# Smoky Supernatural Photography The Gifted Paul Phung Delves into the Unknown By Tiana Reid | Published 2010-08-12 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-phung References: [dazeddigital](http://www.dazeddigital.com/view/default.aspx?Category=27&ArticleID=8111&PageNum=1) & [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/rephotography/) Photographer Paul Phung delves into the unknown with his [surreal, smoke-filled shots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1). His [sinister photographs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/still-life-1) take on an otherworldly quality, perhaps in part due to his favorite photography setting, which is the woods near his home. This 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him. Paul Phung hopes to one day make enough money to [travel the world for his photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/all-within-the-detour). To boot, Dazed Digital writer Lucia Davies compared the up-and-coming photographer to famed Ryan McGinley -- not too shabby. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.7/10 - Popularity: 97% | Activity: 95% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Surreal Photography:** Capturing unique and unconventional photos through the use of imagination and creativity. - **Nature-inspired Editing:** Using the natural environment as inspiration for photo editing and manipulation. - **Dark Art:** Exploring the themes of darkness, mystique and the unknown through various art forms. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Photography:** Exploring new, unconventional ways to take and edit photos, specializing in surreal, unconventional themes. - **Art:** The exploration of unconventional themes in art- from literature to paintings to photography. - **Film and TV:** Pushing the boundaries of storytelling by exploring unconventional themes, atmosphere and imagery in TV and film. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Public Art Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paul-anthony-smith.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Otherwordly Art Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/william-monk.md) - [British Youth-Culture Photography Books](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/home-and-away.md) - [Blurry Abstract Photography Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/optical-allusion.md) - [Ethereal Light Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peter-kovacsy.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Smoky Tea Fragrances](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smoky-soul.md) - [Warped Dynamic New-Gen Eyewear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vern-morph-and-form.md)