Return of the Genius Photographer - Chapter 88

The atmosphere on the Doshuko set was solemn.

Participants in team-coordinated outfits lined the runway. Unlike last time, the main judges’ seats were no longer empty.

Seated there were Lee Hyeju, editor-in-chief of Anne, a prominent fashion magazine that rivals VOTUS; fashion designer Kim Junwook; and stylist Park Hye-yeon. The three had gathered to assess the mission results and determine which contestant would be eliminated.

Across from the participants was the judging panel. Once the photographers took their seats, the chief PD picked up the megaphone again. After a soft clack of the slate, MC Jung Yoon-joo opened the main shoot with her lines.

“Hello, participants of Doshuko. Now that all the mission shoots are complete, only the photo evaluation remains! How are you all feeling?”

Though Yoon-joo’s voice was lively, tension filled the air, and no one seemed eager to respond; participants swallowed nervously.

“Lee Jinkyung, who came in first in the last mission, how do you feel about this one?”

“Well, we did our best, but I’m not sure how it’ll turn out.”

The bewildered look on her face matched her answer. I could understand how she felt—I, too, had no idea how things would go.

Since we hadn’t yet seen the photos from other teams, making any predictions was impossible. I just kept watching MC Jung Yoon-joo as she continued.

“Let me explain again. We’ll evaluate the photos taken with your mentors over the mission period.”

With a warm smile, Jung Yoon-joo read down the cue sheet.

“Your scores will be ranked after excluding the highest and lowest points. Then, the team with the lowest total will have someone eliminated.”

A murmur rose among the participants. It was mostly from those dressed in grey… our team.

“What do we do…?”

“It’s okay. We did well. I’m sure we’ll get good results.”

“Yeah, let’s trust the photographer.”

Even from a distance, their earnestness was palpable. I cheered them on silently.

“Alright, then! Let’s begin by revealing the photos!”

As she gauged the participants’ reactions, MC Jung Yoon-joo called out. The bright lights on the set dimmed, and a photo appeared on the monitor beside the runway.

The first was from the Black Team, shot by photographer Kang San.

The models were seated in a café corner, a typical spot by the window. Clad in striking primary-colored dresses—blue, red, yellow—they appeared to be relaxing without any sense of being photographed, with newspapers, coffee, and toast held naturally in their hands. The image felt as if the shutter had caught them by chance, giving off an aura of genuine paparazzi.

The following photos shared the same vibe.

A model laughing brightly as she checked her photos on a small monitor in the corner of the set.

A model, dressed casually with no makeup, on her way to work.

The camera seemed to chase after them, capturing angles they hadn’t anticipated.

This feeling was truly…

“These are real paparazzi photos, aren’t they?”

It was Lee Hyeju, the editor-in-chief of Anne, who voiced exactly what I was thinking.

“I felt that too. It’s like looking at paparazzi photos rather than judging a photoshoot.”

“No matter how well they feign oblivion, staged photos always show a hint of it. But this? It feels raw.”

“I especially love the naturalness of the final shot,” added another judge, following the others in praise.

Just as they said, Kang San’s photos captured unplanned, unexpected moments like a genuine paparazzi shot. The skilled, seasoned touch he displayed brought out the models’ presence while capturing them in an unguarded state.

‘He must have purposely raised the shutter speed and opened the aperture wide. With the blurred background, all focus is on the subjects, making it feel like the moment was captured in a flash.’

At first glance, the photos seemed hurriedly taken. But the more I examined them, the clearer it was that every aspect was meticulously staged. Kang San’s expertise shone through with each shot.

I was honestly in awe of the photos.

“Before we assign scores, I think we need an explanation. Photographer Kang San, could you tell us the concept behind these shots?”

Prompted by Jung Yoon-joo, Kang San took the microphone and briefly explained his photos.

“As you can see, the aim was to replicate genuine paparazzi shots as closely as possible.”

“If you’d told us these weren’t staged, I think we’d all have believed it.”

“It’s thanks to the models’ incredible acting.”

The Black Team, dressed in black, laughed happily at his words. Watching their exchange with interest, MC Jung Yoon-joo asked him a follow-up question.

“The team atmosphere seems great. This might be a sensitive topic, but isn’t it true that you’ve had actual experience as a paparazzi?”

“Yes, I’m embarrassed to admit it, but in my younger, poorer days, I did sell paparazzi photos in France.”

At his words, I nodded quietly.

Kang San’s background was fairly well-known in the photography industry—a young photographer who went to France with nothing, steadily gained recognition through his photos, and eventually rose to prominence.

His journey had become something of a legend, inspiring many younger photographers.

I, too, admired his story.

“Do you have any regrets from that time?” Jung Yoon-joo asked, to which Kang San shook his head firmly.

