Robert Lie
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris 2024 – State of the World
Curatorial Selection – Behind Dreams
Q: How has your personal background or life experiences influenced the global issues and stories you choose to capture through your photography?
As a travel photographer and coming from a tropical country such as Indonesia, it’s mandatory for me to realize any global issues in the world. Especially as an Indonesian that comes from a small tropical island, I am aware that one of the global issues is to preserve my place, keep it clean and protect the nature forest. So it’s become a habit for me to take pictures with awareness of global issues.
Q: What inspired you to submit your work to The State of the World competition, and how has receiving this recognition from PX3 impacted your journey as a photographer?
When I read the submission about The State of the World, I became interested in sending my photo story about Dubai. I mean, Dubai is an excellent city with modern technology and buildings. But the global issues are there any impact of that. And then I realized that Dubai became so great because of one of the important factors. The Immigrants. So I think this will be a good side photo story to tell everyone about the immigrants who also have a big part to Dubai ‘s greatness. The impact of this recognition gives me new energy to make another worthy photo story for everyone.
Q: Can you take us behind the scenes of your winning series? What was the story you aimed to tell, and did any unexpected moments shape the final result?
So the first idea is only to take different parts of Dubai with its great buildings. So I went to Al Satwa district to take a look and get some pictures. No other intention other than to get street photographs. But when I saw the place and saw the immigrants there, I thought instantly to make this story. The life of immigrants in Dubai and how they became part of life in the Dubai workforce.
Q: Your work highlights some of the most crucial and pressing issues in today’s world. How do you balance technical precision with the raw emotion needed to create a powerful, thought-provoking image?
Actually, there is no pressure in making this photo story. I can take that good shot with my camera easily and with good precision. Some immigrants I met were just friendly, and some looked afraid of my camera. They may think I am from newspapers or news. But I realized that their life is not easy when I saw how they live. Some look happy, some look just normal. As a travel photographer that took photos everywhere, I can feel what they feel. Far from family is my emotional feeling there.
Q: Photography has the ability to raise awareness, shift perspectives, and even inspire action. What role do you believe visual storytelling plays in addressing global challenges?
I think the photographer or their photographs have a big role as the keeper of time. How time passed by. How people live and their history can be seen in the photo story. Photos can improve the future when we know the past, especially as awareness of global changes.
Q: Your winning image is a reflection of an important moment or reality— how do you approach the responsibility of documenting such impactful stories?
It’s really one of the most difficult questions. As a photographer, I do have my own responsibility to show what is real and not real, what is important or not important. Becoming a photographer, I must be continually making trustable photos. It’s a part of how I keep my responsibility to approach the responsibility. Keep photos as real as I saw.
Q: Looking ahead, are there any social or environmental themes you feel compelled to explore further through your work?
I am in progress of making a story about people in Malacca, Malaysia. It’s about Malacca as a heritage city in Malaysia with their cultures. Malacca people consist of Portuguese, Malay, Tamil and Chinese. How their melted pot cultures became harmony and stand as One Malaysia.
Q: What motivates you to continue capturing the world through your lens, and where do you hope to take your work in the future?
I think my love of photography will keep me doing my things now. My interest in capturing people and their lives means a lot to me. Whether the photos are related to global issues or not. I hope I can make a story that is good enough for everybody to see in Indonesia, Nepal and Laos.