SIN WORLD

  T he Suits We Wear T he Suits We Wear reimagines street portraiture through the symbolic structure of a deck of playing cards. Each portrait assigns an archetype—King, Queen, Joker, or number card to individuals encountered in public spaces. These familiar symbols become an entry point for exploring how identity, presence, and social perception are shaped in the brief intersections of everyday life. Queens and Kings embody strength, composure, and the nuanced confidence carried by the people who command attention without speaking. Number cards represent students, workers, and the understated figures who form the backbone of a community, the essential but often overlooked rhythm of the streets. The Joker, by contrast, highlights the unpredictable: individuals whose energy disrupts the ordinary and reveals the spontaneity that makes public spaces dynamic. By mapping these roles onto real people, the work investigates the subtle ways individuals are categorized sometimes consciousl...

The Suits We Wear reimagines street portraiture through the symbolic structure of a deck of playing cards. Each portrait assigns an archetype—King, Queen, Joker, or number card to individuals encountered in public spaces. These familiar symbols become an entry point for exploring how identity, presence, and social perception are shaped in the brief intersections of everyday life. Queens and Kings embody strength, composure, and the nuanced confidence carried by the people who command attention without speaking. Number cards represent students, workers, and the understated figures who form the backbone of a community the essential but often overlooked rhythm of the streets. The Joker, by contrast, highlights the unpredictable: individuals whose energy disrupts the ordinary and reveals the spontaneity that makes public spaces dynamic. By mapping these roles onto real people, the work investigates the subtle ways individuals are categorized sometimes consciously, sometimes instinctivel...

  Final Street Photography Project Proposal For my final street photography project, I plan to create a series of portraits inspired by the visual and symbolic structure of a deck of cards. My goal is to photograph people in public spaces and represent them as “Kings,” “Queens,” and “Jacks,” using real individuals to embody the personality, presence, and stories behind each card. Rather than using costumes or props, I want the portraits to feel natural and rooted in the everyday environment, allowing the character of each subject to emerge through expression, posture, and context. Subject Matter and Concept The project focuses on capturing strangers in the city whose energy, style, or attitude naturally evokes the archetypes found in a deck of cards. A “King” might be someone who carries themselves with authority or wisdom; a “Queen” might show strength, elegance, or resilience; a “Jack” might feel youthful, bold, or in motion. By connecting street portraits to these familiar ca...

 Focusing on color was a bit of a challenge for me at first. Where I’m located, there’s not a whole lot of vibrant color in the environment, so recalibrating my attention to see color more intentionally took effort. But that’s also what made it exciting. When color did show up, it stood out  almost like it demanded attention. I had to be ready to react quickly to capture those natural moments before they disappeared. It made me slow down and really look , instead of just snapping what was in front of me. Elevating color to the forefront changed how I saw the street it became more about waiting for that pop or contrast that could bring an image to life Some of my images definitely reflect a connection between color and mood. For instance, in one photo, a person walked past a dull gray wall while wearing a bright red jacket. That red didn’t just stand out visually it added energy, emotion, and even a sense of urgency to the scene. I’ve come to see that color can set the tone ...

 

I chose Mathias Wasik because his work resonates deeply with me on multiple levels. I’m especially drawn to street photography that goes beyond capturing random moments to instead reveal something deeper whether it’s tension, subtext, intimacy, or contradiction in everyday urban life. Wasik does this exceptionally well. His work balances documentary truth with artistic sensitivity; he doesn’t just chase quirky or dramatic scenes, but instead photographs with a clear sense of purpose. Through his use of color, composition, and gesture, he explores what it means to be human in crowded, often chaotic environments. What also sets him apart for me is his personal background having grown up as an immigrant and working in human rights activism, he brings a heightened awareness of identity, power, and social dynamics to his photography. That ethical and intentional approach is something I deeply admire and think is too often missing in street photography today.       Studyin...