This isn’t the kind of photography I usually write about—mainly because Ryan McGinley’s style feels quite far from my own. Known for his raw, free-spirited portraits of youth and fleeting moments, McGinley is a New York–based photographer who rose to fame in the early 2000s. His work is spontaneous, emotional, and often messy in the most intentional way. That’s not how I usually shoot, but maybe that’s exactly why I find it interesting.

McGinley often works with Polaroids and point-and-shoot cameras, embracing imperfections and rarely editing his photos. That rawness comes through—it’s unfiltered, but never careless. His images feel honest, almost like visual journal entries.

As someone who shoots a lot of film, I appreciate that mindset. I’ve always believed photography is more about seeing than fixing. While editing can polish things, it’s the moment you press the shutter that really matters. McGinley’s work reminds me of that—and also makes me want to loosen up a bit more.

Next time, I think I’ll try shooting more with Polaroid. Not for control, but for the unpredictability—and maybe for a little freedom, too.

中文版本：

这不是我平时会写的摄影类型，主要是因为 Ryan McGinley 的风格和我自己的作品相差挺远。他是一位来自纽约的摄影师，以充满自由感和青春气息的影像而闻名。他的照片常常带着一种不加修饰的情绪，既随性又真诚。这种创作方式不是我惯常的路径，但正因为如此，反而让我觉得格外值得去了解。

McGinley 经常使用拍立得或傻瓜相机拍摄，而且几乎不怎么修图。他的作品不完美，但那种“不完美”本身就很迷人。每张照片看上去像是从某段生活中随手翻出的日记页，有一种真切的质感。

我自己平时拍很多胶片，也一直觉得摄影本质上是“看”而不是“修”。后期当然有它的意义，但真正的重点，还是在你按下快门的那一刻。McGinley 的作品再次提醒了我这一点，也让我开始想尝试一些更自由的方式。

接下来我可能会多玩玩拍立得。不是为了掌控画面，而是为了享受那种不可预知的自由感。