THE LIGHT ARCHIVE
JANUARY 2026

MONTHLY FEATURE

ARCHIVE ENTRY — JAN 2026ZHENG HAOYUE3 PHOTOGRAPHS · 2025

Photography gives usa reason to set out.

Xinghai, 2025, by Zheng Haoyue — 01 — XINGHAI, 2025 · EMOTIONAL ANCHOR

In Xinghai, what I experience is a state in which loneliness and freedom coexist. This photograph feels very much like my life now. Freedom is absolutely a wonderful part of my life at this moment. I am gradually beginning to live independently and starting to move towards a wider world. But in this process, I have to temporarily leave the family and friends who matter most to me.

Sometimes, in certain moments, I feel overwhelmed by loneliness. But at the same time, I do not want to be overly sentimental about it, so there is no one I can really tell. It is like the sea in the photograph: it is free, but as human beings, we always have to return to land. So I feel that this photograph can speak in my place about some emotions that are difficult to put into words.

this photograph can
speak in my place

On the Way to School, 2025, by Zheng Haoyue — 02 — ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL, 2025

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — PHOTOGRAPHIC THEMES

Are there any photographic themes you particularly prefer?

I prefer those miraculous moments of coincidence in street photography. These moments make me feel that every corner of this world has meaning worth observing closely. This is also a way of living that I like.

every corner of this world
has meaning worth
observing closely.

Streetlight, 2025, by Zheng Haoyue — 03 — STREETLIGHT, 2025

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — PHOTOGRAPHY

What do you think photography means?

It lies in urging us to feel and observe this world more closely, and in giving us a reason to set out.

a reason
to set out.

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — HEALING

Do you think photography has a “healing effect” in your life? If so, briefly describe a moment when you felt healed through photography.

WHAT SHE SET OUT TO FINDSUNSET

WHAT SHE ENCOUNTEREDA FULL MOON

I think there is. Many years ago, one winter, in order to photograph the sunset on the opposite side of a river, I chose to take the risk of walking onto the ice to find the most suitable angle. But when I had finished photographing and was preparing to turn around and walk back to the shore, I discovered an enormous full moon that had already risen, hanging in the sky, with a purple-red sky behind it.

At that moment, I was deeply overwhelmed by what I saw. At the same time, I knew that if it had not been for photography, I might not have gone outside in such a cold winter, let alone taken the risk of walking onto the ice. But then I also would not have seen such a view at that perfect time and from that perfect angle. I think that was a moment when I was healed by photography.

RE-ENCOUNTER — THEN / NOW

Do you feel the same when looking at these photographs now as you did when you first took them? If your feelings have changed, you are welcome to share how.

I think it is different.

ARCHIVE EMOTION WORDS
CALM · LONELINESS · VULNERABILITY · SADNESS · BLUR