Return of the Genius Photographer - Chapter 99

Kai.

Walter stared at the name written on the photograph again.

Kai.

He thought maybe he had misread it, so he looked again.

Kai.

Just to be sure, he checked once more.

Kai.

No matter how he looked at it, there was no doubt it was the person he had been searching for.

“Ha, ha, hahaha!”

Walter laughed madly in the alleyway, feeling as though he had uncovered a hidden treasure that no one else knew about.

“Ha! This is an incredible photograph.”

So moved, he gazed at the image with a look of reverence.

The photo depicted a photographer clutching a camera, focused on capturing the moment while flames engulfed his legs, completely oblivious to the danger.

The image seemed to capture that intensity so vividly that the heat radiated from just looking at it.

Obsession, passion, and madness…

It was as if he could see the artist burning everything he had into this photograph.

The thrill coursing through him felt never-ending.

If it meant being robbed to see this photograph, he wouldn’t have regretted it at all.

In fact, he could almost think of the boy who had brought him here as an angel…

This was truly Kai’s work.

A photograph beyond imagination.

If he could invest, he would bet his entire fortune on this talent…

‘Why is such a photograph hidden away here?’

Walter felt a moment of irritation.

Why was this outstanding photo tucked away in a deserted alley?

This photograph deserved all the attention in the world…

‘It’s all because of those old-timers who have secured their spots through connections in the exhibition halls.’

Those who had long burned through their talent, leaving only scraps behind.

Because of those rotten people who had claimed the good positions based solely on past glory and connections, such a talented photograph and its creator were being neglected.

Kai’s photograph, illuminating a shabby alley, was a hundred times more impressive than the works displayed in well-decorated exhibition halls…

‘It’s a shame—what a tremendous shame.’

In such a remote place, it was unlikely that the judges or the industry professionals who could provide good opportunities would notice.

‘I can’t let this go on. I need to help in any way I can.’

The thought of this extraordinary photograph being taken down and lost if left hanging in a corner of Arles made him feel uneasy.

Of course, helping the owner of this photograph wouldn’t necessarily benefit him in return.

But as someone who loved photography.

And as someone who worked in the industry, Walter believed it was something he had to do.

Turning on his phone and searching through his contacts, Walter smiled softly.

‘If it’s him…’

Without further hesitation, he pressed the call button.

—Rrrring… Click!

A brief ringing followed, and a male voice came through on the other end.

—Hello? Walter?

“Hey, Edward, want to meet up today?”

—Today? Do you even know where I am?

“You’re in Arles, right?”

—Uh… how did you know that?

“It’s obvious you’d be here during this time. So come on, I’ll treat you to a drink.”

—A drink at this hour? Have you had dinner yet?

The owner of the voice sounded skeptical and reluctant.

But knowing Edward well, Walter chuckled.

This was almost a signal that he was on board.

“I just wanted to catch up with a friend since I’m out here.”

—What’s the sudden occasion?

“I found an amazing bar.”

—Really?

The man’s voice brightened at that moment.

Of course.

A notorious drinker like him would never turn down a decent bar.

Though it was a lie.

“I’ll text you the location. Just head over there.”

—Got it. I’m on my way.

After searching for coordinates and figuring out the location, Walter sent Edward a message.

The man’s name was Edward Brown.

He was Walter’s close friend and a renowned photography columnist, and he would undoubtedly be a great help in the current situation.

***

During the Arles International Photography Festival, the most influential profession was undoubtedly that of the photography columnist.

Could anyone ignore the busy hands of these professionals during this period?

A photography columnist’s role is to interpret the value of images taken by artists, explaining them to the public in an accessible and artistic manner.

Amidst the overwhelming flood of photographs pouring out during the exhibition, the interest of those seeking hidden gems and outstanding photographers across the city naturally gravitated toward columnists with a more discerning eye.

As a result, this period saw an exponential increase in the number of people seeking out the critiques and columns of columnists.

With the surge in workload, it was also a time when the discerning eye of the columnists gained much attention.

Many columnists remained in Arles, and that was why Walter’s friend, Edward Brown, was also here.

Edward Brown was a distinguished figure among the many columnists.

He had contracts to publish columns in various international magazines and his personal website had more users than the combined readership of several magazines.

