Have you ever marveled at certain photographs that seem to encapsulate the essence of a moment in time? If you’re familiar with the work of Janet Liu, @skatingphoto, then you’ve likely experienced a photojournalistic quality that draws people into the heart of a sport or event. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Janet to delve into her journey – from humble beginnings to the unforgettable experiences that have shaped her passion for capturing moments, and I can’t wait to share this conversation with you.

How It All Started:

Janet’s dad was a man with an innate love for cameras and a keen eye for capturing life’s precious moments. From a young age, she was surrounded by cameras, camcorders, and the endless possibilities they presented. “We had a camcorder for every trip. He plastered giant photos of our world travels all over the walls of his dentist office. I just assumed taking photos of everything from landmarks to food was an Asian trait.”

Fast forward to a few years ago when Janet welcomed George, a Great Dane, into her life. Determined to preserve every precious moment with her furry companion, she embarked on a journey to learn the art of photography. Her quest led her to the incredible work of Kaylee Greer from Dog Breath Photography, whose awe-inspiring images inspired her to pick up a camera and dive headfirst into the world of photography through a series of self-taught videos and Instagram feeds, to taking classes and seminars.

Capturing Some Very Special Moments:

As Janet delved deeper into the craft, she found herself drawn to figure skating – a sport that not only mesmerized her but also provided endless opportunities to capture raw emotions and breathtaking performances. One particularly memorable project was recording Harvard University’s Figure Skating Club show. “Up to that point, I had never seen everyday people who could skate so beautifully in person, and not just in a pro show. I even tried to take screenshots from the videos in an attempt to get photos. It holds a special place in my heart because of the beautiful Harvard University students, who were all such amazing skaters and people. I’m still proud that I was able to capture those moments to be able to relive them for me and them.” Another special moment was spontaneously capturing what would be Ashley Wagner’s last run-through of her La La Land free skate program. Janet was able to capture Ashley’s skating, a friend later saw her pictures and sent some to Wagner, who posted it on Instagram where it quickly went viral.

Photography and the Future Experience:

But photography isn’t just about freezing moments in time; it’s about creating immersive experiences that transport viewers to another world. That’s why Janet has been exploring the realm of 3D and virtual reality videos, pushing the boundaries of storytelling in photography and videography. This provides the opportunity for people to experience the sport as never before.

How Far Would You Go to Get the Perfect Shot?

As someone who has stood in the middle of the road to photograph a sunset (disclaimer: don’t do this at home), I had to ask Janet about the craziest thing she’s ever done to ‘get the shot’ and her answers didn’t disappoint. “Is it crazy that I’ve spent over $100k of my personal funds on gear, rentals, education, and services related to sharing my photography? I think it’s been worth it, though often I question my life choices.” Aside from that, people thought she was crazy when she waded waist-deep into freezing water in Lake Tahoe on a dog photography workshop to capture action photos of a dog running into the sun. Lighting plays a very important role in Janet’s photos.

Project Preparation and the Role of Lighting:

We delved deeper into the role of lighting when I asked her if it was more difficult to shoot for a competition or for skating shows where the lighting was always changing. Janet said although the audience perceives show skating as darker, she said the spotlights are actually brighter, and the lighting is ideal for capturing beautiful, dramatic photos.

Her approach to being able to capture special moments includes a lot of prep work to understand the venue, backdrops, her own knowledge of the sport as a skater herself, and sometimes even watching practices to understand where the special moments in the performance might happen. Janet tries to capture both action and expression if possible. “Figure skating is inherently special, so every photo has the potential to tell a story and capture emotions. I look for the moment with meaning to the skater, whether that’s a competition or the joy of just being out on the ice.”

To Janet, every time on the ice is a special moment frozen in time. “I think the skaters, and their family and friends will treasure those photos for the rest of their lives.”

Share in the comments below: what is your favorite skating photo and what did you need to do to capture it?