Ex Umbris Ad Lucem

I was on Michigan Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona, when I was drawn to the central figures in this composition. They were emerging from the underground into the light of the street at night. As I’ve studied the fine arts, I have found myself drawn to street photography. In my work, I have continually focused on families and put my efforts into showing the beauty they present in their unity across a variety of situations.

To add depth to this composition of this piece, I looked to the reflections of the family on the empty storefront beside them. This combination of interior and exterior space forms a structure based on the repetition of the pillars within the interior of the building — notice, as your eye moves across the piece, that you are put in a position to find geometric shapes throuhgout the image. This sequencing also offers additional light to the composition, which is helpful, because lighting often presents a challenge for street photographers at night.

In both content and structure, the photo reminds me of the ways families everywhere can be surrounded by support and become the focal point of the landscape of our society. In my work, I aim to restore this vision of society that is illuminated by the love between people and the light that each person emanates by virtue of being made in God’s image.

Joseph Pillado is the founder of Restored Vision Media, a photography business based in Phoenix, Arizona, that is focused on restoring a love of humanity within the world through photographs that allow the beauty of the medium to flourish.