Return of the Genius Photographer

Delicacies of the land and sea—rare dishes said to be made from a variety of ingredients from the mountains and sea.

That was my first impression of Australia.

A country spanning an entire continent, divided into six states, each with its own unique character.

Our destination was Queensland, in the northeastern part of the country.

As we headed further north, the climate became more tropical, drawing closer to the equator.

Known for its year-round warm weather, Queensland attracted countless tourists annually. It wasn’t just the beaches and tropical plants, but the diversity of people, blending East and West, that made it so distinct.

―Click!

―Click!

―Click!

As we drove down the road lined with tall trees, reminiscent of palm trees, I instinctively pressed the shutter whenever the mood struck.

It wasn’t about taking serious photos; I was more focused on capturing the moment—recording my feelings.

The open red Jeep raced down the road. With the doors and roof removed, I enjoyed the feeling of openness and pressed the shutter again.

―Click!

―Click!

Kangaroos and wallabies moved freely through the city as if it were their own.

―Click!

A dazzling stretch of white sand seemed to go on forever along the road.

What photographer wouldn’t feel thrilled in front of such a spectacular scene?

‘What kind of photos will I take over this week?’ I mused, feeling excitement bubbling up within me as I gazed at Australia’s scenery.

We had a week for the shoot. It was a fairly long time, but only if I had the freedom to shoot. My primary task was to assist Jung-woong, meaning I might not have as much time as I’d like for my own work.

‘I need to plan carefully.’

It was clear that I needed to set a theme in advance—deciding what I wanted to capture most.

With limited time, it was impossible to shoot everything, so I had to be selective, like a gourmet choosing from a feast.

“What’s got you so deep in thought?”

Jung-woong, casually gripping the steering wheel with his large sunglasses on, asked. His silvering hair blew in the wind, revealing his forehead, and he looked rather striking—an imposing figure perfectly suited to the rugged Jeep.

I took in his appearance briefly before turning back to the landscape. “Just thinking about what kind of photos to take while helping you out.”

“Is that so?”

I couldn’t quite read his expression behind the sunglasses, but I had a feeling he was enjoying himself.

“You’ll get good shots of anything in Australia. No need to stress over it.”

“Yes, but I still want to decide on a theme ahead of time.”

“That’s a good idea.”

A small smile appeared beneath his sunglasses.

“By the way, who is the client?”

I turned away from the scenery to face him, realizing I hadn’t heard much about the client. Whoever it was, they had enough influence and wealth to fly us to Australia and cover all the expenses.

“Well, where’s the fun in telling you ahead of time?”

Clearly, he wasn’t planning to give me any hints.

“Don’t worry. You’ll know the moment we meet.”

“Not even a hint about what kind of shoot it’ll be?”

“If you’re curious, take a guess.”

He smiled wider, the same teasing expression he’d had on the plane.

I couldn’t help but wonder—if I’d recognize them immediately, they must be someone quite famous.

Who could it be?

As I pondered, Jung-woong spoke up again. “We’ll need to fill up before we get to our destination.”

He pulled into a small, quiet gas station. Although Sunshine Coast, our destination, wasn’t far from Brisbane, we’d taken some detours for scenic stops, so the fuel gauge was running low.

“I’ll hit the restroom. Go ahead and ask them to fill the tank.”

He handed me a card before stepping out of the Jeep. As soon as he left, a man in a yellow cap and a fuel station jacket approached, speaking to me in a friendly manner.

“How much gas do you need, mate?”

A man with a scruffy appearance, wearing shabby clothes that made him look almost like a vagrant, approached. His sunken face and ragged look contrasted with his youthful demeanor, which oddly drew my attention.

“Fill it up, please.”

“Alright, give me a sec, buddy.”

He made an ‘okay’ sign with his fingers before inserting the nozzle into the gas tank, and the sound of fuel slowly filling the tank echoed in the air.

Although I hadn’t been in Australia long, two things became apparent quickly.

First, the people here were incredibly laid-back. Whether it was entering the country or renting a car, everything took longer than expected. Perhaps it was their nature or a cultural difference, but even simple tasks seemed to drag on.

And second, everyone was incredibly friendly and quick to strike up a conversation.

“Japanese? Chinese?” the man asked in a cheerful tone, holding the gas pump with one hand.

“What are you here for? Traveling? Work?”

“I’m Korean. I’m here for a photo shoot.”

“Wow! A photoshoot? Are you a movie director or something?”

“No, just a photographer.”

Surprisingly, his barrage of questions didn’t annoy me. Instead, I found them warm and inviting.

As I chatted with him, I took in the surroundings. The gas station, located in a quiet, suburban area, was tiny and run-down, quite unlike the bustling city stations I was used to. The building seemed old, with oil stains in various places.

As my gaze shifted to the inside of the gas station, I noticed a young woman holding a baby. She looked far too young to be a mother, but the way she held the child so tightly and with such a joyful expression was striking. She wasn’t looking at me but rather at the man, smiling lovingly.

‘Are they a couple?’

Curious, I asked the man.

“Is that your wife?”

