The photograph i Look at was of Bryant Park taking my Jeff Chien.The photo can be used in an ad to show one of the many beautiful parks of new york. This photo conveys the movement of New York by showing the people walking in different directions and also a place of relaxation has you see some people on the left of the photo siting and enjoy the day.He use selective focus to emphasis the beauty of the park by sharping the park and the people are not in focus.The photo has any impact of the movement of living in the city.
As you note, Jeff Liao’s New York is inhabited. He likes to show people moving through a space.
the photo online is so small it is hard for me to tell much about the focus. I do think he uses perspective to organize the picture with the paths on both side going back in space creating in inviting sense of depth.