YK

Singapore-based street photographer and self-taught creative YK takes you through his journey from shooting city architecture on an iPhone 4 to becoming one of Asia's most followed photographers. With over a million Instagram followers and clients including Adidas, Louis Vuitton, Porsche, and Apple, YK gives a cinematic, story-driven talk about learning to see the details others walk past, and building a global creative career on curiosity.

YK leads participants through the streets of Minneapolis, training their eyes to notice the details, shadows, and fleeting moments that most people walk past. Followed by an editing session where YK shares his process, and secrets in Adobe Lightroom, so participants can fine-tune their images together. In collaboration with Adobe.

Breaking down his instinctive but structured approach to street photography, YK teaches participants how to read an environment, anticipate a moment before it happens, and compose on the spot. He also demonstrates how thoughtful editing can elevate an image, using colour, contrast and tone to refine the authenticity of the moment. Drawing on his signature cinematic and moody visual style, this session shows that great street photography is part patience, part preparation, with a little bit of luck. In collaboration with Adobe.

Join YK in this 30-minute power editing session where he shows participants some of his favorite go-to edits in Adobe Lightroom. If you wonder, "How does he do that?" this is your chance for a behind the scenes look—topics like color, saturation, perspective, masking and getting rid of distractions. Not to be missed! In collaboration with Adobe.

A forward-looking celebration of New York street photography in 2026, exploring how today's creators are documenting the city differently while honoring its cultural memory. The conversation covers the influence of 90s film aesthetics, street photography as a cultural archive, building a recognizable voice, and translating personal work into sustainable opportunities.

Alex moderates a forward-looking celebration of New York street photography in 2026, exploring how today's creators are documenting the city differently while honoring its cultural memory. The conversation covers the influence of 90s film aesthetics, street photography as a cultural archive, building a recognizable voice, and translating personal work into sustainable opportunities.

YK films a series of short how-to videos at specific locations around Minneapolis before the festival, pinned in the MODE app. Attendees follow the map, find the spots, and use YK's tutorials to recreate the image or put their own spin on it, without YK needing to be present. A city-wide, self-guided photography challenge that will turn Minneapolis into a classroom.

YK films a series of short how-to videos at specific locations around Minneapolis before the festival, pinned in the MODE app. Attendees follow the map, find the spots, and use YK's tutorials to recreate the image or put their own spin on it, without YK needing to be present. A city-wide, self-guided photography challenge that will turn Minneapolis into a classroom.

YK films a series of short how-to videos at specific locations around Minneapolis before the festival, pinned in the MODE app. Attendees follow the map, find the spots, and use YK's tutorials to recreate the image or put their own spin on it, without YK needing to be present. A city-wide, self-guided photography challenge that will turn Minneapolis into a classroom.