Dazed & Confused Korea

Apr 2026

In a striking editorial feature for Dazed & Confused Korea titled The Place Where The Eye Is Fixed, the boundaries of portraiture are pushed through a visceral fusion of high-fashion styling and minimalist composition. Photographer Pakbae expertly harnesses the precision of studio strobe lighting to transform a standard portrait into a provocative narrative piece, centering the gaze of model Juhan Yeon. The imagery eschews traditional beauty standards in favor of a raw, unconventional aesthetic, characterized by the subject’s chaotic, spiked hair and the sharp, industrial placement of a studded heart-shaped pendant directly across the eye. This deliberate obscuring of vision serves as a bold creative choice, forcing the viewer to confront the interplay between metallic textures and the subject's intense facial presence. By setting this composition against an uncompromisingly saturated red backdrop, the project leans into a sense of editorial minimalism that feels both clinical and deeply personal. Every element, from the metallic chain draped across the forehead to the tight framing of the subject’s expression, works in tandem to create a visual tension typical of contemporary magazine media. The resulting aesthetic is one of intentional disruption, demonstrating how precise technical execution can elevate a simple studio shoot into a compelling, highly stylized work of conceptual visual media that challenges the traditional relationship between the subject and the lens.

Editorial, Vertical

Studio strobe

Magazines, Media & Entertainment