Though Su Yen Chae was inspired to pursue photography after seeing an exhibition by photojournalist Steve McCurry, her own work owes more to the pure invention of painting---her chosen medium for almost a decade before she started taking pictures. Yet while her images often have a jarringly surreal quality, they address some of the same issues a reality-based photographer like McCurry would take on.

Part of Chae’s MFA thesis at the University of Pennsylvania, the project for which these photographs were made “is about capturing moments of emotional crisis and social disconnection in everyday life,” she says. Clearly there is also some dark humor involved.

Usually shot with a Canon EOS 5D, Chae’s work relies on careful styling and controlled lighting, either from Lowell DP hot lights or Profoto strobes. (Five years of experience in Web design “has made me comfortable with digital photography and retouching,” she says.) But developing meaningful “themes” is as important to Chae as acquiring technical skills, and that effort has been facilitated by thesis advisor Gabriel Martinez and a recent critique with visiting artist-photographer Justine Kurland of Yale MFA stardom.

“Kurland’s critique was an especially important moment for me,” says Chae, who plans to incorporate elements of her Korean cultural background into the ongoing series. “It really widened my eyes about photography, and specifically my own work.”

---Russell Hart