Born and raised in Beijing, Cocu Liu has lived in Chicago, Hong Kong, and currently resides in San Francisco. As a product designer at Uber, he designs data-driven maps and crafts data visualization tools for the self-driving car team. A self-described “smartphone photographer,” Cocu is fascinated by urban landscapes and believes that “the best camera is the one that’s with you.” He started shooting as a teenager with a Canon 35mm from his parents, but shifted to his iPhone in 2012, impressed with its compact size and ease of use.

Cocu uses mobile phones for everything – shooting, selecting, editing and sharing. As smartphone image capabilities continue to advance, he finds he no longer needs to use other devices in his workflow. He has received numerous awards for his photography, and collaborated with Apple on their "Shot on iPhone 7" global campaign.

Instagram: @cocu_liu