My portfolio, “Silence of a Bustling Mind,” explores the moments of solitude and ponder that exist in a bustling scene. I was inspired to mix elements of street and photojournalism photography by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Brassaï. Removed from the streets of Paris, Hong Kong and the US are individuals engulfed by the chaos of the world — a world obsessed with movement. This project spotlights the toxic productivity culture that exists in societies by capturing the brief and distinct instances of quietness.

This investigation consists of two years of experimentation, roaming through cities in search of unique moments of silence. Using compositional and lightning techniques, I exhibit the aura of the individual. I began including physical borders between the camera and the subject, conveying my impression of a disconnect in society. Instead of my removed outlook, I began connecting with the individuals themselves to capture a more sincere portrayal of character, moving away from long lenses to intimate ones. The investigation consists of careful post-work, evoking a deeper sense of solitude.

Advanced Placement® Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5. Miffy not only received the top score of 5, but was also one of only 337 students (amounting to just 0.77% of 2023 AP 2-D Art and Design Exam takers) from around the world to earn every point possible on this challenging, college-level examination.