/ 2017 / Advertising / Architecture

Looking up Chrysler Building

  • Photographer
    Edi Chen, United States

All things exist and obey balance and New York City is no
exception. We deliberately build symmetrical buildings and
objects in pursuit of visual balance. At the same time, all forms
of life that live in this city are both active and passive, quiet and
restless, harmonious, opposite, past and future. We are
influenced and affected by this city and are trying to build the
balance we are searching for and in doing so have become part
of it. We all share this city and its future.

In Chinese culture, the mysterious yin and yang is another
expression of balance. These two concepts create balance in
life. Opposition, interdependence and reunification, all things
come to be through the interaction of yin and yang.

I grew up in a city with three thousand years of history. I love to wait for sunset on top of JingShan Park (north of the Forbidden City) when the bell tower chimes loud and clear, and the pigeons take flight over the city's rooftops. The walls there are brick red and drab grey, and the four seasons are separate and distinct. I received my first camera, a PRAKTICA, in 1988. It had a 50mm lens, and a black and white manual focus. It was a gift from my grandfather who used to work at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I am passionate about photographing symmetrical objects, particularly in architecture, and love to capture that which catches not only my eye but my soul. My fascination and journey with photography began in 2002, gravitating towards symmetry I photographed scenes at random in the world around me and during my travels. I have always been interested in art and design and prior to becoming a professional photographer worked as a graphic designer for many years.

My version of photography is a way of finding myself, to extract beauty from ordinary subjects and places. The best way for me to express this dreamlike, surreal and abstract black and white world is by using long exposure photography. I created this symmetrical portfolio by capturing particular and expressive details of historical landmarks and unique urban buildings in my year long quest for this one of a kind collection.

Awards I grew up in a city with three thousand years of history. I love to wait for sunset on top of JingShan Park (north of the Forbidden City) when the bell tower chimes loud and clear, and the pigeons take flight over the city's rooftops. The walls there are brick red and drab grey, and the four seasons are separate and distinct. I received my first camera, a PRAKTICA, in 1988. It had a 50mm lens, and a black and white manual focus. It was a gift from my grandfather who used to work at Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I am passionate about photographing symmetrical objects, particularly in architecture, and love to capture that which catches not only my eye but my soul. My fascination and journey with photography began in 2002, gravitating towards symmetry I photographed scenes at random in the world around me and during my travels. I have always been interested in art and design and prior to becoming a professional photographer worked as a graphic designer for many years.

My version of photography is a way of finding myself, to extract beauty from ordinary subjects and places. The best way for me to express this dreamlike, surreal and abstract black and white world is by using long exposure photography. I created this symmetrical portfolio by capturing particular and expressive details of historical landmarks and unique urban buildings in my year long quest for this one of a kind collection.