Liam Wong is a multifaceted director, game designer, and photographer renowned for his distinctive visual style that bridges the realms of gaming and photography. Born and raised in Scotland, Wong quickly rose to prominence in the video game industry, becoming the youngest director at Ubisoft within two years of graduating. His background in game design profoundly influences his photography, where he blends technical precision with artistic flair.
Wong’s foray into photography began with the purchase of his first DSLR in 2015, leading to the creation of his debut series, Tokyo Nights (TO:KY:OO), which garnered widespread acclaim and established him as a notable visual artist. His work, recognized by major media outlets including Forbes and BBC, has been celebrated for its innovative use of neon-lit aesthetics and cyberpunk influences. Wong’s successful crowdfunding campaigns for his books TO:KY:OO and AFTER DARK reflect his growing impact in the art world.
Liam Wong’s To:Ky:00 series draws his audiences into the world of Tokyo that he has created, making them question what is real and what is not.
He describes his intention is to,
“take real moments and transform them into something surreal, to make the viewer question the reality depicted in each photograph.”
Over the span of three years, Wong has crafted a debut photo series that delves into the layered structures of Tokyo’s evolution and decadence. Through unique lines of light, rich colours, and harmonious yet disordered compositions, his work transcends traditional photography to evoke a deeper, often unseen essence of the city.
Taken one rainy night in Shimbashi - the Tokyo terminus of the first railway in Japan in 1872.
Captured in one of my favourite alleys, I love the depth. The last train passing by, the man with the umbrella walking towards me, framed in the center of the shot with the reflections lighting up the dark alleyway. I waited in the rain for around an hour waiting for the right shot - this was it.
In Minutes to Midnight, the central subject is a solitary figure wearing a dark hooded jacket, holding an umbrella.
This figure is placed in a neon-lit street, creating a stark contrast between the dark, empty surroundings and the vibrant city lights.
The background features illuminated signs and reflections that enhance the futuristic and surreal mood of the photograph.
The lighting is artificial and comes from the surrounding neon signs, casting a colourful, almost otherworldly glow on the scene.
The use of this specific outfit and the umbrella adds to the image’s sense of isolation and introspection. The image might cause us to ask who the figure is and why he’s there or simply reflect on what it would be like to be in his place.
The camera settings would include a high aperture to create a sharp focus on the subject and capture all of the details in the surrounding city
Wong likely used a high shutter speed to freeze the motion of the person walking without any motion blur
The compositional tools include the use of leading lines from the neon reflections and a balanced subject that can be seen in the centre of the frame.
Wong’s choice of a slightly lower angle and a wider shot highlights the contrast between the lone figure and the vibrant, neon-lit city
A taxi driver waits in the rain for a couple to exit a love hotel. To source his subjects, Liam asked taxi drivers or locals where he could find interesting buildings and places less frequented by tourists and crowds. "This was the photograph that started my journey into photography," says Liam. Taken on a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM at 200mm, 1/30 sec, f/2.8 and ISO5000. © Liam Wong
Once you've annotated an image, you can turn this information in to a paragraph. The reason we do this is that sometimes annotations help us to be more descriptive and think more visually but when Photography is shared in Art galleries, blogs and books, images are frequently accompanied by statements. It also helps you to structure your thoughts in an ordered way so that others can understand your understanding.
In Minutes to Midnight, the central subject is a solitary figure clad in a dark hooded jacket, holding an umbrella. This figure is situated on a neon-lit street, creating a stark contrast between the dark, empty surroundings and the vibrant city lights. The background features illuminated signs and reflections that enhance the photographs' futuristic and surreal mood. The artificial lighting from the neon signs casts a colorful, almost otherworldly glow on the scene. The choice of outfit and the umbrella deepens the image's sense of isolation and introspection, prompting viewers to question who the figure is, why he is there, or to imagine what it would feel like to be in his place.
The camera settings likely include a high aperture to create a sharp focus on the subject and capture all of the details in the surrounding city. Wong likely used a high shutter speed to freeze the motion of the person walking without any motion blur. Compositional tools such as leading lines from the neon reflections and a balanced central subject have been used. Wong’s choice of a slightly lower angle and a wider shot highlights the contrast between the lone figure and the vibrant, neon-lit city.
When you've mastered describing in the detail, the next step is 'analysing.' This is where you consider the purpose and deeper meaning behind visual choices. A step beyond that is to 'evaluate,' which is where you offer a perspective on whether a photographer has achieved their intention. The questions below can help you expand this in to an additional paragraph.
What might the audience think or feel in response to the photo?
What themes or meaning are present in the photo / What might the photographer's intention be?
Is this an effective narrative series that conveys its intention? Do you like it? Why or why not?
In Minutes to Midnight, the central subject is a solitary figure clad in a dark hooded jacket, holding an umbrella. This figure is situated on a neon-lit street, creating a stark contrast between the dark, empty surroundings and the vibrant city lights. The background features illuminated signs and reflections that enhance the photographs' futuristic and surreal mood. The artificial lighting from the neon signs casts a colorful, almost otherworldly glow on the scene. The choice of outfit and the umbrella deepens the image's sense of isolation and introspection, prompting viewers to question who the figure is, why he is there, or to imagine what it would feel like to be in his place.
The camera settings likely include a high aperture to create a sharp focus on the subject and capture all of the details in the surrounding city. Wong likely used a high shutter speed to freeze the motion of the person walking without any motion blur. Compositional tools such as leading lines from the neon reflections and a balanced central subject have been used. Wong’s choice of a slightly lower angle and a wider shot highlights the contrast between the lone figure and the vibrant, neon-lit city.
When viewing Minutes to Midnight, the audience might feel a sense of loneliness, curiosity, or even reflection. The contrast between the lone figure and the bright but empty neon-lit city can make viewers think about isolation and life in a big city. The photo seems to show themes of loneliness and how people can feel small or disconnected in a busy, impersonal environment. Wong might want to make us think about how cities affect our emotions. As part of a story series, this photo works well because it tells a strong visual story and makes us think about the figure's story and the emotions tied to city life. It works well because it captures a relatable feeling of being alone in a crowd, which many people experience in urban environments.
Activity
Create a documents folder called 'Tokyo'
Choose one image out of the four above
Place the photo in a OneNotes document or or go to kleki.com and draw there.
Annotate the 'Make' and 'Method' elements in the photos you have chosen.
Create a page called 'Tokyo' in your portfolio.
Insert your annotated image
Write the heading, 'Intention,' beneath your annotated image.
Write 3-5 dot points on how the 'Make' and 'Method' elements you have identified portray the intention; which is to, “take real moments and transform them into something surreal, to make the viewer question the reality depicted in each photograph.”
Complete previous steps
Create a heading below your annotations called 'Make Intention' and one called 'Method Intention'
Beneath each of these headings, write 3-5 sentences that explore how those specific elements show the intention of the image.
Evaluate your image. Has it effectively portrayed the photographers intention. Why?
Complete previous steps. Turn the sections you have created in to a paragraph. How has the image used parts of 'Make' and 'Method' to communicate an intention? Was it successful? Why?
Your topic sentences should introduce Liam Wong and his work.
Provide multiple APA references