Interview with Emmanuel Milou, co-creator of Art d’Oeuvre
Landscape photographer, long-exposure enthusiast, and restless traveler: Emmanuel Milou has been building images—and journeys—for years. Based in Montréal after growing up in Dijon, he co-created the Art d’Oeuvre collective to explore stop-motion animation and open-source tools before pushing deeper into HDR and travel photography. In this interview, he talks about craft, light, and the places that changed his eye—especially Iceland, the Canadian Rockies, and the remote town of Churchill on Hudson Bay. If you’re planning an islande en moto trip or dreaming of wide northern roads, his way of slowing down on location is a masterclass in turning a roadtrip into a lasting memory.
“I’m a landscape person—time is part of the picture.”
Can you introduce yourself in a few lines?
Emmanuel Milou: My name is Emmanuel Milou, I’m 33. I’m originally from Dijon, France, and I’ve been living in Montréal, Canada, for 10 years now. I work as a consultant in free and open-source software.
Tell us about your blog. When did you create it, and why?
Emmanuel Milou: With my long-time friends Jacq and Renaud, we created the collective Art d’Oeuvre du Chef in 2007. The idea was to experiment and share Creative Commons stop-motion animation short films, using only open-source software. Our blog showcases our creations, plus recipes and tutorials.
Through that, we discovered HDR photography (High Dynamic Range) via photographers like Trey Ratcliff and Eli Locardi. I immediately loved the idea of combining multiple exposures to build an image. Later, I created my own photo portfolio, where I keep sharing my favorite work.
What do you love about photography?
Emmanuel Milou: I prefer landscape photography. I like taking time to work an image. I shoot the vast majority of my photos while traveling. I enjoy composition, long exposures, contrast, and playing with colors.
Do you follow a theme, or do you capture things as they come?
Emmanuel Milou: I prefer to shoot when the light is softer—shadows, contrasts, and colors are usually more interesting. Since I’m not a morning person, I tend to stick to evening light, but I want to take better advantage of morning light in the future.
I particularly love what’s called Blue Hour: roughly 30 to 60 minutes after sunset (or before sunrise), when there’s still enough ambient light for rich color, but you need longer exposure times.
Long exposure is my favorite technique because it can create images different from what the eye sees. So I look for scenes mixing fixed elements and moving elements—flowing water, shifting clouds, or car headlights. A long exposure on moving headlights can create really striking light painting effects.
Favorite places: Iceland, the Rockies, and Churchill
Among the countries you’ve visited, which are your favorites—and why?
Emmanuel Milou: Iceland first. We went in March—still winter—hoping to see and photograph the northern lights. The aurora hunt was a failure, but the landscapes are breathtaking. The light is incredible too. I took some of my favorite photos there.
Then the Canadian Rockies. The scenery is simply huge: towering mountains, turquoise lakes—everything you need to compose powerful images.
And finally—and probably my favorite—Churchill, Manitoba. It’s known as the “polar bear capital of the world.” On the edge of Hudson Bay, polar bears wait for the sea ice to form so they can spend winter on it, and there are many around October/November. There’s even a local legend that people leave their cars unlocked at all times so anyone can jump inside if a bear appears. We didn’t have to test it—fortunately. But Churchill is also one of the best places in the world to observe the northern lights.
An interesting detail: there is no road to Churchill. We took a three-day train from Winnipeg to get there. We stayed at the Churchill Northern Studies Center, a scientific research center focused on the Arctic. I recommend their aurora observation programs to anyone heading up there. The place is warm, comfortable, and enriching—and it even has an indoor dome for watching the aurora, which matters when nights are cold (he mentions -20 to -50°C).
Seeing the aurora dance directly above your head is the most beautiful spectacle I’ve ever seen. Photographing it is extraordinary too: depending on its strength, you may need exposure times of roughly 4 to 15 seconds, and the result is always a surprise.
What do you like about Canada?
Emmanuel Milou: The wide-open spaces, nature, the seasons, and the people. And Montréal is a great city to live in—despite winters that sometimes feel a bit long for my taste.
Any upcoming plans—any country you’d like to visit?
Emmanuel Milou: I’d like to return to Iceland in spring or summer to photograph under the midnight sun and enjoy more landscape colors—because in winter everything is white.
Otherwise, I’d love to discover South America, which I don’t know at all. Soon I’m going to Havana and Peru. I’d like to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and photograph the mountains early in the morning.
Six images, six moments (Emmanuel’s picks)
1) Churchill: an aurora you can’t see—until you shoot
Emmanuel Milou: The story is that I couldn’t see the aurora with the naked eye. The sky was incredibly clear, the sun was setting, and the night looked brutally cold. The brightest object in the middle is the Moon, and next to it is Venus. I was already happy—then I exposed for a few seconds anyway, and only on the camera screen did the aurora appear. Sunset–moon–Venus–aurora: done.
2) Churchill again: when the sky turns on
Emmanuel Milou: This time I could see it perfectly with my eyes. I love the ripples and the rays falling from the sky. The whole sky was lit and dancing above us. Unforgettable.
3) Höfn, Iceland: a rare clear day
Emmanuel Milou: A beautiful sunset in the small harbor of Höfn. It’s special because it might be the only sunny day we had in Iceland—and it felt so good. While editing, I got this result a bit by chance, but I love the “end of the world” feel.
4) Vancouver: everything I like, in one frame
Emmanuel Milou: Blue Hour, water, clouds, a foreground pillar, city lights, and a long exposure.
5) Moraine Lake, Canadian Rockies: postcard morning, real constraints
Emmanuel Milou: A stunning place, where you’re required to walk in groups of at least four because of grizzlies. Very reassuring! Early morning, the mountains reflect in the lake. Part of the water starts turning turquoise along the evergreen forest as the sun begins to hit it. The classic postcard shot.
6) New York City: early HDR, lasting value
Emmanuel Milou: One of my first HDR photos—so it has sentimental value.
Planet Ride craft note (for riders who also shoot)
If you’re building a roadtrip with photography in mind—especially for islande en moto or a northern Canadian loop—plan your days around light windows, not just mileage. Blue Hour can mean being on location and ready while the temperature drops fast and the wind picks up. As a rule of thumb, we prefer a pacing that keeps you fresh: avoid stacking a long riding day and a late-night shoot back-to-back. You’ll ride cleaner, and you’ll shoot better.
Keep following Emmanuel’s work
À savoir aujourd’hui
This interview remains a solid look at Emmanuel’s approach: working slowly, using long exposure, and letting light dictate the rhythm. What you should verify before leaving is what changes fastest—local access rules (wildlife safety protocols), seasonal transport logistics to remote areas, and the practicalities of connectivity and weather on location.
Mini-FAQ
When is the best season for Iceland if you’re planning an islande en moto roadtrip?
For riding comfort and long days, late spring to summer is the classic window. For winter light and aurora attempts, expect colder conditions and more constraints—plan shorter riding days.
Can you reach Churchill by road?
No—Emmanuel points out there is no road access. Plan for train (from Winnipeg) or flights, and expect logistics to be less flexible than on a standard roadtrip.
What’s a realistic exposure time for photographing the northern lights?
Emmanuel mentions roughly 4 to 15 seconds depending on aurora strength—tripod stability and wind protection matter as much as camera settings.
