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Tianrun Shi
USA
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"I transform ordinary cityscapes into surreal, thought-provoking compositions."
Tianrun Shi’s series of color infrared photographs offers a unique and immersive perspective on the relationship between landscapes and urban spaces. Inspired by the discontinued Kodak Aerochrome film, he reimagines familiar cityscapes in surreal hues, transforming ordinary environments into visually striking and thought-provoking compositions.
The Griffith Observatory | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
One of the most famous landmarks in Los Angeles. Built in 1935, the observatory is equipped with telescopes that can spot the sun's spectrum. It is the ideal subject for the topic.
Kodak Aerochrome was originally developed for military reconnaissance, allowing the detection of enemy bases and vehicles. The film rendered anything reflecting infrared light in pinkish-red, making it useful for identifying cleared trees or artificially camouflaged structures. Tianrun Shi draws inspiration from this history, exploring how an obsolete technology can be repurposed for artistic expression.
Japanese Garden | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
Being in a series of 2 with the Chinese Garden, the series brings diversity into the whole 10-piece. Asian culture, especially Japanese culture is known for its implications, the photograph portrays the beauty of implication from a different angle.
A significant influence on Tianrun Shi’s work is The Enclave by Richard Mosse, a documentary shot on 16mm Aerochrome. The film captures the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, using infrared imagery to expose both an unseen spectrum of light and an often-overlooked humanitarian crisis. Mosse’s ability to merge the imperceptible with harsh reality profoundly impacted him, shaping his approach to photography.
"I revive the lost visual language of Aerochrome through meticulous process."
To recreate the aesthetic of Aerochrome, Tianrun Shi employs the trichrome process, a meticulous technique that simulates the color infrared effect. This method involves capturing three separate black-and-white images through red, green, and blue filters and then combining them to produce a full-color composite. By using infrared-sensitive film and filters that block visible light, he achieves the surreal visual quality reminiscent of Aerochrome.
Chinese Garden | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
Being in a series of 2 with the Japanese Garden, the series brings diversity into the whole 10-piece. The Chinese culture is similar to Japanese, but there is still enough contrast to tell them apart. Chinese gardens excel at creating artistic effects that reflect profound philosophical concepts, cultural consciousness, and aesthetic tastes of ancient China in limited space.
There is a rainbow.
Is there a rainbow | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
Through the trichrome process and infrared-sensitive film techniques, he revives a lost visual language, transporting viewers into a dreamlike realm. The manipulation of infrared light challenges conventional perceptions, transforming familiar landscapes into otherworldly compositions that encourage deeper engagement with the environment.
“I’m drawn to the dynamic interplay between organic and architectural elements, especially the unexpected coexistence, conflict, or fusion of nature and architecture in urban environments.”
"Beyond its visual appeal, I think infrared photography serves as a bridge between reality and abstraction, making the invisible visible. At the very moment of capturing a thoughtful photograph, the three-dimensional world we inhabit collapses into a two-dimensional plane. Therefore, the choice of what to 'flatten' is of utmost importance. By shifting familiar landscapes into unfamiliar compositions, my work blurs the lines between reality and imagination, encouraging viewers to perceive the world—not just as it is, but as it could be perceived through an alternative, more introspective lens."
Tianrun Shi’s work explores the intersection of reality and abstraction, making the invisible visible. The act of capturing an image collapses the three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional plane, forcing careful decisions about what to “flatten.” By reconfiguring landscapes into unfamiliar arrangements, he blurs the boundaries between reality and imagination, prompting viewers to reconsider how they perceive the world.
DTLA | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
The skyline of Los Angeles downtown.
As technology continues to evolve, he reflects on the changing role of photography in contemporary culture. With smartphones and digital editing tools making photography more accessible than ever, traditional analog methods have become increasingly rare. However, he finds purpose in the physical chemistry of film—where light interacts with silver halides to produce an image—using this process to create a deeper, more immersive photographic experience.
San Francisco | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
The city that I love the most. The world-famous Golden Gate Bridge is in the front and the whole city in the back. Bay Bridge and Coit Tower are also in the frame.
A central theme in Tianrun Shi’s work is the dynamic interplay between organic and architectural elements. Despite meticulous urban planning, nature inevitably finds a way to reclaim spaces—whether through creeping vines, shifting light, or the gradual decay of structures. This ongoing tension between control and chaos serves as a recurring motif in his imagery.
On clear days, the Pacific Ocean is visible directly from high points in downtown Los Angeles.
What does the sea look like | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
"Photography captures the collective consciousness of individuals through immersive experience."
The San Gabriel Mountains | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
The great San Gabriel Mountains.
Infrared photography amplifies this contrast, heightening the tension between natural and built environments. By altering how landscapes are perceived, his images challenge assumptions about space, nature, and urbanization, creating an immersive and contemplative experience for the viewer.
This photograph depicts the time elapsed during the Trichrome process. People in different colors represent their movements in different channels.
The People | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
Ultimately, Tianrun Shi’s work seeks to inspire a renewed appreciation for the unseen. By shifting visual expectations, these photographs encourage curiosity and introspection, urging viewers to explore not only what is visible, but also the hidden layers of the world around them.
Untitled | Color Photography
$7,999
40 X 80
The tranquil and serene scene of the fountain feels both familiar and unfamiliar.
"Nature inevitably finds a way to permeate meticulously designed spaces."
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