Feb 17, 2026
I love this first chapter, it's funny in the places it wants to be and serious/atmospheric when it needs to be! The way you paint scenery as if it's a static shot, a memory of the past, is utterly beautiful.
The parts where you focused on him taking a photo and immediately disregarding it are also a great way to reflect how the character is feeling about his circumstances.
I love how the camera plays a crucial role in the message that perhaps there is more to what he wants than can be seen, almost as if the audience is only looking through one "lens…" his. I love the constant reframing of the narrational lens into the past, almost as if all his best moments are left there. All of this creates a wonderful, alarming and yet familiar atmosphere that lets your story breathe.
A great first chapter, keep up the work, and I look forward to reading more and seeing how his lens changes throughout the story.
