Of all the photographs I took in 2021, this one holds a special place in my heart. It boasts no exquisite composition, no intricate layering of light and shadow, nor any striking color contrast. Yet, on that day, as I gazed into the gloomy distance through the viewfinder, the dim sky cast a grey, vintage pall over the scene, muting all traces of modernity.

I focused my lens on the windows of the Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel across Russell Square and was about to press the shutter when, by sheer serendipity, two boys walked into the frame. They looked as if they had stepped straight out of a film from the last century--an unexpected, perfect finishing touch. It was this beautiful coincidence that allowed me to crystallize the "Old London" atmosphere I felt in that moment. It was truly mesmerizing.

Photography, akin to writing, is a medium of output that allows us to express ourselves in concrete forms. Before this, I hadn't truly pondered why I was so obsessed with the images captured by my camera. While I sometimes feel the frustration of failing to capture the scene's naked beauty as seen by the eye, the intrigue found in the process of artistic re-creation far outweighs the mere visual impact of the subject itself.

The act of focusing feels much like taking aim, with the horizon line serving as the crosshairs. Throughout the year, carrying this heavy weight, I have "hunted" for countless fleeting moments of beauty. Roaming solitary through streets and alleys, the lens became my eyes. Photography has gradually transformed my perception of the world, revealing unique vistas half-concealed within the monotony of the cityscape, and uncovering neglected corners hidden beneath the veneer of the ordinary.