Return of the Genius Photographer

“So, what brings you here today? I got sidetracked with all my curiosity,” Jung Woong finally asked after our conversation had gone on for a while.

Without missing a beat, I replied, “I want to observe you while you shoot.”

“Me?” He tilted his head in confusion.

“Yes, it’s necessary for my own work.”

His eyes filled with curiosity, as if he wanted to ask more, but he simply nodded. “Alright, we can talk about the details later. For now, I need to get started with the shoot.”

Just as he was about to lift his camera, something seemed to occur to him. “Wait, before we begin—everyone, gather around!”

At his command, the studio assistants turned their attention to him. He walked closer to me and, after glancing around, announced, “I was planning to introduce him soon anyway, and today feels like the right time. Everyone, this is my student, Nam Woojin.”

Then, as if passing a baton, he extended his hand toward me,

“Say a few words, will you?”

It was sudden, but I had no reason to refuse. It was a good opportunity to make myself known.

I gave Jung Woong a nod and looked around. “Hello, I’m Nam Woojin. I look forward to working with you all.”

As I bowed, the assistants took turns introducing themselves in return.

“Hello, I’m Jeon Jinsoo.”

“Hi, I’m Kim Youngsoo.”

I made sure to remember each face, meeting their eyes as they spoke. I noticed Minsoo avoiding my gaze, but I didn’t care in the slightest.

“Let’s leave the detailed introductions for later. For now, it’s enough that we’ve broken the ice,” Jung Woong added with a satisfied expression. “I hope we can all get along and help each other, just like today.”

Though his tone was light, I couldn’t help but feel like he was indirectly warning everyone not to play any power games with me. It seemed Minsoo got the message too, as he slouched even lower, practically sinking into himself.

“Alright, let’s get started with the shoot.”

With that, the mood in the studio shifted as the assistants busied themselves, and the atmosphere became much more serious.

“Place all the frames in the center,” Jung Woong directed, pointing to a spot. The assistants brought out several picture frames filled with various paintings, stacking them neatly in the center of the studio.

Jung Woong stood there, staring at the pile with a serious expression. I wondered what he was thinking.

“Bring the reflector closer,” he ordered.

An assistant grabbed a reflector, a small, bowl-shaped light fixture designed to cast a concentrated, intense beam. It created a high-contrast effect, where light and shadow were sharply defined, perfect for emphasizing certain subjects.

As the harsh light illuminated the frames, the distinction between lit and shadowed areas became stark. Yet, I couldn’t figure out what the intended subject was.

‘What’s he trying to capture?’

Just as that question crossed my mind,

Crash!

Without warning, Jung Woong stepped forward and began smashing the frames beneath his feet.

He stomped, shattered, ripped, and scattered the frames, moving with fierce, deliberate motions as if venting anger. The once neat arrangement of frames lay in ruins, light and shadow now chaotically intertwined.

His movements, though destructive, felt almost like art in themselves. As the frames crumbled, so did the light and shadows they once framed, melding into something entirely new with each kick.

I was stunned, watching this unfold for the first time, when someone quietly approached me.

“It’s your first time seeing him shoot, isn’t it?” The voice belonged to Jinsoo, the assistant who had introduced himself earlier. His large frame made him look imposing, but his tone was polite.

“He doesn’t usually shoot like this,” Jinsoo explained. “Today’s a special case.”

From his broad shoulders to his thick arms, I guessed he must’ve been an athlete at some point—perhaps a wrestler or boxer. The thought briefly crossed my mind as I nodded, acknowledging his comment.

“Jung Woong asked me to explain things to you, in case you were confused. Feel free to ask me anything, and I’ll do my best to answer.”

Despite his intimidating appearance, his manner was courteous. Since I already had plenty of questions, his timing couldn’t have been better.

“What exactly is he trying to capture?” I asked.

“This shoot is about Photographer Jung Woong’s past.”

“His past?”

“Yeah, he originally majored in painting before switching to photography.”

“Ah…” I nodded as understanding dawned on me.

Jung Woong wasn’t just photographing random objects. In line with the theme of a retrospective, he was capturing his life story. The frames symbolized his past as a painter. By smashing them, he was making a bold statement—severing ties with that chapter of his life and fully embracing his identity as a photographer.

I couldn’t help but be amazed by his audacity. To express his past in such a dramatic way—what an incredible approach.

