Busy streets captured in an 8-second frame.

Each of Nicolas Ruel's photographs is exposed for 8 seconds. The photographer explains that this number is analogous to the infinity symbol (∞), thereby conveying endlessness in his layered cityscapes.

Wandering from place to place, Nicolas captures moments of bustling cities, from train stations to churches, libraries, stadiums... anywhere people are gathering. He sets up his tripod and takes a 4-second exposure in one direction, then changes the camera angle while the shutter is still open and continues with a 4-second exposure in the other direction to create an 8-second two-dimensional document.

Long exposures capture movement through shadows. Film stacking, on the other hand, blends two separate scenes together. Combining these techniques gives the photograph depth, allowing the viewer to remain stationary while still having a panoramic view of their surroundings.

Nicolas is more drawn to the hustle and bustle of human life than to the tranquility of nature. Possessing a unique artistic eye, Nicolas portrays familiar locations such as New York's Times Square or London's Oxford Circus intersection with a dynamic and vibrant perspective.

Nicolas travels the world to capture the exhilarating moments of life. Starting with 6 cities, his collection now includes 68 names, and he's aiming for 100. However, he doesn't want to limit himself to any one number; his goal is infinity.

Bo Di