©Louis Foubare
Meet Louis Foubare
Louis was working internationally for many years and was unable to carry a camera to the majority of his locations. Once moving back to the US, Hurricane Andrew completely wiped out his residence including 25 years of slides. National Geographic had expressed interest in publishing a few of his slides but this was not possible due to the loss of his archive. After Hurricane Andrew, Louis did not touch a camera for many years. Then in 2011, everything changed when Louis nearly lost his eyesight. He decided to buy a digital camera in order to leave his vision as prints in the event that he lost his actual vision. “Life has various meanings to each of us, but it is a life that is crucial to me no matter where it is found. I very much like to see life and live life.” Louis Foubare.
©Louis Foubare
Today… Louis is a photographer who captures earthy, gritty, emotional and moving street scenes with a worldly emphasis. He loves the openness and solitude of the beautiful and moving landscape environment. When his “artistic juices flow” he prefers to create images with dramatic colors or intense black & white. Because of his creativity, in January 2016, Louis received the coveted Jay Colson Portfolio Award at FOTOfusion. Since then he has been a recipient of this award for three consecutive years.
©Louis Foubare
Louis, how did you discover your love for photography?
I first used my Grandmother’s old Kodak rangefinder camera on a summer university trip to northern Europe in 1966 at the height of the Cold War. After paying for the trip my funds were about depleted and thus I took with me very few rolls of 36 exposure color film. One of the students on this trip was the Editor of the university newspaper. She approached me after many weeks noting the care I took in framing and exposing my images, not realizing my limitation of funds was the driving influence for my economical photo endeavors. She then mentioned there was an opening for a photographer the next year and would I be interested. I said yes and was then advised to acquire an SLR camera. That next year was the only time I have considered myself a professional photographer. What a way to start out my photography career. I’ll never forget the first proof sheet I presented her where she circled 5 images with a grease pen meaning I would receive $10. Then to see my images appear in the developer was totally mesmerizing and the excitement of seeing an image I captured has never stopped.
©Louis Foubare
Where do you draw your inspiration from? Do you have any specific influences you’d like to share?
The desire to record life and to share my images and communicate to the world without words.
©Louis Foubare
If you were behind your camera and could choose anything you wanted to be in your viewfinder, where would you be and what would you be looking at?
Probably it would the majestic mountains in Patagonia which is currently on my bucket list along with Alaska in winter.
©Louis Foubare
In which ways do you see your work evolving in the next 5 – 10 years from now? Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share with us?
I have upcoming projects all the time but prefer not to discuss them until finalized in my mind and with corresponding finalized images. I am not a spring chicken any longer so in 5-10 years I will be in my late 80’s and, as such, hiking long distances at higher altitudes will be difficult so I want to get the majority of those events behind me in the next 5 years.
©Louis Foubare
What is your favorite essential photo gear or tool that you take with you on every shoot? Why?
Today, my Alpa STC and associated lenses go everywhere with me along with my IQ4150 Achromatic Phase back.
Gear from top right across to the left top, then the middle section and then bottom of image (curved area which is actually the top of the backpack).
Phase One IQ4150 Achromatic mounted on Alpa STC with Alpa AU Schneider SB 90/4.5 mounted along with SB34 tilt adapter. Next to camera is the Rodenstock SB17 70/5.6 and above it the Schneider SB34 150/5.6. Phase 12 pin cable release and QXD card holder next to 90mm lens. Extra battery packs containing 2 batteries here and there-10 extra batteries total in addition to the battery in the Phase back.
In the middle section is the Schneider SB34 210/6.8 with unmounted 72mm lens hood on right end of lens under Hoodman loupe and small microfiber cloth.
Lens above middle section is the Rodenstock SB17 40/4.0 and next to it is the 40mm soft lens hood from Alpa with a 40.5mm lens hood for the 150mm lens tucked inside the soft lens hood.
In the upper compartment area (by the curved top of the Mindshift 26L backpack) is the Alpa soft lens hood for the 70mm lens along with a small Sekonic light meter.
©Louis Foubare
What made you choose Capture Integration as your partner?
I already owned an IQ3100 and CI was offering a workshop opportunity at Silo City which was on my radar. I met Chris on this trip, and after loaning me an IQ260 Achromatic Phase back, I decided to get the IQ3100 Achromatic digital back. Black and White photography has always owned a corner of my heart ever since that University photographer period when I was shooting Tri-X exclusively. I rolled my own (the film that is) and loved every moment from shooting the University of Denver hockey team to John Glenn and his capsule when he came to campus. My love of B&W photography was also the reason I have owned Leica Monochrom cameras. My bad eyesight often makes image captures difficult, but somehow my brain just connects with B&W images. Capture Integration and Chris Snipes are just a joy to work with.
©Louis Foubare
Articles are written by Louis
– Quba Article-Leica User Forum
– My Street Photography-Leica User Forum
– My Landscape Photography-Leica User Forum
-Using the Phase One Achromatic IQ3100 in Ireland-Luminous Landscape.com
-Traveling to Berber Country-Luminous Landscape.com
-Right on Q-The lighter Side of Venice-Photopxl.com
-Using the Fuju 50R to Shoot Steam Engines in the Cold of Winter-Photopxl
-Published in Photopxl – The Alabama Hills: What you Might not Know
Connect with Louis
Website: louisfoubare.com