LEO JIANG

Photography

Who is outside
the frame?

I began by chasing the right light and a perfect composition. Now I also ask whose stories are missing, and how a photograph can make them seen and remembered.

New York Protest

Costumes, guitars, and many voices.

Photographed during The School of The New York Times photojournalism program. I arrived with a story in mind, then learned to make room for the people my camera actually met: protesters, a costumed participant, and a guitarist nearby.

A costume in the crowd
Color and conversation
A guitarist beside the protest
Conversations on the sidewalk
Details of a costume
A pause at the doorway
At the edge of the crowd
A sign held beside a police car
Among hats and umbrellas

Jingmai Mountain

Tea, devotion, flame.

In Yunnan’s Blang villages, I turned toward the hands and daily work that can fall outside the record. This collection brings those gestures together with village life, forest paths, and moments from the fieldwork and exhibition.

Explore the curated exhibition: Hands Pass the Touch

Hands and sour tea
An afternoon in the village
A conversation during fieldwork
Mist in the forest
Knowledge held in the hands
A hand among the tea leaves
Objects of everyday life
Photographs among the trees
Making room for a shared story
Images and notes on the table
Looking at the exhibition
Forest in black and white
Steps through the trees
Leaves on the stone path
Growth between the stones
Looking up through the canopy
A bright leaf after the rain
Branches in the forest
Weaving a ritual object
Work beside the hearth
Cooking over flame
Fire in the kitchen
A woven bag, held with care
Preparing tea
Threads at the loom

Tennis Team

The moments that deserve to be seen.

As a JV player and team photographer, I documented the work behind each match: practice, sideline conversations, and the team huddle. These photographs make space for teammates whose effort deserves attention regardless of the scoreboard.

Reaching for the ball
Watching from the sidelines
Tracking the next shot
Under the high ball
A pause between points
At the net
A running forehand
Between points, together
Preparing to serve
Watching the court
The team huddle
Following the bounce
Ready for the next point
The ball overhead

Chinatown & Angel Island

Neighborhoods and crossings.

Storefronts, street life, ferry journeys, and quiet views across the bay: photographs of communities and the places around them.

A neighborhood in motion
At the fruit stand
Chinatown street corner
Figures behind the window
Color at the storefront
An afternoon on the sidewalk
A quiet moment on the ferry
Picnic tables by the bay
The bay through the branches
Facing the open water
Passengers and the distant skyline
A pier in the mist
Street life in Chinatown
Lanterns above the alley

Architecture & City Light

Chasing the golden hour.

Streets, bridges, and buildings shaped by changing light. The search for composition was where I began; learning to notice what enters the frame keeps me looking.

A tower after dark
A street beneath the evening sky
Golden light between buildings
The city and the waterfront
Beneath the bridge
A pagoda among city buildings
A bridge between buildings
Theater lights at dusk

Everyday Encounters

Small scenes, close attention.

Musicians, passing strangers, temple details, and everyday journeys. A collection of moments that caught my eye along the way.

A city crossing
Rows of sake barrels
Light along the sidewalk
A quiet portrait by a cross
Sunset from the waterfront
A guardian at the temple gate
A statement on the sidewalk
Late light on a city street
Motion beneath the trees
A pause beneath the tree
A musician in sunlight
Sunlight across the water
Cable cars on a steep street
An afternoon by the ocean
Descending the red staircase

2026 · Recognition

Sharing the work.

At the Contra Costa County Photography Showcases, my work received three Gold Awards and two Silver Awards in the ages 14–18 category.

Exhibiting photographs has helped me think about how individual images become a story when they are seen together.

Co-founder & secretary

A place to practice
and share.

I co-founded the Monte Vista High School Photography Club. Our 40-member community meets for lessons, critiques, workshops, and opportunities to exhibit.

The School of The New York Times

In the Photojournalism as Art summer program in 2025, I explored portraiture, street photography, and documentary storytelling.