"Fiat Lux"—Latin for "Let there be light”—tries to depict the precise moment of transition from the abyss to the awakening of the soul.

I was partially inspired by the fall of Sophia in the Gnostic tradition. It captures the ethereal spark of divine wisdom descending into the material realm, an accidental yet transformative plunge that ignited the consciousness of humanity.

Visually, this photograph is an intentional ode to the master of shadow, Caravaggio. I’ve always been captivated by his use of tenebrism, or the violent, dramatic contrast between radiant figures and an unforgiving, ink-black background.

By isolating the subjects (in this case, my cousin and nephew’s hands) in an absolute void, I basically tried to strip away the distractions of the mundane world. Because it symbolizes the dark primordial soup; the dark matter of space before the universe existed; as well as the nothingness in the mind or soul before humans were “gifted” consciousness.

The light doesn’t just illuminate. It pretty much defines existence itself.