I found a unique photograph by Fred Cray

As a beginner in photography, I’ve read many photobooks for the past two months. I want to learn how other photographers’ vantage points and train my aesthetic. 

Last week a friend recommended Steve McCurry’s Master of Photography online courses. I look at it and have no interest in taking that course. Instead, I borrowed some photobooks from the library also including some from Stephen Shore. In this book, Stories and Dreams, portraits of childhood, I found a printed 4x6 printed photograph, very unique, and I could not tell what it is at first.

The photo is dark overall. Most of the upper half is nearly dark, with stacked chairs on the floor if look closer, and a seemingly an open door beside it. In the lower half sees an oval-shaped yellow light—like a spotlight. Surrounding this light are many small, curved and moving green marks scattered on the floor. The green dots look like scattered light from a disco ball.

The scene feels abstract and atmospheric to me. 

On the back of the photograph, it is printed - Unique Photograph, Fred Cray.

I learned through online research that the American artist Fred Cray has left over 26,000 printed photographs in New York and around the world since 2008.

I emailed and thanked Fred for this unique gift. 

I told him that I see the oval-shaped spotlight as the goals I want to accomplish in 2026 - The green dots outside the spotlight are distractions, while the green dots within it are the ones I will focus on.

I’ve set my goals for 2026:

1. On habit, I want to read the Bible, the first thing in the morning, instead of reaching for my phone (I hate myself checking updates & likes on social media, I want to fix it this year)
2. On photography, I want to improve my practice by pushing myself to talk to strangers and make portraits of them.
3. On marathon, I am running the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October 2026.

This photograph serves as a reminder—especially a mental one—to keep my goals within the spotlight and not let them drift into the noise around it.

I emailed Fred and he replied to me later:

I said I have nothing in return, but can send you a photography I shot earlier in December 2025. When I was taking the photo below, it was snowing heavily and the children were making snowballs on the playfield.

You may have a different judgement on Fred’s imaginative photograph. 

To me, it is a gift — and a reminder.

A reminder to stay grounded as I work toward personal breakthroughs this year, and not to lose sight of my original intentions.

I hope this reflection also finds you where you are, and that in 2026 you continue to focus on what matters to you, protect your attention, and let go of unnecessary distractions.

end.