely true.
For me it's just a state, a level, a standard I have vaguely in my head that maybe is recognition from certain institutions, but then at the same time contradict myself saying that if your work can move someone, can make someone think, you're an artist by default.
What do you think about how far you are on the way to becoming an artist?
The process of becoming an artist is your own security in your work. So I guess I'm not entirely secure in the work that I produce. Eventually one day I will. I have already come really far. The way that I will claim that word artist for myself is when I can confidently love what I make and trust the process that it will deliver the way that I wish to deliver to everyone.
Why do you take photos?
So I think in the beginning I realized that people don't see the way I see. I'm not saying it in a prideful way, I think everyone has a vision.
I just struggle seeing things that I find particularly aesthetic. If no one's doing it then I should do it, I think that's one way [to think].
But in the deeper level of answering this question, there is one time I used to serve at my church and I remember walking into the service and the photo lead came to me and said, “Okay you got a camera, this is our rule: we don't take more than 20 photos, you can only submit 20 or less and usually we have like a topic for people to photograph but I trust you just do whatever you want.” I was like wow that's a lot of trust, I feel really blessed.
Then before I walked down into the room, I prayed a little prayer:
“Open My Eyes to See,
Open My Ears to Hear,
Come Before Me and Lead My Way.”
and I also said, “God, can you show me what you see?” When I put that camera viewfinder to my eye I saw Him actually putting his hand on people. There were people who came from a long work day and they are exhausted and they're just like weary - I saw that. But then what I saw was God giving them a hug because they're okay - they're okay to be weary in that space.
At that moment I realized everyone's walking in front of me and no one's stopped and looked at those moments and I realized God is opening my eyes to see him working. So, long story short, I was provided the vision - I still view it as a gift - whether it's singing or taking photos and I hold that as I am a channel of delivering what I see to other people and what I see is provided to me from God and that's just what I believe.
So what kind of things do you like to capture these days with your camera?
Is it still portraits?
I realize everything I do is so true to me. How I'm feeling is how I see. I really don't think I'm doing too much technically to take a photo.
I think the urge to take portraits is during the pandemic and after the pandemic there is such an urge of human connection that I want to establish and still show people that they still exist. As much as people wanted to say how scary or dangerous [New York] is, I feel like there is a true community and connection of people on the street.
I personally enjoy that so much so I wanted to share that with people. I still find portraits the most beautiful thing because everyone is unique and I see the beauty in literally everyone around me, but also sometimes it could be a non-portrait.
If you make a photo book, what theme or title or kind of content you want to produce?
I would love to wrap up my projects of portraits and their stories. I think there is more than just photos. I would like whatever I put out to propose a question to whoever might come across that book - to inspire or to prompt them to see the world a little differently than what they're used to seeing. So I think that's how I will approach it.
What does your day look like?
Every day is shaped differently.
Sometimes I'm walking around trying to feel my soul. I know when there's nothing happening in my soul, I can't produce. So to make myself healthy, my heart healthy, my spirit healthy, I try to treat it well, as well. Whether that is walking around, talking, chatting with friends, like my new friends and getting inspired by different aspects of life and walks.
So yeah, it really is how I feel. It sounds so bougie!
What are you interested in these days?
I'm getting into perfumery. I think it’s fascinating ….
I've recently heard someone who described scent and perfumery in such a delicate and interesting way that I feel inspired in a way that I didn't even know there is so much vocabulary to describe something. And I find that it's so visual that I almost wanted to use it in the photo.
So somehow it ties back to photos?
I think it just will never get rid of me - the photo world. It's the way that I express the best, from my own feelings. So all that happens here [in my mind], needs an outlet. For me, photography is an outlet or just anything visual is an outlet to let me release some of the thoughts, the crazy ideas.
Sissi Lu, Self-portrait