Puzzleman Leung considers the similarities between contrasting photographs

Taipei-based photographer Puzzleman Leung has made a name for himself across publications and brands for his striking portraits and crisp lighting. Frequenting the pages of Asian arts magazines and commissioned by the likes of Adidas, Hypebae and Tan Tan Studio, Puzzleman’s impressive portfolio of photography spans all manner of themed shoots. From alternative office shoots to a rocky outdoor shoot for Marie Claire Taiwan called Apocalyptic Tales, Puzzleman is versatile yet consistently emphatic within his photographic style.

Less known for his personal work however, Puzzleman is equally interested in his self-directed projects as much as the commercial. His series Echaotic is testament to this. Documenting a recent trip to Japan and an unwavering love for his favourite country, Puzzleman captures both the chaos and order, as well as the noise and silence of the distinctive culture. He tells It’s Nice That: “When I was taking these photos, I didn’t think too much about the results, I just enjoyed what I saw.”

In one image, Puzzleman photographs a crow perched on a wrought iron fence. In another, the photographer shoots the hustle and bustle of the crowded city streets but draws out the linear architecture of the busy streets. “After, when I was editing the photos, I would consider the similarity between two different photos. Though they seem like totally different photos, I can find something connecting them.”

In some instances, a similar colour overlapping two different photos is enough for him to curate the images together to create an intriguing new narrative. In other cases, he places photos together as shared metaphors arise from the context or composition. “Everything looks randomly placed together but I have in fact considered that,” says the photographer.

“Although photography has changed a lot in the last ten years, it is still challenging to make a really good picture today and the medium is getting more interesting at the same time.” Nonetheless, what continues to interest Puzzleman today, is the two contrasting approaches of photography. The first, creates a moment through the photograph and the second, captures the moment through the medium of photography; and as long as these two different approaches exist, Puzzleman will continue to take photos exploring the matter.