“Huh? Oh, no. She’s my girlfriend for now.”

He turned his head toward the woman and waved with the same beaming smile she wore.

“We can’t afford to get married yet. We don’t even have a place to stay.”

“Where do you live, then?”

“Here. We work at the gas station all day in exchange for a place to stay.”

“Oh…”

He said it so casually, but his words weighed on me. The idea of this young couple having to live in such harsh conditions was anything but trivial.

Seeing my serious expression, the man laughed heartily. “Hey, why so gloomy? Want to hold our baby? When you look at him, all your worries seem to disappear.”

His sincere, joyful smile made me instinctively touch my camera.

‘I want to take a picture.’

Capturing that smile—the one that shone despite all the hardships. The resilience and hopefulness in his face, even in this difficult situation, moved me.

“Mind if I take a picture? I’d love to photograph your family.”

When I asked him cautiously, the man happily agreed and brought his girlfriend and baby over. They stood together by the gas pump, the woman holding the baby tightly, and the man putting his arm around her, adjusting his work jacket.

They both looked so happy.

“Just like that.”

I raised my camera, smiling along with them, and captured the moment without hesitation.

―Click!

As I checked the photo on my camera, a small smile crossed my face. In that instant, I realized what kind of pictures I wanted to take during this trip.

I had finally decided on my theme: the people of Queensland.

***

After refueling, we drove straight to our first destination, Sunshine Coast.

True to its name, the shimmering beach gleamed under the sun’s rays, offering a breathtaking view.

We checked into a luxury hotel with a room that had a separate bedroom, and we unpacked our luggage. The beach was right in front of our room, offering the perfect view.

Would I finally meet the benefactor who covered all these expenses tomorrow? I couldn’t help but wonder who this person might be.

“I’m going to rest for a bit. You must be tired as well, so take some time to relax,” said Jung Woong, stifling a yawn as soon as we entered the hotel room.

After nearly 10 hours of flying and immediately driving upon arrival, it was no surprise he was exhausted. I was just as tired, but resting wasn’t on my mind.

“I’m fine. I was thinking of finishing unpacking and going out for a quick shoot. Is that okay?”

I had to seize any time I had to take photos, especially since we wouldn’t meet the client until tomorrow.

“It’s fine, but don’t stay out too long. We have a shoot tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, and take the card with you, just in case.”

With those parting words, Jung Woong headed to his room to rest, and I stepped outside.

―Swoosh!

The sound of the waves filled my ears as the sunset bathed the ocean in hues of orange.

The sea, glowing under the light of the setting sun, reflected colorful shades with each crashing wave.

I stood there for a moment, mesmerized by the scene, before lifting my camera to capture the people enjoying their time by the water.

A young boy riding a surfboard with pure joy on his face.

―Click!

An elderly woman chewing on a pipe, watching the scene with a soft smile.

―Click!

A group of men, still in their work clothes, gathered on a bench, drinking beer.

―Click!

Street performers entertaining an audience, with onlookers sitting on the ground, enraptured by the show.

―Click!

Everyone went about their lives, unbothered by the camera. There was a relaxed, joyful air about the place, and I couldn’t stop myself from pressing the shutter repeatedly.

―Click!

The peaceful yet lively energy of Queensland flowed through my lens, filling my camera with countless moments of life and happiness.

Everywhere I turned, there was a new subject waiting to be captured. It was as close to paradise as it could get. It wasn’t until nightfall that I finally made my way back to the hotel, completely satisfied with the photos I had taken.

****

Jung Woong, who had fallen asleep early, woke up just after midnight. Exhausted from the day’s journey, he intended to go back to sleep, but a parched throat forced him to leave his room for a drink.

‘Huh? Why is he sleeping there?’

As he stepped out, the first thing he saw was Woojin, slumped over the desk, fast asleep.

‘He said he was going to take some photos… did he fall asleep while transferring them?’

Woojin’s laptop was open and connected to his camera, the screen still lit up. It seemed like he had dozed off while transferring the photos he had taken earlier.

‘This kid, I told him to rest.’

Though he hadn’t shown it, Woojin must have been worn out from the long flight and handling all the luggage on his own. Add in a photoshoot, and it was no wonder he had collapsed over the desk.

‘I should wake him up and get him to bed.’

Feeling sympathetic, Jung Woong approached Woojin to wake him, but something caught his eye.

‘What’s this…?’

On the laptop screen was a folder labeled “Australia,” dated today. It looked like a collection of all the photos Woojin had taken since arriving.

‘How many photos did he take?’

There had to be well over a thousand images in the folder, an unbelievable amount considering he had less than half a day to shoot.

‘What kind of pictures did he take…?’

Curiosity piqued, Jung Woong gently moved the mouse and opened the folder, scrolling through Woojin’s photos. As he clicked through the images, his breath caught, and a low gasp escaped his lips.

‘My God…’

The pictures Woojin had captured in just a few hours around Sunshine Coast were nothing short of extraordinary.

Despite the lack of any post-editing, the raw photographs were enough to send shivers down his spine.