Once on the Edge: Inside Yuanfeng Mao’s Award-Winning Work

I am honoured to have been awarded Category Winner of the Year with my photo “Once on the Edge”. The Edge is the tallest observatory in New York City. When I was on the deck taking pictures of the streets and skyscrapers, I couldn’t help but wonder how people on the ground were looking back at me.

That thought inspired me to plan for a moon alignment with the Edge. Eventually, I was lucky enough to capture it under a crystal-clear sky. There are so many amazing photographers and incredible image entries, so I am truly honoured and excited to be awarded as a category winner.

I keep a collection of my personal favourite photos on my hard drive. When preparing for a competition, I start by selecting the category and then ranking the images that are most relevant. Before submission, I carefully evaluate each photo against the EPA’s criteria: Originality, Creativity, Technical Execution, Subject Matter/Relevance to the Category, and Overall Impression.

I bought my first camera in 2017 with the simple intention of documenting my travels.

I’m deeply passionate about architecture, cityscapes, and the interplay between light and structure. With a background in engineering, I approach architecture from a geometric and organised perspective.

My camera setting is adaptive. For architecture, I usually prioritise Aperture mode, as it allows me to control depth of field while adapting naturally to changing light conditions.

The Architecture of Light and Emotion.

The most challenging part was planning and timing—waiting for the exact moon alignment—combined with the unpredictability of weather conditions, visibility, and cloud coverage. On top of that, achieving the right exposure balance was critical to preserve every pixel of detail.

New York City is constantly evolving with the vision of so many talented architects. Its unique forms and structures are a constant source of inspiration for me.

Louis-Philippe Provost. He is a talented fine art architecture photographer. His style transforms buildings into works of art.

Just focus on your passion and develop your own style of photography. With devotion and perseverance, you will get there.

Do not overlook the basics. Spend time understanding your camera settings, the histogram, underlying logic, lighting, perspective, and geometry. Take it step by step—don’t rush.

Post-processing is where I recover the fine details of a photo, correct the white balance and perspective, and refine it into my own style through careful adjustments of lighting and colour.

AI is a powerful tool that can accelerate skill-building and post-processing, but the soul of a photograph always comes from the photographer.

I want to travel to every corner of the world’s great cities—such as Tokyo, Dubai, Chicago, London, and Chongqing—and use my camera to frame them through unique light and colour.