FEATURING | WHEN THEY FIND US
LUIS VALDIZON X MATTHEW MCCORMICK
IDS VANCOUVER, 2020
PHOTOGRAPHER & MULTI-FACETED CREATIVE
Luis Valdizon, was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the harsh elements of Winnipeg, Canada with his family shortly after due to civil unrest within the country. During visits to his country of origin, he would encounter a world rich in texture, greenery and culture that was not so prevalent in his newfound home. These early memories began to shape and inform his journalistic point of view, as would his ever-growing love of art, design, fashion, and cinema. With an appreciation for both the humble and exquisite, he looks to evoke a feeling of beauty, poetry and mystery for his audience.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: How long have you lived in Vancouver, what brought you here?
LUIS VALDIZON: I have lived in Vancouver for over 20 years. My family initially immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, during El Salvador's civil war and ended up here in search of warmer temperatures.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: Can you tell us about your first photography job? What drew you to this profession?
LUIS VALDIZON: My first venture with photography was creating album covers for the music I was making at the time. I fell in love with the photography medium as much as the music creation and have been in a love affair with the camera ever since.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: What do you gravitate towards documenting in your images?
LUIS VALDIZON: A feeling of discovery and honesty. A lot of feedback about my work centers around people seeing familiar places in a new light. It's my intention to see the best in everything and everyone, and I think that my work is rooted in the respect that I feel for my subjects.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: You work under the creative name “When They Find Us”, can you explain the significance of this name?
LUIS VALDIZON: When They Find Us is not about when they find our project, but rather when we find each other. We would not exist without the beautiful souls in our community and beyond. We approach our work with, simply put, a-day-in-the-life imagery, along with a mood and imagination that I think speaks within the work. When They Find Us isn't so different from a dream that we share together. A capsule of time that is documented, authentically.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: What are your favourite images in this collection of Vancouver shots? Why?
LUIS VALDIZON: I think some of my favourite moments are the ones that focus on texture and light. The moodiness is prevalent throughout the work, but appreciating the subtleties offered might be where I believe it is most special; a way in which others can observe the beauty of what otherwise would go unnoticed.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: How has the pandemic affected your photography practice? Has the tone of your images changed or the way you work?
LUIS VALDIZON: When the pandemic came, it brought our project to a complete halt. This was based off fear of the unknown in the beginning, but now we've overcome that feeling. The isolation truly accentuated something we already knew but is now cemented in our hearts: a need for dialogue and expression with our community.
MATTHEW McCORMICK: Where is the next place you want to travel when current restrictions are over?
LUIS VALDIZON: Mexico—for the culture, the people, and of course, the food. There's a tortilla at Pujol (that had come with our tacos de lengua) that I was fortunate enough to try during my last trip to Mexico City. I've shared about its perfection numerous times, and I owe it to my wife, Sarah, to have a chance to experience them for herself.
To view more of Luis Valdizon’s work, visit his website or follow him on instagram.