Seunggu Kim, please introduce yourself

Hello, I am a Korean photographer, Seunggu Kim. I'm observing what happens in and around a city.

Where do you live, does your place of residence inspire you to take pictures?

I live in Seoul. What I see, feel, and think in this city is becoming the subject of my project.

Do you have a photographic background?

I studied photography at Sangmyung University and earned an MFA in photography at Korea National University of Arts.

How comes that you are interested in photography?

It was good that I could express my thoughts in detail with photos. The process of investigating, observing, thinking, and shooting about a subject is enjoyable.

Which photographer has inspired your photography?

Joel Sternfeld’s American Prospects, Joachim Brohm’s Ruhr, and Richard Misrach’s photos.

Why do you work in black and white / color?

I am interested in what happens in reality. Color photography is suitable for a realistic description of what I see and think.

How do you prepare for a photo?

I investigate the subject of work and think it's worth shooting as a subject. I choose the good season, weather, and time, then select the viewpoint.

What are your technique and the creative process?

I value consistent documentary photographic idiom which explores and expresses social phenomena based on photographic recordability for the long term. I order a lot of 4x5” film and continuously shoot photos and carry out the process of developing, scanning, retouching, and printing.

Which projects would you like to tackle?

A long term project in which each series gathers to reveal a contemporary life.

What do you do in your life besides photography?

I teach photography at the Korea National University of Arts.