“A Glimpse Within”: Jo Jaehyeon on Light, Silence, and Stillness

Photographer Jo Jaehyeon from South Korea has been awarded the Silver Award in the Night Photography category at the Best Photography Award UK 2025 Season 1 for his contemplative and beautifully lit piece, A Glimpse Within.

Taken just before sunset at a hanok heritage site in Jeonju, the photograph captures a beam of light filtering through the gap in a traditional Korean wooden gate. “The moment felt so serene, as if time had stopped,” Jo recalls. “I stood in front of the gate for a long time, simply admiring it before I finally took the shot.”

More than just a play of light and shadow, the image evokes a deeper curiosity—an invitation to imagine what lies beyond. “I wanted to capture the feeling of hoping for a single miraculous light in the midst of a long, winding life,” Jo shares.

What makes the image especially striking is the way the vertical light intersects with the diagonal lines of the wooden gate, creating a naturally balanced composition. Jo highlights the texture of the wood and the harmony between the warm tones of the door and the cool-toned sliver of light as elements that drew him in.

“I’m always drawn to transitions—from light to darkness, from outside to inside,” he says. “I believe that what is unseen can often hold more meaning than what is visible.”

With A Glimpse Within, Jo Jaehyeon offers viewers a rare moment of pause—a quiet space for reflection and wonder.

1. Could you share the background and setting of this award-winning photo?

This photo was taken just before sunset in front of a traditional Korean wooden gate. While walking through a hanok heritage site in the city of Jeonju, I came across sunlight seeping through the gap in the door, casting dramatic shadows and contrast. The moment felt so serene, as if time had stopped. I stood in front of the gate for a long time, simply admiring it before I finally took the shot.

2. What emotion or message were you hoping to convey through this photograph?

The beam of light shining through the gap evokes a sense of curiosity. The more you look into this mysterious atmosphere, the more you find yourself wondering about the faintly visible world beyond the door. I wanted to capture the feeling of hoping for a single miraculous light in the midst of a long, winding life.

3. Is there a particular detail in this photo that you especially love?

I especially love how the vertical light intersects with the diagonal lines of the wooden door to create a natural composition. The texture of the wood is appealing, and I’m drawn to the harmony between the warm tones of the door and the cool-toned sliver of light.

4. Did you have any specific inspiration or artistic concept in mind during the creation?

I’m always drawn to moments where transitions happen naturally—from light to darkness, from outside to inside. I believe that what is unseen can often hold more meaning than what is visible.

5. What do you hope viewers will feel or reflect upon when they see this photo?

I hope this photo gives viewers a moment to pause and feel a quiet sense of curiosity—the kind that makes you imagine what might lie beyond. More than anything, I want this image to offer stillness and reflection.