My favourite photographer

Street photography and political movements... the ultimate combo

Author

Ubyssey Photo
May 14, 2025

IT’S TIME TO STALK RANDOM PEOPLE ON INSTAGRAM. Not really. Well, maybe just their work.

TC Lin is currently my favourite photographer whose work I found through the Nat Geo YourShot instagram. He mainly shoots street photography but publishes a mix of photo stories as well.

Lin immigrated to Taiwan as a young adult in the late 1980s, around the time that the Republic of China’s martial law was lifted and the following politically charged aftermath. He has incredible work documenting student protests, or dramatic moments from daily life through his street photography. Also, did I mention that he has worked under Edward Yang (Taiwanese New Wave Cinema legend)!?! 

Anyway, I highly recommend looking at his work!

‘In a nutshell, who you are determines what you notice, the questions you ask, your doubts and inspirations. All this is constantly changing, and simply saying ‘I’m going to shoot different photos now’ is an oversimplification of that process. You don't see things as they are; you see things as you are.” — Quote from Lin’s blog As you are

Photo from Lin’s series “Army Days.” Two year military service was mandatory for all Taiwanese boys at the time, so Lin (illegally) snuck in his disposable camera to document the experience.

A recent photo from Lin’s street photography account. Look at how vibrant the colours are!

First time contributing? Start here!

1. Check out these guides to the Ubyssey photo section and what makes a good photo.

2. To claim a pitch, reply to this email and wait for confirmation from me that it's still available.

3. If you need to borrow a camera, let me know when you sign up for a pitch.

4. Take as many photos as you think fit the assignment, then select the best 5–10. Feel free to use editing software as needed (and let me know if you need Lightroom access).

5. Send photos in JPG format and make sure each file is between 1–3MB.

6. Name the photos as follows: YYYYMMDD_first initial_last name_pitch_file number (e.g., 20210908 i falsetti sky train 1)

7. For coverage of people and events, please provide a brief caption to go alongside each photo.

8. Email photos in a folder to [email protected]. If sharing via Google Drive, please make sure I have access!

Photo pitches

Please send in all photos by 12 p.m. on the deadline (unless the event you are covering is happening that day). If you need to borrow a camera, let me know when you sign up for a pitch.

News

  1. Take a new shot of the AMS offices. Try to take this from a new perspective or creative angle while still showcasing the AMS sign. This photo will be used to for the AMS 2025/26 budget breakdown and potentially other related articles in the future. Deadline: May 18

  2. The Gordon B. Shrum Building is opening its doors! Take a photo of the new building from the north side of the bus loop. It should be a relatively simple image, just showcasing the building for an article about the building’s overview. Deadline: May 20

Photo

For pride month, we’ll be working on our first photo story for this year! The topic will be “passing” referring to how some Queer people are able to pass as straight or cisgendered. We will explore the complications of this and re-examine common contemporary queer narratives through interviews.

I am looking for 1-2 photographers to work on this project with me. Whether you are interested in taking photos, conducting interviews, writing, or all three, it would be great to have some extra hands! Email me if you are interested!

Happy May!
Sidney