November 16, 2019

A Conversation w/ Kiliii Yuyan and Jen Samuel, NatGeo Photo Editor

Kiliii Yuyan Documentary, Editorial, Inspiration, Instructional, On Photography, Workshops 1 Comment

Jen Samuel, a photo editor at National Geographic, and NatGeo photographer Kiliii Yuyan talk about the process of making photographs, researching and pitching stories, the editor-photographer relationship, and more. Filmed at the Museum of Art Fort Collins, CO, in conjunction with Yuyan’s exhibition “People of the Whale”, and National Geographic’s 50 Greatest Photographs, made possible by the Center for Fine Art Photography.

A big thank you to Jen Samuel for flying out to Colorado to talk with me at the opening of my exhibition, People of the Whale, at the Museum of Art Fort Collins. Additional thanks to Hamidah Glasgow of the Center for Fine Art Photography and Lisa Palmatier of the Museum.

October 17, 2019

Drone Storytelling Workshop: PCNW

Kiliii Yuyan Instructional, Workshops 3 Comments

Excited to announce I’m running a Drone Storytelling Workshop at Photo Center NW, Seattle, Oct 26-27. It wasn’t long ago that drones, or UAVs, came onto the scene, and we began seeing the same photos from directly above, of a beach or a forest canopy. Let’s move beyond! Today UAVs, are best thought of as flying lenses. While you can get epic landscapes with them, you can also use them to get to a human height over difficult places. Master the technical details and you can widen your ability to tell phenomenal stories.

UAVs seem simple, but they are dangerous to aircraft, and pose ethical issues with wildlife and people. How do you fly in zones near rural airports? How can you use them to build relationships with people rather than conflict? How can they improve your photographic stories? Join us October 26-27 in Seattle, at Photo Center NW.

March 1, 2018

Interview with Light Atlas Creative on Photojournalism

Kiliii Yuyan Behind the Scenes, Documentary, In the Media, Inspiration, Instructional, Workshops 0 Comments

Light Atlas Creative is a mentorship program with Laura Valenti to help photographers transform their vision and lead vibrant, skillful, wholehearted creative lives.

She teaches teaches richly interactive online courses, works with emerging photographers, present lectures to photo groups, and curates exhibitions for galleries and festivals around the world.

I believe a documentary photographer is a journalist first, and an artist second.

I spoke to her after being introduced through Critical Mass, where she was a juror, and we connected well. Laura is a terrific interviewer and asks questions that draw out a lot about photography underneath the surface. I spoke to her about finding one’s unique vision of the world, and what makes photojournalism work for me.

Why framing a shot and clicking the shutter is least important part of taking a photograph.
Why photojournalism is not being a fly-on-the-wall
How to fund your long-term photography projects
Avoiding preconceived notions in your work
Why your personal identity is crucial for your photographic vision
Why publication alone should not be the final goal

Listen to the entire interview below:

September 19, 2013

Personal work featured on Monica Suder’s column for World Photo Organisation

Kiliii Yuyan Instructional, Personal Work 0 Comments

Photo consultant and former photo editor of such publications as Rolling Stone, Monica Suder, has started a new column for the World Photography Organisation. This month Monica wrote extensively about the necessity of personal work for jumpstarting a photo career and featured my work on the NATIVE series as well as my shot of Amanda Clark climbing at Smith Rock, OR. Check out the article!