photo poster project | I Shot First—Then Learned to See: How Exhibiting Changed My Eye by Keira Low | ISSUE #186

cizucu hosts the photo poster project in cities around the world.
By simply posting a photo on cizucu, creators can take part in a physical photo poster exhibition and meet fellow photographers they may not have encountered otherwise.

In this issue, we spoke with Keira Low (also known as “Kwie Chaen” online), who joined the photo poster project, about her first exhibition experience, what she learned from others, and the photograph she chose.

Hello everyone, this is Keira, also known as “Kwie Chaen” online.
I picked up photography through my mother at the ripe age of 12, as I felt inspired to follow in her footsteps and become a photographer like her. Everybody has to start off somewhere, and for me, it was portrait photography. I used my phone to capture my friends and family, and they too edged me on to pursue my hobby.

Shortly after, this helped me discover the art of street photography. I loved taking to the streets as I enjoyed the authentic feeling of going out to places, feeling the buzz of energy and experiencing the tradition while admiring landscapes and people through my photos. I believe that every photo is a unique piece of myself I choose to display, and I hope that I can connect with others through my photos too.

This was my first time participating in an exhibition. To be honest, it was intimidating at first as it was a fresh experience for me, especially with the introduction of a presentation where we had to showcase the meaning behind our posters.

What makes this exhibition special is that you don’t only participate as an exhibitor, you participate as a viewer as well. This event enables us photographers from different backgrounds to come together to share about our experience, allowing us to appreciate different styles of photography, and allowing us to learn with and about one another, through our different strengths.

This is what mostly drew me to participate in this project. This once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to meet with creators you normally only get to interact with online is also another point of interest for me, and being reached out to by cizucu really motivated me to give it a shot.

The people there were very welcoming and ardent, making it easier to connect with one another on our shared interest for photography.

I really enjoyed this opportunity to network with others, listening to their stories behind their pictures, which helped me open my eyes to the world, as I got to see a new perspective on how photos can be preserved. This really benefited me as I am still developing my photography style, and receiving advice from many advanced creators has certainly helped me take a step forward in my journey.

One of the most memorable parts of my experience would definitely be the exchange of photo cards, talking to one another, taking pictures together, and laughing at experiences as if we were there with them through our travels. This is something I believe most photographers can relate to.

Through a photographer’s eyes, it’s like seeing how the light illuminates against the streets, how structured buildings can create frames, and even how positioning our camera can create a unique, visual sight.

Meeting everyone here also made me realise how many photographers are also ordinary people in everyday life—which includes me—yet most of us choose to silently capture moments we deem precious to us.

It’s spotting the small things in life that keeps our craft alive.

I took this photograph on the streets of Vietnam last year. While walking through Hanoi, I noticed a man painting beside a plastic covering. When I saw this unique visual opportunity, I carefully framed the scene and captured the image.

I chose this photo for the exhibition as it shows a Hoi An artist at work preserving the charm and creativity of the local culture. I find this especially meaningful, as it represents the city’s diversity and character in a subtle yet artistic way.

I usually don’t plan in advance, which makes the photos I take slightly inconsistent, as it’s a mix of different photo compositions. When I see a photo opportunity, I tend to click before I think, then worry later. I see people jogging along pathways, hawkers cooking up a storm, and I turn that ordinary action into a piece of art, and freeze that moment in time forever.

Sometimes, I ask myself, what is the purpose of taking photos? What am I drawn to?

I am a very observant person and I enjoy melting into the atmosphere with my camera, and I am usually drawn to the juxtaposition of the scenery in the environment I’m in. It is also one of my favourite portrait photographs that I have taken, which made me choose this photo.

For those who might want to join, I highly encourage you to participate in this exhibition. Seeing your work displayed on a poster is really satisfying, and meeting with people to share your work of art and the emotions that weave through it, is just as especially meaningful.

Let’s share the love of photography with everyone!