
6 FEET
Everyone yearns for an ordinary and happy life. However, there are too many things in life that break this fantasy. The outbreak of the pandemic disrupted the rhythm of the everyday city. A sense of isolation filled urban centers. People shouted in shelters and wandered through the chaos. However, life still has to go on.
Even if we know that the passed time will never goes back, it is still worth being cherished at this time. Film photography and everything that is happening now share the same fate: non-repeatability. It is also worth mention that the group of images were shot by expired films. The uncertainty of exposure and old colors captured the idea what we see is unpredictable and will be passed. People’s individual lives are like every grain that is clearly visible on the film, every piece of film which records the city is ephemeral but also everlasting.
From the perspective of an “ flaneur ”, I chose to shoot New York City during the pandemic, using film photography, highlighting the individual states in different industries, fields, and corners. Through the capture of expressions and actions, combined with the interpretation of the environment, I let the people of New York City show their rigorousness to overcome the difficulties of the pandemic together, as well as the freedom in their bones.
Yiang Ma, New York, 2020














