Barred Light of Solace

Person seated on a chair in a spotlight, surrounded by shadows, in a room with a concrete wall.

“Barred Light of Solace”
Location: Naoshima, Japan
Date: May 2024
Photographer: Ethan Liu
Affiliation: Undergraduate Student
Home Country: United States
Category: People
Award: Second Place
2025 International Photography Exhibition

“Within a room of stark concrete, a single oculus of light frames a person in a moment of quiet contemplation. This photograph was taken to illuminate the struggle against inner darkness, portraying how one can feel confined within a cage of light and shadow. I aimed to emphasize the striking geometry and the bold contrast of the bright orange shirt, which serves as a beacon of hope in times of desperation and confinement.”

van-buchem.1@osu.edu