THE VIRTUES OF BEING ALONE

"Its easy to feel the weight of being alone. Especially being an outsider in a city and observe as the world moves forward with or without you."

| photography , travel

JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE

I woke up at 7am in Chicago in a hotel room by myself. I have no plans and no friends around. My work here was completed last night and between 7am and my flight at 8am tomorrow morning, I have zero obligation. I packed a bag with 2 cameras, 2 lenses and clothes for a range of 50° - 80° weather (because Chicago is crazy). 8am and I was out the door. My single objective today was to photograph whatever inspired me around the city. There had been mentions of meeting with some local photographers that I connected with on Facebook but besides that, I didn't even plan a route or destination. I wanted to wander. 

JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE

Chicago is architecturally beautiful. Any google search of Chicago will speak to it's incredible skyline and the beautiful building design and I, like many others before me, walked around the city with my eyes looking towards the sky. But as I photographed throughout the day and into the night, what I began to notice was not so much the beautiful buildings but the size of these giants scaled against people. Around town I would see large groups of people or individuals carrying on with their day against these massive skyscrapers. It made them look ridiculously small, and when they're alone, it makes them seem tiny and alone in a big world. Its easy to feel the weight of being alone. Especially being an outsider in a city and observe as the world moves forward with or without you. At the very same time however, I also felt the power of making my own way and answering only to myself on which way the day was going to go. 

Looking back at this day, I realized that the photos and video were just a small part of my experience. The feelings of being alone is a large city of strangers can feel inspiring and motivating while at the same time feel like you're about to be swallowed into a huge void of infinite nothing. Experiencing extreme alone-ness and loneliness which feel like they should be the same thing but are complete different. 

JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE

People are often given labels with words or phrases like: social, loner, introvert, extrovert, good with people, more of a lone wolf, popular, not good with people etc. I believe everyone is on some level all of those descriptions. People are different to different people. You are never the same to everyone and you are only truly yourself when you're alone. 

With the non stop chatter and collaborative social network and careers that we all have now, it's harder to be alone. Curiously, the rate of reported loneliness have climbed to 1 in 5 Americans in 2017. Maybe we need a little more alone time so we don't feel so lonely. 

JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG PHOTOGRAPHY CHICAGO ALONE

HANGING OUT WITH MODELS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

"I also like to take this humble brag moment to speak on the topic of LA friendships"

photography , video

JUSTFENG OOTDMEN FASHION SPRING SEXY ASIAN BEARD
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY SPRING
JUSTFENG RYAN FENG WOMEN FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY SPRING
Since I spend a lot of time finding models to photograph and photographers to photograph me , it was inevitable that I befriend at least a few of them . One of my new joys is to hang out with a group of creative and fashion forward friends and just hang out with an intention , but no obligation, to photograph or model . There's no real plan or strategy except whatever the environment around us inspire us to do .  I also like to take this humble brag moment to speak on the topic of LA friendships . An LA friend to me is more of a delightful co worker . We get along great . The relationship is between two good and authentic people but the bases of the relationship is around the individual hustles . I'm not talking about the "fake friends" you hear about from LA so much . I'm just speaking to the fact that people in LA have to work extremely hard in order to get any amount of progress or success in their career . So much so that we dedicate our entire waking lives to that goal . And because of that fact , it makes casual friendships and companionship difficult . 

In my time working in LA , I've come across and have worked with a plentiful of talented and amazing people in a multitude of jobs working from a range of directors , makeup artists , craft services , security guards , fellow dancers , actors , models , marketing execs , assistants , interns and etc . All of whom I would love to have gotten to know more and befriend . Unfortunately , many of them I've met in passing on a job or on an one time gig . Sometimes , even if the job is a couple months long with unspeakable hours and we form an intense short term bond the way that summer camps bonds kids , we end up going our separate ways because we gotta go where our careers take us and demands of us . A few of them I've managed to cultivate a loose hold of a friendship with but connections are few and far in between . 

It's sometimes bewildering to try to think of all the human connections that I've missed while working in LA . 

justfeng ryan feng ootdmen menstyle streestyle sexy asian beard
SMAC

SMAC

KRISTI

KRISTI

On a brighter note , these hang out photoshoots does serve a nice double function . I get to be productive and creative while at the same time get to spend time getting to know people both on a social level and creative level . I think sometimes that can be more authentic . 

SHE'S HILARIOUS

SHE'S HILARIOUS

SO IS SHE 

SO IS SHE 

SERIOUSLY 

SERIOUSLY 

This most recent adventure is courtesy of model/dancer/actor extraordinaire : Smac . She's a model I've photograph a few times and she's recently started a new instagram page for her photography musings . She also invited a lovely dancer/model : Kristi

professional side eye

professional side eye

Let me know if you wanna kick it 

THE BRIGHTEST SPOT IN THE ROOM

 | photography
"no matter who she was around , she would give them her attention , and that person would feel like they were standing in the warmest and brightest spot in the room"
justfeng ryan feng photography kirsten collins editorial portrait
justfeng ryan feng photography kirsten collins editorial portrait

There are many different types of entertainers and different ways that people are entertained . But one of the more popular styles and the story you hear about the most from famous celebrities is the person that lights up the screen and charms their way to stardom . But one of my favorites stories is one where the brightest person in the room and knew how to turn that incredible light onto the people around them . Who along with their great talent , also knew how to turn that sunshine and warm the people around them .

There are many different types of entertainers and different ways that people are entertained . But one of the more popular styles and the story you hear about the most from famous celebrities is the person that lights up the screen and charms their…

That is one of my favorite things said about the Hollywood Icon Audrey Hepburn . On top of being a brilliant talent , there are many wonderful things said about her as a person off screen in the last century . My favorite thing is that no matter who she was around , she would give them her attention , and that person would feel like they were standing in the warmest and brightest spot in the room . Whether you believe if that was the real Aubrey or if she was putting on a celebrity act depends on where you stand on the scale of cynical to hopeful but I like to think that her charm and beauty doesn’t come from standing in the spotlight but from giving it authentically .

justfeng ryan feng photography kirsten collins music editorial fashion portrait
justfeng ryan feng photography kirsten collins music editorial portrait

I would have to say that in the couple hours of shooting with Miss Kirsten Collins (who is a talented singer and musician) that she gives a lot of the same energy . Its not always fun to turn it on for the camera and production but with her , I never had the feeling that she was turning it on . It was a pleasure to shoot with her and she had a knack for making sure that everyone was comfortable in the room with her even towards the end of a long day . I wish her the absolute best and I’m sure if you don’t know who she is yet you will soon . 

You can find her music here

justfeng ryan feng photography kirsten collins music portrait editorial

Model - Kirsten Collins

Photographer - Ryan Feng

Mua - Phil Loste

Producer - Patrick Chen