Return of the Genius Photographer - Chapter 95

I sank into the plush seat of business class.

This was my second flight, following the trip to Australia with Photographer Jung Woong.

The seats were comfortable like last time, but there was one noticeable difference…

— HIGH WAY TO HELL!

Unlike Photographer Jung Woong, Kang San was a much louder person.

Well, to be precise, it wasn’t him but the song.

‘Last time it was a jungle, and this time it’s hell?’

Kang San was fast asleep, with earbuds in, appearing remarkably relaxed, as if he were listening to classical music.

However, the music blasting through his earbuds was intense rock music that could be felt even without being plugged in.

‘How can he sleep so soundly with music like that?’

I had thought this since the first time I saw him; he was truly not an ordinary person.

Thanks to him, sleep had completely eluded me.

As the airplane soared through the darkness, instead of drifting off, I slowly descended into my thoughts.

For some reason, whenever I was on a plane, old memories resurfaced vividly.

Perhaps it was because the business class seat was deeply connected to the end of my past life.

Though I wasn’t feeling the vague bitterness and darkness I experienced on the way to Australia, the memories from my past were still painful.

Memories of poverty, hardship, and the resolve to face death…

For a moment, I swam through the waves of the past before the thought of Sherpa crossed my mind.

He was the guide who accompanied me through the Himalayas.

The one who worried about my safety until the end…

And the person who witnessed my final moments.

He had urged me to stay alive, but…

I ultimately failed to keep that promise.

Thanks to the absurdity of regression, I had returned to the past to carve out a better life.

But whenever I thought of him, I felt a deep sense of guilt.

‘I wonder how Sherpa is doing…’

Since I had returned to the past, he must also be somewhere back then.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t we be able to meet?

Someday.

Not while traveling with someone else like now.

But when I traveled alone again.

I really wanted to see him.

For that to happen…

‘I need to prepare well for this Arles exhibition.’

The upcoming international photography exhibition in Arles was a golden opportunity for me, who had always had overseas activities in mind.

Although I was attending as Kang San’s assistant, many general photographers would participate in the exhibition besides the invited artists due to its large scale.

Moreover, apart from the photo exhibition, it was also a chance to submit portfolios for evaluation by various international experts.

If I caught their eye, it could serve as a stepping stone to expand my work from Korea to the world.

‘What kind of photos should I submit…?’

I pondered which of the photos I had could be suitable for the Arles International Photography Exhibition, but no particular images came to mind.

Personally, I loved all my works, but I felt they weren’t quite enough for Arles.

‘I’ve already used the level of photos that would be worthy of an exhibition…’

And all the countless photographers participating would be aiming for more opportunities just like I was.

I couldn’t rely solely on my current photos.

‘It’s not just the photos; the portfolio itself is the problem.’

Moreover, submitting a portfolio was far more challenging than simply showcasing a well-taken photo.

Creating a single good photo took considerable time, often requiring dozens, if not over a hundred, images.

It varied from photographer to photographer, and sometimes, it could take years to compile a solid portfolio.

How could I possibly create one that would match the work of others, accumulated over years, in such a short time…?

“Why are you so deep in thought?”

Just then, Kang San, having woken up from his nap, suddenly asked.

“When did you wake up? I thought you were still asleep.”

“I woke up a while ago. But what are you thinking so hard about? I honestly thought you were sleeping.”

I couldn’t sleep because of the music…

It seemed he had been quietly observing me.

“I was thinking about the portfolio to submit to the Arles exhibition.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’m considering making an entirely new one, but I’m still unsure of the direction.”

That was good; I had something I wanted to ask him anyway.

“By the way, Photographer Kang, doesn’t the Arles exhibition have a theme?”

I asked Kang San what I had been curious about.

Even though it was a festival, I figured there would be a theme for the Arles exhibition since it was a photography event.

I hadn’t been able to gather much information about it due to other preparations.

“The Existence Beyond the Lens.”

In response to my question, Kang San, possibly ready to sleep again, leaned back in his seat.

“And don’t overthink it.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said don’t overthink it.”

Then he added, “If you get too caught up in your thoughts, you won’t be able to see the bigger picture. While thinking is good, what’s important is not to miss the subjects that come to you by chance.”

What was this? Was he actually being considerate?

As I stared at him in confusion, trying to think of a response, Kang San put his earbuds back in and turned up the rock music.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his antics.

After all, he wasn’t wrong.

There was still time before our overseas schedule.

Following him around and observing interesting subjects might spark some good ideas.

So, the goal of this trip would be to create a portfolio for the Arles exhibition.

I tilted my seat back to follow Kang San’s lead and mulled over the theme.

‘The existence beyond the lens.’

How would I express that theme through my photos?

I would have to think it through slowly.

*****

We flew for over ten hours and arrived in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

As we stepped out of Esenboğa Airport, we were greeted by a city with striking red rooftops that glowed under the sun, creating an intense impression.

However, the weather felt quite cool compared to the blaring sunshine, not much different from Korea.

Along with the exotic atmosphere visible at a glance, the locals passing by cast curious glances at the two unfamiliar Asian men.

Their stares felt less unpleasant and more like a sense of wonder.

“Hey! Want to take a taxi?”

Passing by the men hustling for customers in front of the line of taxis at the airport, we decided to rent a car first.

“Then let’s head straight to Tuz Lake.”

“Are we not stopping at the accommodation?”

Kang San had rented a deep green Land Rover.

He naturally hopped into the car and briefly mentioned our destination.

“Where would we find the time to go to the accommodation? There might be some great photos waiting for us.”

