The photo series "Sniper," by British filmmaker Matt Hulse, was shot in North Korea, Hong Kong and Mongolia. The images were taken from high vantage points using a phone camera and a clip-on telescopic lens.
The photo series "Sniper," by British filmmaker Matt Hulse, was shot in North Korea, Hong Kong and Mongolia. The images were taken from high vantage points using a phone camera and a clip-on telescopic lens.
Matt Hulse
The Pyongyang photos were all captured from the Yanggakdo International Hotel, one of the few North Korean hotels that foreign visitors are permitted to stay in.
The Pyongyang photos were all captured from the Yanggakdo International Hotel, one of the few North Korean hotels that foreign visitors are permitted to stay in.
Matt Hulse
Hulse lives in Beijing and regularly travels to North Korea as a tour guide. He captured the eerie Pyongyang shots during his downtime at the hotel.
Hulse lives in Beijing and regularly travels to North Korea as a tour guide. He captured the eerie Pyongyang shots during his downtime at the hotel.
Matt Hulse
Despite the well-documented restrictions facing foreign visitors to North Korea, Hulse says that he didn't break any rules capturing the shots. "There's nothing stopping people taking photos from their hotel windows," he said. "And if had seen me, they would just have thought, 'There's a guy with a phone taking photos of the beautiful city.'"
Despite the well-documented restrictions facing foreign visitors to North Korea, Hulse says that he didn't break any rules capturing the shots. "There's nothing stopping people taking photos from their hotel windows," he said. "And if had seen me, they would just have thought, 'There's a guy with a phone taking photos of the beautiful city.'"
Matt Hulse
Hulse admits that people's fascination with North Korea changes the way they interpret the images. "There's nothing really going on (in the photos) other than what's in the viewer's mind," he said. "(But) everyone who comes to the photographs is bringing a whole load of (their own) references and associations.
Hulse admits that people's fascination with North Korea changes the way they interpret the images. "There's nothing really going on (in the photos) other than what's in the viewer's mind," he said. "(But) everyone who comes to the photographs is bringing a whole load of (their own) references and associations.
Matt Hulse
While most of the "Sniper" series was shot in urban areas, Hulse also included this image of a figure crossing the permafrost at the Potanin Glacier in Mongolia's Altai Mountains.
While most of the "Sniper" series was shot in urban areas, Hulse also included this image of a figure crossing the permafrost at the Potanin Glacier in Mongolia's Altai Mountains.
Matt Hulse
The filmmaker came up with the idea for the "Sniper" series after obtaining a clip-on telescopic lens in Hong Kong for less than $10.<br />
The filmmaker came up with the idea for the "Sniper" series after obtaining a clip-on telescopic lens in Hong Kong for less than $10.
Matt Hulse
The first shots in the series resulted from Hulse's "experiments" using the clip-on lens while on a balcony in Hong Kong's busy Kowloon district.
The first shots in the series resulted from Hulse's "experiments" using the clip-on lens while on a balcony in Hong Kong's busy Kowloon district.
Matt Hulse
The detachable telescopic lens flattens the perspective of the photos and creates their distinct circular frames.
The detachable telescopic lens flattens the perspective of the photos and creates their distinct circular frames.
Matt Hulse
Hulse spotted a man adjusting a TV aerial from the 18th floor of a one-room apartment in Hong Kong.
Hulse spotted a man adjusting a TV aerial from the 18th floor of a one-room apartment in Hong Kong.
Matt Hulse
A pedestrian is seen at the intersection of Parkes Street and Bowring Street in Hong Kong.
A pedestrian is seen at the intersection of Parkes Street and Bowring Street in Hong Kong.
Matt Hulse
Although he primarily sees himself as a filmmaker, Beijing-based Hulse says that he may take photography more seriously after the success of the "Sniper" series.
Although he primarily sees himself as a filmmaker, Beijing-based Hulse says that he may take photography more seriously after the success of the "Sniper" series.
Matt Hulse