A Dialogue with Time: An In-Depth Interview with Kuna Photography

Vancouver Professional Photographer Interview by Canadian International Photography Association

What does photography mean to you?

Photography, to me, is like breathing — continuous and essential.

It is an unending process of thought, a journey of constant exploration, challenge, and reinvention. Photography is never merely about documentation; it is an act of discovery. Through light and shadow, I reshape reality, allowing fleeting moments to transcend time and become eternal.

What was your original motivation for photography?

The greatest joy in life lies in sharing — and photography is my language.

Photography is not simply the act of pressing a shutter; it is a dialogue with time itself. Through my lens, I record emotions and narrate stories with light and shadow. Each shutter release is an act of preservation—an attempt to anchor memory, so that even years later, the viewer can still feel the pulse, warmth, and emotion of that exact moment. At its core, it is creation, and it is communication.

What do you aspire to as a photographer?

Environment and limitations are not obstacles — they are nourishment for creativity.

As a photographer, I hold myself to a simple yet demanding standard: to remain perceptive and adaptive, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. My role is to distill a three-dimensional world into a single frame.

I place no boundaries on myself. Whether working in a confined bathroom or an unfamiliar location, facing unpredictable weather, photographing a subject I have never met, or navigating unknown hair, makeup, and wardrobe conditions – I respond instinctively, adjust swiftly, and create something unexpected within the shortest possible time.

What types of photography do you enjoy most?

Photography, for me, is not a choice — it is an obsession.

Some photographers devote themselves to portraiture, others to landscapes. I am drawn to everything photography encompasses. Portraits, still life, documentary work, or commercial assignments – if it is a world that can be captured through a camera, I am fully committed to it.

How would you describe your photographic style?

Style is a personal signature — the soul of a photographer.

Style cannot be forced; it emerges organically through countless shoots, decisions, and moments of discernment. Over time, I have developed a visual language of my own – clean compositions, distinctive colour relationships, and a fusion of multiple photographic approaches that add depth and narrative to each image.

When people tell me they can recognize my work at first glance, it is the greatest affirmation and joy I could receive.

Which areas of photography do you specialize in?

There was a time when I believed portrait photography was not for me. Today, it has become my greatest passion.

When I first completed my formal training, I told myself I would never photograph weddings—I feared the responsibility of potentially disrupting someone’s happiness. I avoided documentary photography, believing communication with strangers was not my strength. Portraits, in particular, felt like my weakest discipline.

I preferred spending hours perfecting lighting and composition, waiting for those fleeting seconds to capture a flawless frame. Yet life has a way of defying our plans. What I once resisted ultimately became my calling. In the end, I chose to use my camera to explore human emotion, character, and story.

What is the essence of photography?

Equipment is merely a tool; the true foundation lies in a photographer’s vision, aesthetics, and thinking.

Driving a Ferrari does not make one a race champion. Likewise, the quality of a camera has never been the defining factor of a meaningful photograph. The essence of photography lies in composition, light, colour, emotion, and – most importantly – the thought and story behind the image.

These are not skills mastered overnight. They require years of accumulation, observation, and reflection.

A respected mentor once told his daughter, who wished to study photography: “If you want to learn photography, begin by studying art history, calligraphy, and poetry. Cultivate your artistic foundation first.”

As renowned photographer Xingguang Nana once said, “Eroticism without thought is merely nudity. An image without deliberate composition and light may be visually pleasing, but it lacks soul – and without soul, it cannot be called art.”

This article is originally an interview conducted by the Canadian International Photography Association.