“Impressive, isn’t it? Even after all these years learning under him, moments like this remind me I still have so much more to learn.”

It wasn’t just me who was moved by the sight. Jinsoo, standing beside me, was practically glowing with reverence as he watched Jung Woong at work.

Click!

Click!

Click!

The rhythmic sound of the camera’s shutter echoed through the room as Jung Woong, having set everything up, finally began to shoot.

Click!

Click!

Each click of the shutter felt like the culmination of a long process. His movements were almost indifferent, yet confident and forceful, as though the final outcome was already guaranteed to be remarkable.

Click!

Click!

Click!

And sure enough, each photo seemed to embody his deep conviction that photography was a form of self-reflection. The images were raw and powerful, revealing the essence of his philosophy.

“Wow… Watching him take photos always leaves me speechless,” Jinsoo murmured, his face a mixture of admiration and emotion. He looked like he was on the verge of tears.

Despite his rugged, tough appearance, Jinsoo was clearly a sensitive person. Standing next to him, I could feel the depth of his admiration for Jung Woong.

But while Jinsoo’s eyes were focused on the photos, mine were drawn to something else.

What captivated me wasn’t the photographs but Jung Woong himself.

As he photographed the remnants of broken frames, there was a deep, inexplicable sadness in his expression, as if he found no satisfaction in his work. Even though the images he captured were beautiful and masterful, he seemed… lonely.

His demeanor, so different from the work he was creating, was what truly held my attention.

It was as if this moment, this very scene, was the real reason I had come to watch him work.

‘This… this is it,’ I thought, suddenly realizing what I needed to capture.

The shoot continued for some time, with Jung Woong working with the energy of a man half his age. Even after such an intense session, he didn’t show a single sign of fatigue.

Once the shoot was finally over, he carefully reviewed the photos with a serious expression. I approached him, ready to express my gratitude.

“Thank you, photographer Jung Woong. That was an incredible shoot. It’s given me a lot to think about.”

I not only wanted to thank him for the inspiration but also to get his permission for what I was planning.

“Is that so? Then, have you decided what kind of photo you’ll be taking?” he asked.

“Yes, actually. There’s something I need your permission for.”

“Permission?” His eyes narrowed with curiosity.

I met his gaze directly and answered with confidence.

The photo I needed to take.

And the photo that Photographer Jung Woong couldn’t take was…

“For the exhibition, I want to submit a photo of you.”

It was photographer Jung Woong himself.

Jung Woong’s expression turned incredulous. “Me?”

“Yes.”

“So, you’re saying I can’t photograph myself?” His face, now filled with disappointment, seemed to ask if that was really all I could come up with.

“That’s little more than a play on words. Surely you know there are countless ways for a photographer to capture themselves?” he said, a touch of disdain in his voice.

Of course, I knew that. There were plenty of ways to take a self-portrait—whether by using a mirror or simply facing the camera and pressing the shutter. The concept of the ‘selfie’ was hardly new.

“I have to say, I’m a bit disappointed. There’s still time, so perhaps you should reconsider your approach.”

The interest on his face evaporated as quickly as it had come.

But if all I had in mind was something as simple as a selfie, I wouldn’t have brought this up in the first place.

“No, I’m sure of it. Once you see the photo, I’m certain you’ll understand,” I countered, holding my ground.

Jung Woong’s expression shifted, now one of mild disbelief. He couldn’t seem to fathom my confidence.

But still, his curiosity seemed piqued once more.

“Very well, you can photograph me. As long as you don’t interfere with my work, you’re free to shoot whenever you like. That shouldn’t be difficult,” he agreed, his skepticism still evident.

“But don’t try to convince me with some half-baked shot. Depending on the quality of the photo, I might reconsider our discussion,” he added, warning me that if my work didn’t impress, he wouldn’t entertain the idea further.

Yet, his words felt more like encouragement than a threat. After all, producing a great photo was the very essence of being a photographer.

“I promise you won’t be disappointed. I’ll create a photo that will surprise even you,” I replied.

With that, I left the studio, heading back to my own workspace.

As I had mentioned earlier, the picture I was planning wasn’t going to be an ordinary selfie—it would be a unique self-portrait. And to create it, I needed to prepare several key elements.

Now that I had a clear vision, it was time to turn it into reality.