03/15/2026
The Story Behind Liu’s Lens and Canvas
As long as I can remember, my father has loved his camera. In our small apartment, countless rolls of film and stacks of photographs filled a little bookcase. My father worked as a journalist, columnist, and event photographer. He truly loved what he did and never seemed to tire of it.
After retiring ten years ago, he was finally able to expand his photography into landscape and architectural photography. He has always loved nature and beautiful buildings. Wherever he lives or goes about his daily life, he observes the beauty around him.
Three years ago, my parents moved to Winona to live near me. For my father, it meant leaving the place where he grew up, where he spent most of his life, built his career, made friends, and raised me. Moving to a small and unfamiliar town in a foreign country was not easy—especially for someone who does not speak English and had built a comfortable and meaningful life in China.
I am grateful that photography became his comfort and his anchor. Through photography, he continues to live out his passion and purpose, no matter where he is. He has fallen in love with Winona. He is amazed by its beauty and deeply touched by the kindness of the people here. He often says he has met some of the kindest people of his life in this community.
He is grateful for this new place he now calls home and hopes to give something back to the community.
That is how Liu’s Lens and Canvas was created. I wanted to help build a small photography business for my father so that, even far from his hometown, he can continue doing meaningful work and share his gift—capturing the beauty of our community through his camera lens.
Thank you for being part of our story.
