Between Light and Silence: CHEN, GUAN-WEI Captures Calm Before the Storm
At the World Grand Prix Photography Awards 2026 Autumn Season, CHEN,GUAN-WEI received the Gold Award in Mobile Photography for Between Light and Silence. The winning work offers a distinct perspective on its subject, bringing the photographer’s individual approach to the foreground.
Captured on a mobile phone, this image records a quiet moment as the setting sun passes beneath the silhouette of a bridge and reflects across the sea. Framed naturally by the surrounding foliage, the scene transforms an ordinary coastal view into a fleeting moment of warmth, stillness, and solitude. It is a simple observation of everyday life, preserved through the immediacy of mobile photography.
Interview
What is the narrative or story behind this award-winning piece, and what inspired you to capture this particular moment?
This photograph was taken during a summer trip to the Penghu Islands in Taiwan with my university classmates. The location is near Guanyinting (next to the Penghu Youth Activity Center), looking out toward the Xiying Rainbow Bridge. Normally, this spot is the main venue for the famous Penghu International Fireworks Festival—a place usually filled with cheering crowds and vibrant energy. However, when we visited, there were no fireworks, and a typhoon was approaching. Instead of the usual bustling crowd, the area was wrapped in complete silence, accompanied by a dramatic, golden pre-storm sunset. The striking contrast between a typically lively landmark and the absolute stillness before the storm deeply moved me, inspiring me to raise my smartphone and capture this fleeting, tranquil moment.
Were there any unexpected creative or technical hurdles during the making of this work, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges were the extreme lighting contrast and the fleeting nature of the moment while traveling. Shooting directly into the setting sun and its reflection on the ocean created harsh backlighting, and the pre-typhoon clouds and light were shifting rapidly. Without a tripod or professional filters on hand, I had to make a split-second decision.
Instead of walking out to the open shore for a standard shot, I stepped back behind the bushes and used the dense foliage in the foreground as a "natural frame". Technically, this helped block out excessive flare and stabilized my smartphone's exposure for the bright highlights. Visually, the dark silhouette of the leaves created a bold contrast against the warm golden sunset and the bridge, naturally establishing a strong sense of depth across the foreground, midground, and background.
How do you approach the balance between technical skill and emotional/artistic expression in your photography?
I am currently studying in the Department of Multimedia and Game Development and Application at Hungkuang University. Through my coursework in photography and visual design, I have been trained in foundational concepts like composition, lighting, and visual guidance. However, I believe that technical skills shouldn't be about showing off complex settings; instead, they should be internalized into instinct and "visual muscle memory."
When an emotional scene catches my eye, I don't spend time overthinking technical parameters. Instead, I rely on my compositional instincts—such as the natural framing and chiaroscuro contrast used in this piece—to compose the shot within seconds. To me, technique is the skeleton that supports the image, while the emotion of the moment—like stillness and solitude—is the soul. When both work in harmony, even a spontaneous documentary shot can tell a compelling story.
What key emotion or thematic message do you hope viewers walk away with when experiencing this piece?
Just as the title Between Light and Silence suggests, I hope viewers can feel a sense of inner peace amidst a chaotic and noisy world. Peering through the dark, tangled leaves in the foreground toward the warm, glowing sunset and the bridge in the distance feels like finding a steady, comforting light in the middle of uncertainty before a storm. I hope this photograph offers viewers a quiet moment to breathe and find tranquility.
In your view, what role does photography play in today’s world?
In today's fast-paced era of short-form videos and information overload—especially with the widespread accessibility of smartphones—photography has become a universal language available to everyone. In fact, this winning piece was captured spontaneously on a smartphone during my travels. I believe the most important role of contemporary photography is no longer about competing over expensive gear, but rather reminding us to slow down and keep our eyes open to the beauty around us. It transforms ordinary, everyday moments into timeless visual memories, transcending language barriers to create emotional resonance with people around the globe.
Editor’s Note
Between Light and Silence gains its tension from the contrast between a place associated with public celebration and a moment of near-emptiness. The dark foliage is both a practical response to difficult light and an expressive frame around the luminous horizon.
That a mobile phone was used matters less than the photographer's attention to timing and perspective. The image makes a persuasive case for observation as a core photographic skill.
Follow the Photographer
Guan-Wei Chen (陳冠瑋) is a digital content and visual creator based in Taiwan, currently studying in the Department of Multimedia and Game Development and Application at Hungkuang University. Beyond documentary photography, he runs his own digital media channel, "阿瑋 R-WEI," and hosts a podcast. He is passionate about capturing and sharing unique moments from everyday life through lenses, sound, and multimedia storytelling.
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rwei074
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwei074
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@rwei074
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rwei074
About the World Grand Prix Photography Awards
The World Grand Prix Photography Awards (WGPPA) is an international photography competition recognising creative achievement across photographic disciplines. Its winning works and selected editorial interviews, published through WODACC, offer photographers opportunities to present both their images and the ideas behind them to a wider audience. For emerging and established photographers considering international awards, these published winner stories provide concrete examples of how creative work can be showcased beyond the award announcement.
Explore the World Grand Prix Photography Awards: https://www.wgppa.com/
