During my 25-day field study on the northwestern frontier in China, I interviewed local residents and was ultimately moved less by breathtaking landscapes than by their untold stories and the region's raw atmosphere. At Kashgar's livestock market, I witnessed a vibrant chaos—herds and crowds interwoven in primal, yet reliable trade. Through my lens, I documented these fleeting moments, focusing on human presence, identity, and the rich ethnic traditions of often overlooked regions, capturing over 500 frames of cultural truth.

This is my hometown. My grandfather moved from Hangzhou to Shanghai as a teenager and made it his home. Last year, he passed away due to illness, and I wasn’t able to be by his side—a regret that lingered long after. Through my lens, I seek to uncover and reconstruct the fading memories of the old neighborhoods he once inhabited. I aim to capture the ordinary yet touching moments of daily life, sensing the emotional weight hidden within fleeting, mundane details.

New York became a fertile ground for my black-and-white film photography. There, I created my most satisfying monochrome works to date and earned the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold Key in Photography—twice. Film holds profound meaning for me. It runs in my blood: both my grandparents dedicated their careers to producing the first generation of film cameras in New China. It also feels like destiny: the first time I held a film camera two years ago, an inexplicable connection sparked my curiosity and gave me the courage to shoot freely. With only 36 frames per roll, every shot demands deeper reflection and deliberate judgment—a discipline that honors the intention behind each click.