HIKO
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris 2025 – Non-Professional First Place Winner in Advertising – Circle of Solitude
What compositional decisions did you make to guide the viewer’s eye toward solitude and focus rather than distraction?
The essence of this work lies in contrast and visual flow.
To evoke a sense of solitude, I emphasized the interplay between light and shadow.
The light streaming through the circular opening was treated like a spotlight, with the rider positioned precisely at its center.
By enveloping the surrounding space in deep shadow, the composition naturally guides the viewer’s gaze toward the protagonist.
After shooting, I converted the image to monochrome and carefully refined the tonal balance.
This accentuated the gradation of light and the rhythm of the composition, creating a quiet, introspective atmosphere.
What were the biggest technical or logistical challenges in executing this concept?
This work was completed after a process of trial and error during the shoot. The biggest technical challenge was highlighting the rider’s presence while making the most of the light and architectural structure.
Initially, I shot the rider from the front using a telephoto lens, but the resulting images were monotonous, focusing only on the subject and failing to convey the unique atmosphere of the location. I then switched to a wide-angle lens and reconsidered the composition, paying attention to the direction of the sunlight so that the circular structure of the building would be captured in the frame.
I also adjusted the rider’s pose and gaze, directing them toward the dramatic clouds in the sky to enhance the overall narrative of the photograph. Shooting from a low angle emphasized the scale of the building stretching into the sky and the presence of the rider within it.
The strong sunlight created striking contrasts between light and shadow. By envisioning the final image during the shoot, I was able to express this play of light and shadow, which was the greatest challenge in creating this work.
Were there direction or emotional cues you gave the subject to embody the narrative you envisioned?
Initially, we had the rider subject try several poses, such as looking directly at the camera or gazing upward. Ultimately, we decided that having them look toward the dramatic, cloud-filled sky would best accentuate the overall narrative quality of the photograph.
Winning the Advertising Photographer of the Year title at PX3 is a major honor. What does this recognition mean to you?
I’m truly honored to receive the PX3 “Advertising Photographer of the Year” award. But rather than just celebrating this achievement, I see it as a stepping stone to pursue even higher goals as a photographer. Specifically, I want to capture the charm of the city I live in and, in collaboration with the city, use those images as advertising photos for posters, the website, and other digital media, sharing its appeal with a wider audience.
For photographers aiming to merge commercial objectives with evocative storytelling in automotive work, what practical advice would you share？
In automotive photography, accurately conveying the beauty and functionality of the vehicle itself is commercially vital. However, to transcend mere product photography and appeal to the viewer’s emotions, it is effective to carefully consider lighting, background, composition, seasonal feel, and time of day to depict the relationship between the car and its environment or people. For instance, a car driving through a city at dusk or one standing still amidst nature can convey a sense of tranquility or dynamism, telling a story. Aim to balance technical precision with emotional resonance, striving for a single photograph to simultaneously convey both the “appeal of the car” and a “story.”