“Not at all. I even made amends with all the people I photographed, as they later became my clients when I rose to prominence.”

At Kang San’s composed words, a quiet murmur of admiration rose from the judges’ panel.

What he said was true.

There were even stories about how people felt grateful to him, saying his photography had actually made them more famous than before.

Apparently, some people even offered to pay him to take their photos.

“Anyway, I think every experience I’ve had is a part of my history that made me who I am today. So, I don’t feel any need to hide or regret anything.”

I deeply resonated with his words.

The path one walks ultimately shapes the road they continue down.

What Kang San was trying to say was something I’d often thought about myself.

‘What an amazing guy…’

Going abroad with nothing and succeeding, and even his outlook on life—he felt similar to me in some ways.

No matter the attitude Kang San usually displayed.

His confidence in his skills and his professional approach to his job stirred a sense of camaraderie in me.

“Thank you for sharing that story.”

After Kang San finished speaking, Jung Yoon-joo gave him a small nod of respect.

With that gesture, the previously serious atmosphere of the set lightened a bit.

“Alright, let’s reveal the next photo.”

The MC smoothly carried on with the proceedings.

Next up was the White Team.

It was Kim Jin-goo’s photo.

“What the…”

“This is…”

The judges were at a loss for words as they looked at Kim Jin-goo’s photo.

On the monitor appeared a semi-nude photo of models, topless but covering their chests with their hands.

Unlike their bare upper bodies, they wore long skirts that flowed down to their ankles, and their faces expressed a range of surprised reactions.

The atmosphere of the following photos was similar.

The images highlighted either revealing clothing or emphasized physiques.

A sensual theme, seemingly straddling the line between obscenity and art.

As provocative as the concept was, the intense images held a power that made it impossible to look away.

It was clear his skills were exceptional.

“It has a very primal feel to it.”

“Yes, I can see the intent to express the paparazzi’s desires.”

“It definitely grabs your attention immediately.”

As the judges shared their thoughts, Kim Jin-goo picked up the microphone and began explaining.

“As you mentioned, I interpreted the paparazzi theme from a desire perspective.”

His words, as straightforward as his provocative photos, drew everyone’s attention.

“As you all know, paparazzi take photos solely for money. And the more revealing the photo, the bigger the headline, and the higher the price.”

I nodded slightly in agreement.

“Especially with celebrity exposure, the price tags can be outrageous. Some might find this uncomfortable, but I believe it’s the reality.”

Kim Jin-goo’s words revealed his philosophy on his work.

Perhaps due to his standing in the commercial photography field, he seemed to view photos more as commodities than as art or creations.

But I didn’t deny what he said.

‘Leaving aside personality, there’s no need to judge his artistic philosophy.’

While it differed significantly from my own approach, I had to admire his ability to insert commercial appeal—what some call the “money code”—into his work.

That said, there’s no single correct artistic philosophy.

Thus…

One should never impose it upon others.

“These are truly outstanding photos. It must be challenging for the judges to evaluate them.”

After Kim Jin-goo finished his explanation, Jung Yoon-joo nodded politely and skillfully transitioned back into the presentation.

“Now, let’s reveal the final photo.”

Our turn had finally arrived.

The first image that appeared on the monitor was a series of individual portraits of the models.

Dressed in classic Hollywood attire and striking iconic poses, the models looked playful and relaxed, giving a glimpse of the comfortable atmosphere on set.

“It’s a very soothing photo.”

“It may be a bit predictable, but it’s enjoyable to look at.”

Perhaps because the previous photos were so impactful, the initial comments from the judges were somewhat underwhelming.

However, when the next image came up on the monitor, the judges all fell silent.

Cameras dangled intricately, suspended mid-air, pointing downwards.

Below them, the models lay sprawled on a blood-red cloth, expressing a range of emotions and poses.

The myriad of cameras above seemed to capture every single movement and expression of the models without exception.

Surrounded by cameras on all sides, with nowhere to escape, the models appeared to be both enjoying themselves and suffering.

The crimson fabric beneath them soaked the ground, almost as if it were the blood seeping from the models themselves.

“Wow…”

“The shift in atmosphere is chilling… I got goosebumps.”

“I take back what I said about it being predictable. This was completely unexpected.”

The judges, who had been silent for a while, began speaking up one by one.

“It feels like it’s capturing the pain of a superstar tormented by paparazzi.”

“The perspective of the models was a nice touch.”

“The contrast between the individual and group photos also brings a refreshing change.”

With my brief introduction of the photo, the judging session finally came to an end.

“Alright! These were all the photos taken for this mission. We’ll take a moment to tally the scores, and then we’ll move right into the results.”

After all the photos were shown, Jung Yoon-joo refocused the atmosphere, which had grown a bit restless.

“I personally tried ranking them myself, but it was really difficult. Before we announce the results, let’s have a round of applause for our mentors, who made this high-level competition possible.”

