Brassaï, originally from Hungary but based in Paris, is best known for his beautiful and mysterious series Paris de Nuit (Paris by Night). He had the rare fortune of living and working in the same era—and even the same city—as modern art legends like Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. Being surrounded by such creative energy must’ve had a huge impact on him, and eventually led him to find his own voice: photographing the Parisian night.

His work speaks to me, especially as someone who’s starting to explore night photography more seriously. There’s something incredibly rich and cinematic about how Brassaï captured the city after dark. He wasn’t chasing perfect exposures or technical sharpness—he was chasing mood, mystery, and atmosphere.

What stands out most to me is the way he used shadows and light. In a time when most photography books talk about getting the “correct” exposure, Brassaï reminds me that darkness can be just as powerful as light. Underexposure isn’t necessarily a mistake—it can actually add depth, emotion, and a sense of the unknown. His night scenes often feel like stills from a dream: foggy streets, glowing lamps, blurred figures moving through the city.

In fact, his work is what encouraged me to start my own blue hour series. That in-between moment—just after sunset, before night fully falls—has a kind of softness and emotional tension I’ve always been drawn to. Inspired by Brassaï’s approach, I’m learning to let go of the need for perfect clarity and instead focus on feeling and tone.

Brassaï’s Paris isn’t just a place—it’s a mood. And that’s what I want to explore in my own photography too. Not just what a city looks like at night, but what it feels like.

中文版本：

布拉赛（Brassaï）是匈牙利出生、定居巴黎的摄影师。他最为人熟知的作品，是那组神秘而迷人的《夜之巴黎》（Paris de Nuit）系列。在他生活的年代，正好与毕加索、米罗等艺术巨匠们同处一个创作高峰期。身处那样一个艺术氛围浓厚的巴黎，布拉赛无疑受到了许多启发，最终走出自己的风格——用镜头记录这座城市的夜晚。

最近我开始尝试夜间摄影，所以看到布拉赛的作品时，特别有共鸣。他镜头下的夜晚不追求“正确”的曝光或者技术上的完美，而是追求氛围和情绪。他的影像中，光与影的关系非常微妙，常常在模糊与浓重的黑影中，展现出一种朦胧又强烈的城市气息。

这让我意识到，所谓曝光不足，并不总是错误。有时候，保留一点黑暗和不确定，反而能营造出更有张力的画面。布拉赛的照片就像一场梦中的漫步——有路灯的微光，有雾，有模糊的身影，有沉默的街道。那种含蓄、诗意而略带神秘感的风格，非常打动我。

其实，我现在正在拍摄的 blue hour系列，就是受他的启发。那是黄昏刚落、夜色尚未完全降临的过渡时段，天色呈现出一种冷静、深邃的蓝。我一直很喜欢这种微妙的情绪，而布拉赛的作品给了我勇气去拥抱画面中的不完美，专注于影像的感受而不是技术的控制。

在布拉赛的镜头里，巴黎不只是一个地理概念，而是一种情绪的载体。这也是我想尝试在自己的摄影中探索的：不是拍清楚一个城市长什么样，而是拍出它在某个时刻给你的感觉。