How I chose the photos: In  my green and yellow contact sheets, I tried to categorize the photos that I took to reflect different facets of our daily lives. As I was going through my contact sheets, I felt like the photos that involved some aspect of portraiture were my best photos. The essence of the subjects in the portraiutre-street photos captured my attention. Through the use of various photographic techniques, they allowed me to see the hidden rhythms of daily life, the extraordinary in the ordinary. These are four of my best photos that I chose at the Shin trip.

Photograph Name: Passer-by

The photograph masterfully employs abstraction and juxtaposition, both important aspects of Wynn Bullock’s approach to street photography. By capturing the statue from behind, it invites viewers to see the world from its perspective, blurring the line between observer and observed-a technique reminiscent of Bullock’s fascination with perception and reality. The statue, dressed in a trench coat and hat, becomes a stand, in for the everyday passerby, gazing up at the clock tower, a universal symbol of the passage of time and the routines that structure daily life. The composition is carefully balanced: the strong diagonal formed by the statue’s arm draws the eye upward, leading naturally to the clock tower, while the modern storefronts and parked cars anchor the scene in the present. The use of black and white enhances the sense of timelessness and abstraction, stripping away distractions and focusing attention on form, light, and shadow-a technique Bullock often used to reveal deeper meanings in ordinary scenes. The interplay of the static statue, the fleeting presence of people, and the ever-ticking clock subtly comments on the rhythms and anonymity of urban life. Through these choices, the photograph not only documents a moment but also invites contemplation, echoing Bullock’s belief that photography can reveal the unseen dimensions of everyday existence.

Photograph Name: Shadows in Motion

The photograph thoughtfully blends abstraction with elements of portraiture to capture the quiet poetry of everyday life, echoing the spirit of Wynn Bullock’s work. The subject a middle aged man, partially turned away from the camera with his face obscured by shadow and a cap, embodies a sense of anonymity and universality, allowing viewers to project themselves into the scene. The use of black and white heightens the abstraction, reducing the visual world to patterns of light and shadow, and emphasizing the textures of the tree bark, the man’s clothing, and the sunlight on the ground. The vertical lines of the trees create a rhythmic backdrop that both grounds the composition and introduces a sense of order and repetition, reminiscent of Bullock’s fascination with the interplay between structure and chaos in nature. The inclusion of the dog, partially hidden in shadow, adds another layer of narrative and connection to daily routines. The man’s gesture-his hand slightly extended, as if reaching or guiding-introduces a subtle emotional resonance, a hallmark of effective portraiture. Altogether, these elements work in harmony to transform an ordinary walk in the park into a contemplative study of light, form, and human presence, mirroring Bullock’s ability to reveal the extraordinary within the everyday. The title encourages viewers to consider elements such as light and shadow, movement, human-animal interaction, and the interplay between subject and environment. It leaves room for interpretation regarding narrative, technique (like black-and-white photography), and emotional tone.

Photograph Name: Passing by
The photograph skillfully employs techniques that both abstract and illuminate the rhythms of daily urban life, resonating with the style of Wynn Bullock. The use of black and white strips the scene to its essential contrasts and textures, allowing viewers to focus on form and composition rather than the distraction of color-a hallmark of Bullock’s work. The arrangement of bicycles in the foreground, some upright and some askew, creates a dynamic pattern of lines and shapes that abstract the familiar sight of a bike rack into something visually compelling. The lone figure riding away on a cargo bike draws the eye into the middle ground, serving as a subtle portrait that captures the anonymity and universality of city dwellers. The vertical lines of trees and urban architecture in the background further layer the composition, adding depth and a sense of structure. The interplay between the static, parked bikes and the motion of the cyclist hints at the constant movement and change inherent in city life. By framing the scene to include both the intimate details of the bikes and the broader context of the cityscape, the photograph reveals the extraordinary within the ordinary, echoing Bullock’s fascination with perception, abstraction, and the hidden beauty of everyday moments. The title encourages the viewer to interpret motion, fleeting moments, and the transient nature of urban scenes.
Photograph Name: Standstill

The photograph employs abstraction and minimalism to reveal a unique facet of everyday urban life, resonating with the visual philosophy of Wynn Bullock. By choosing black and white, the photo strips the scene of color, focusing attention on the interplay of light, shadow, and geometric forms-a technique Bullock often used to heighten abstraction and emphasize the underlying structure of reality. The composition is dominated by strong leading lines: the white lane markings and the perspective of the buildings draw the viewer’s eye deep into the frame, creating a sense of infinite space and possibility. The symmetry of the empty road, flanked by modern buildings, introduces a contemplative stillness, transforming a typically bustling street into a stage for reflection. The traffic lights, frozen on red, and the absence of cars or people evoke a moment suspended in time, inviting viewers to consider the routines and pauses that shape urban life. This abstraction of the empty city street, encourages us to see the ordinary in a new light, much like Bullock’s work, which often sought to reveal the extraordinary within the everyday. Through these choices, the photograph not only documents a city scene but also invites viewers to meditate on space, silence, and the hidden rhythms of daily life. The title “Standstill” implies a temporary halt, both literally (red lights) and metaphorically (life on pause).