I was never really good with words.

So I discovered poetry in pictures. Stories emerge where lines meet and colors merge. Frame by frame, subjects reveal to me pieces of their personal narratives.
Avid lover of Japan’s unique lifestyle, I took my film camera and spent a year capturing the youth culture.
By shooting in analog format, I aspired to connect with my subjects in all of their subtleties. Thus, I learned more with less.

I found focus in the blurry.

Little did I know that this journey would deeply shape my identity as a photographer.
I hope that emotions can transcend through these images to inspire you.

Here are the stories they chose to tell.

Borderless

This is a project I did with Yang Shi. She did the art direction and set design and I happily took the snaps.

“Borderless explores the uncertainty of self-growth in dark times. It represents how we enclose ourselves when we are afraid and feel threatened by the unknown. However, the invisible shell we use as protection also refrains us from blooming. Despite being surrounded by things we can’t see and bound to outcomes we can’t predict, self-accomplishment can only be attained if we break free from our own confinement.”

Photography by Jean-Guillaume Bastin
Instagram: @commedesbatards 
commedesbatards.com

Art Direction, set design and words by Yang Shi
Instagram: @time_of_the_sun