STEPHEN CHAN - EXPOSURE EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOWCASE

My work explores the environments built, occupied and used by people but without people in order to create a sense of urban alienation.  I am interested in the concept of liminal space – defined as transitional places between locations or states of being, often depicted as empty to invoke feelings of both nostalgia and discomfort.  

As I go on photo walks throughout the city, I find myself drawn to entryways, stairs, and empty chairs as a way to allow the viewer to glimpse what's beyond, to add mystery or to imagine the kind of people that would normally occupy that space.  I like the juxtaposition of plant life with the artificial environments that humans have created for themselves.   

I’m also interested in the emotions that architecture can invoke in people, particularly the oppressive nature of brutalism and concrete.  My black and white work focuses on architectural details, and how forms can be broken down into more ambiguous, geometric elements removed from context. 

BIOGRAPHY

I am a Calgarian born and raised.  I work as a geomatics engineer but photography has been my creative outlet for the past decade.  My initial spark of inspiration came from travel photography, but with the pandemic I have a renewed focus towards film photography which I develop myself.  The inherently cinematic quality of film, the more involved process of shooting and developing, creates a greater emotional connection between myself and the art.  I embrace the limitations and flaws of film; it forces me to slow down and adapt in my process while also adding character to the final product that I did not expect.

My focus is generally in landscape, street and architectural photography.  While my career in photography is just beginning, I feel fortunate for this opportunity to expand the reach of my photos through the Exposure Emerging Photographs Showcase and thank you for taking an interest in my work.