Colin Yuan (袁思毅) is a Chinese-American artist located in Chicago, Illinois. He is currently a junior at the University of Chicago majoring in Economics and Philosophy. His photographs have won national awards from the acclaimed Scholastics Art & Writing Awards and are featured in Magnum photojournalist Susan Meiselas’ book, Eyes Open. Additionally, he was named as a Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2021 semifinalist. His documentary, The Offline Experiment (2020), has won 10+ accolades from film festivals including the Los Angeles Film Festival and Paris Film Festival.
gear i use
Canon 6D Mk ii
This enthusiast/professional camera produced by Canon is my primary camera for serious photoshoots and filmmaking. The reason - it is an absolute workhorse; it’s never failed on me when I’m in rugged environments, and always reliable and ready when I need it.
The lens I use with the Canon 6D Mk II are the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens, EF 50mm f/ 1.8 STM, and EF 85mm f/1.8 USM.
Leica q2
As a more compact camera, the Leica Q2 is my go-to choice for documenting leisure travels, everyday moments, and street photography. The Q2 is equipped with a fixed 28mm Summilux f/ 1.7 lens that always produce crystal sharp images, even when wide open at f/ 1.7.
Canon Ae-1 Program
Often times, I will retreat to the Canon AE-1 to escape from my fast-paced and often distressful life. As a film camera with little automatic features, I am forced to slow down when making a picture, and engage fully with the scene. One of the most popular cameras of its time, the AE-1 is fantastic for anyone looking to purchase an affordable film camera.
My favorite film to use is Kodak’s Portra 400.