It was a bit surprising that he wanted to head straight to our destination after just waking up on the plane, but thankfully, I had my camera safely tucked in my backpack.

After I nodded, I climbed into the car.

Kang San silently started the engine.

Soon, the Land Rover roared to life and sped down the road.

We drove for about three hours.

After traveling through vast grasslands and winding roads that cut through them, we finally arrived at our first destination: Tuz Lake, the salt lake.

The salt lake was mostly dry, with only a few scattered puddles of water, making it hard to even call it a lake.

Given its current state, it felt more accurate to call it a salt desert than a salt lake.

A harsh wind howled through the barren land.

The wind was so strong that it would make you stumble if you didn’t brace yourself.

I could even taste the salt in the air. When I stuck out my tongue, it was tinged with salt.

The wind was so fierce that it made my eyes sting, forcing me to squint.

But to Kang San, this seemed to be exactly the kind of scenery he had been searching for.

With a smile on his face, he walked toward the white desert.

“It’s dry here all summer, but in winter, the water gradually rises. If we had arrived a bit later, we might have missed this view.”

“Photogtapher Kang?”

He walked forward with firm strides, as if heading into the eye of a storm.

I tried to follow him, but the wind forced me to tread carefully.

Due to the strong gusts, there were no other travelers in sight.

Ironically, the expansive salt desert, devoid of tourists, created a mystical atmosphere.

It looked like a land blanketed in snow.

As I ventured further in, I began to see shimmering pools of water.

Water that rippled as if contained in a dish.

The wind spread them across the landscape, slowly transforming the desert into a lake.

In that moment, it felt like the sky and the earth were connected, with the rippling water reflecting the sky, creating a scene reminiscent of being within the clouds.

From desert to lake, and from lake back to the sky.

Kang San, now wearing sunglasses and a scarf wrapped around his face, snapped photos like a child who had discovered treasure.

— Click!

The sound of the shutter resonated through the air.

I found myself captivated by his presence.

‘He really does look happiest when taking photos.’

Even with his scarf covering his face and sunglasses on, it was clear he was beaming with joy.

I had sensed this since seeing him take pictures on Bukhansan; unlike his usual apathetic demeanor, he transformed into someone innocent and carefree when he held a camera.

It was easy to see how much he genuinely loved photography.

At that moment, even more than the enchanting scenery of the salt desert, I was drawn to Kang San.

A sudden thought struck me strongly in the head.

‘This is it.’

The theme of the Arles International Photography Exhibition was the existence beyond the lens.

Photographers always point their lenses at the world.

They express what moves and inspires them through their photographs.

While people marvel at the images created by photographers, they often overlook the effort that goes into capturing those photos.

The life of a photographer is one of seeking out places untouched by human feet, braving harsh conditions for the sake of a single image…

Behind every photograph, there is always a photographer.

Beyond the lens, the photographer lives.

So, the person standing right in front of me was the very subject I had to capture on this journey.

I quietly raised my camera behind Kang San.

Then, I focused on capturing him immersed in his photography through the viewfinder.

— Click!

And just like that, the theme for this work was set.

My journey as a photographer had only just begun.

*****

Kang San’s photography didn’t stop from the moment they arrived.

Starting with the salt lake on the first day, he captured the Goreme rock formations and hot air balloons in Cappadocia.

Then they retraced their steps from Ankara to Istanbul.

Shooting, shooting, and more shooting.

With every press of the shutter, Kang San moved to different locations, filling his camera with photos.

His journey resembled a pilgrim’s arduous trek, something that would be hard for an ordinary person to emulate.

Kang San was fully aware of this and felt proud of it.

His mind was consumed by thoughts of shooting, the next shoot, and everything related to photography.

Yet, at some point, another thought began to take root.

‘What’s up with that guy?’

Kang San pondered as he observed Woojin.

He watched Woojin quietly moving his gear and shooting alongside him.

There wasn’t a hint of disarray in his actions, but that made it all the more strange.

He was too diligent.

Surely, an inexperienced photographer would struggle to keep up with his schedule.

Yet Woojin managed to take care of Kang San’s equipment as well as his own, never forgetting to check his gear every day.

That wasn’t all.

No matter how busy the schedule was, Woojin always organized and performed basic edits on the photos he shot that day.

With all those late nights, one might expect him to appear disheveled in the morning.

Yet no matter how late he went to bed, he would rise at five in the morning to prepare for the next schedule and do his research.

Woojin was so industrious that it felt like even if the day had 48 hours, it wouldn’t be enough for him.

While Kang San was a little curious about whether Woojin was doing well with his photography, he considered him a proper professional and didn’t feel the need to speak up.

As his curiosity grew, he found himself quietly photographing the mosque and minarets of Istanbul against the backdrop of a bright yellow sunset when he asked Woojin.

“Why are you working so hard?”

In the distance, pilgrims at the mosque were prostrating in prayer.

Seeing ordinary people who had just been going about their daily lives suddenly bowing down together at the appointed time felt almost sacred and mystical.

Woojin gazed at the scene, seemingly impressed, and then turned to Kang San with a question.

“What would you do if you suddenly went blind?”

Kang San tilted his head in surprise at the sudden question but soon replied.

“I’d feel like I lost everything.”

“What if you regained the ability to see all these landscapes after having lost them?”

“Then I’d start taking photos with my life on the line.”

That was only natural.

Having regained the most precious thing in life, he would want to hold onto it fiercely, capturing photos with even more desperation.

“I’m just approaching it with that mindset.”

Woojin responded, “If I thought about having lost everything and then regained it, I don’t think I could ever afford to be lazy.”

He wore a rather bitter expression.

Kang San stared blankly at Woojin.