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The Brief Interval

Before the traces of repair could fade, a culture of disposal had already taken hold. These surfaces still carry efforts to preserve, even as our habits have shifted elsewhere, almost imperceptibly. And even now— something else, perhaps, is already underway.

Awards

Color Photography Contest

2026

Honorable Mentions

Conceptual

Non Professional

Nominees

Storytelling

Non Professional

The Brief Interval

Before the traces of repair could fade, a culture of disposal had already taken hold. These surfaces still carry efforts to preserve, even as our habits have shifted elsewhere, almost imperceptibly. And even now— something else, perhaps, is already underway.

About Artist

Leebaeck Choi

FFor over thirty years, my photography was rooted in black and white, using boundaries, structures, and silence to question existence and disappearance. While black and white traditionally relies on stark forms and precise distinctions, my recent transition into color allowed subjects to dissolve, spread, and embrace uncertainty. Now, I am expanding this experimentation back into monochrome, breaking down forms using only the raw essence of light, shadow, and texture. Through this continuous evolution, my long-standing questions about being have found a new language in abstraction. To capture this, I rely entirely on pure optical physics, explicitly rejecting digital manipulation and AI. By utilizing vintage lenses at maximum aperture, embracing intentional lens flare, and pushing the boundaries of out-of-focus blur, I explore how existence proves itself through traces, intervals, and the physical interaction between light and time. Whether in color or black and white, my photography moves away from direct representation while remaining deeply connected to physical reality. This pursuit is difficult, but that difficulty is exactly what makes photography endlessly compelling to me.

Leebaeck Choi

Photographic Areas of Focus

Abstract, Minimalism, Minimalism, Nature, People, Portrait, Travel

Location

South Korea

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