Encouraging a natural round of applause, she continued.

The participants laughed lightly and clapped for us.

They were the ones who truly worked hard, though…

Despite her efforts to lighten the mood, could anything ease their tension as they awaited the cold reality of the results?

I glanced over at our team, dressed in their gray uniforms, among the other participants.

Some were nervously biting their nails, others pressing their lips together, clearly hoping for the best.

Seeing them like this made me truly want to win.

But, regrettably, we couldn’t be certain of the outcome.

The photos from the other two teams had been neck and neck in quality.

Of course, our team had also produced the best work we could under the circumstances, but…

Even after seeing all the photos, I still felt uncertain about the final outcome.

You can never know the results until they’re announced…

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Jung Yoon-joo’s voice called out, signaling the start of the results announcement.

*****

“Alright! I now have the results that everyone’s been waiting for in my hands!”

As Jung Yoon-joo heightened the suspense, the contestants in the studio swallowed nervously.

“The score difference between first and second place was a mere ten points, making this mission one of the most fiercely competitive yet!”

With a dramatic flair, she continued, turning to the camera.

It was a reminder that, after all, this was a variety show, designed to keep us all on edge.

“Now, when I call your team’s name, please step forward to the runway.”

She scanned the contestants and then called out, “Black Team, please come forward.”

As the Black Team stepped onto the runway, murmurs spread among the other contestants.

“Are they announcing first place already?”

“No way…”

“But if that team isn’t first, then who is?”

The Black Team had been composed of top-ranking members from previous missions, and with renowned photographer Kang San as their mentor, they were always a favorite for first place.

So, when they were called up first, everyone was taken aback.

But the shock didn’t end there.

“Congratulations, Black Team! You’ve secured second place!”

With Jung Yoon-joo’s announcement, the second-place ranking appeared on the monitor.

Everyone was left speechless by the unexpected result, except for Kang San, who remained calm.

“Kang San, are you satisfied with the second-place result?” she asked him.

“We gave it our all, so I have no regrets,” he replied briefly.

The models on his team clapped, visibly content, while other participants looked on enviously, relieved that the Black Team hadn’t been eliminated.

“Now, only two teams remain! One will take first place, and the other will take third—meaning there will be an elimination from one of these teams.”

Without missing a beat, Jung Yoon-joo reminded everyone of the tough reality.

The only rankings left were first and third.

And third place meant someone would be going home.

Reflecting the tense atmosphere, her words came faster as she continued reading from the cue card.

Then, she called out the next team.

“So, Gray Team? Please come forward to the runway.”

It was Woojin’s team.

As their name was called, the members of Woojin’s team visibly tensed up.

“Do you think we can really get first place?”

“I was hoping for second… as long as we’re not eliminated…”

“If we’re third, I think I might cry.”

“Please….”

Most of them looked lost and anxious.

They had thought second place might be within reach, but first place seemed impossible.

After all, they hadn’t scored highly in any of the previous missions.

Their confidence was already battered.

It seemed almost certain they would end up in third.

“Photographer Woojin, do you think you have a shot at first place?” Jung Yoon-joo asked, flashing him a mischievous smile.

“I don’t think so,” Woojin replied almost immediately.

At this, Kim Jin-goo let out a slight chuckle, but Woojin added in a low voice, “But I don’t think I’ll lose, either.”

Jin-goo, caught off guard, forced a smile to mask his reaction, while Woojin thought to himself.

‘The situation isn’t looking bad…’

The team he was most concerned about was Kang San’s.

Not only was he incredibly skilled, but Woojin was genuinely impressed by their photos earlier.

But now that Kang San’s team was confirmed as second place, Woojin didn’t think he’d lose to Kim Jin-goo’s team.

Still, there was one thing that concerned him…

‘The connection between the PD and Kim Jin-goo.’

Recalling Jin-goo’s attitude during the shoot, Woojin let out a bitter smile.

He had been openly condescending, sneering even in front of the camera.

The only reason he could act so freely, Woojin deduced, was because he’d likely discussed things with PD Jung beforehand.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared behave that way so openly.

After all, PD Jung had brought Woojin onto the show as a controversial figure to add spice to the program.

It wouldn’t be surprising if some bias crept into the judgment.

‘I said I wouldn’t lose, but there’s still a chance I might.’

Despite everything, Woojin doubted the show would go out of its way to antagonize Kim Jin-goo…

As he was mulling over this, Jung Yoon-joo’s voice rang out.

“Now, it’s time to reveal the results!”

With a dramatic pause, she announced, “Gray Team is…!”

In the critical moment, all eyes were on the screen as the result flashed across the monitor.

There was a mix of emotions in the air.

Woojin simply stared blankly at the number on the monitor, too stunned to process it.