In other words, he was the envy of many columnists.

‘Why is he calling me out of the blue?’

He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked toward the location his friend had shared.

Although the call had come suddenly, he was desperate for a drink after being overwhelmed with work lately.

He had high hopes for the bar Walter had mentioned, knowing that he too was a fellow enthusiast for good drinks.

‘But how far do I have to go?’

However, after walking for a while and reaching the outskirts of the city, there was still no sign of the bar, nor of Walter.

‘It feels like I’ve almost arrived…’

After looking around and turning down alley after alley, he finally spotted Walter waving at him.

“What’s this? Why are you standing in the middle of the street?”

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Walter stood at the mouth of an alleyway, in a part of the city that seemed unlikely to host a bar.

“Where could there possibly be a bar in this alley?”

Edward asked with a puzzled expression.

Walter abruptly handed him a bottle of beer.

“Take this first.”

“What? Are you joking?”

“Just try it. I barely managed to buy this with what I had in my pocket.”

After handing Edward the beer, Walter grabbed him and led him further into the alley.

For a moment, Edward thought there must be a bar hidden inside, but the path soon ended in a dead end.

“Is this really the amazing bar you were talking about?”

Edward asked in disbelief.

“If the atmosphere is good and the snacks are nice, then isn’t it a good bar? Just look at this photo. The vibe is incredible—it’ll make the drinks taste better.”

Walter’s intentions became clear—he had called Edward to show him a photograph.

Realizing this, Edward, somewhat annoyed, didn’t even glance at the photo and said,

“Walter! There are countless photos scattered all over Arles. Do you have any idea how many I’ve seen since I got here?”

He popped open the beer as he continued,

“I need some time to relax.”

“Oh, come on. Just humor me and take a quick look.”

“What good will that do? Are you asking me to write something? You know I only work on photos that I personally like, right? One beer won’t cut it.”

“I know, I know. That’s exactly why I called you.”

Walter tried to coax Edward, whose curiosity was piqued by now.

‘What kind of photo could have him so worked up?’

With a mix of irritation and curiosity, Edward raised the beer bottle to his lips and slowly turned his head in the direction Walter was pointing.

“Fuck!”

Edward nearly dropped the beer bottle in shock.

“Those idiotic curators! Why the hell would they hide such a photograph deep in this alley…?”

Walter smirked, as if he had anticipated Edward’s reaction.

“So, how does it feel? Is your finger itching?”

“Are you kidding me? This is insane! You haven’t mentioned this to anyone else, have you?”

“Hahaha! I knew you’d say that. Of course, you’re the first.”

Edward was utterly captivated by the photograph, not reacting at all to Walter’s hearty laughter.

“Just like you said, it seems this really is a pretty good bar.”

He simply sat there, sipping his beer, staring blankly at the photograph.

***

Returning to his accommodation, Edward immediately turned on his laptop and began to work.

For an enthusiast like him, a single bottle of beer was barely a drop in the bucket, but he felt pleasantly tipsy.

He closed his eyes and envisioned the photographs once more.

The images of Kai were vivid in his mind, as if they were deeply etched into his memory.

Among them, the one that struck him the most was the photograph of the burning photographer.

‘How could someone even think to take such a photo?’

The theme of this year’s Arles International Photography Festival was “What Lies Beyond the Lens.”

This philosophical theme was broad enough to allow for various interpretations, encouraging many participants to explore what lay beyond the lens or in front of it.

However, Kai’s photograph was a complete reversal of that idea.

Instead of focusing on something in front of the lens, he thought to capture the photographer behind it.

It was ingenious.

What amplified this cleverness was the situation depicted in the photograph.

In the distance, a volcano emitted black smoke.

Beneath it, a man held his camera toward the boiling lava and rising flames.

The man seemed to be burning his own life away.

Unaware that his feet and tripod were on fire, he became a living flame, capturing the volcano.

That scene was, in a way, philosophical; it expressed the trials and determination that a photographer faces in pursuit of their art.

Edward couldn’t help but wonder how real photographers would feel when they saw this image, given the emotions it evoked in him.

Just thinking about it sent chills down his arms.

“Art…”

Edward muttered softly.

Kai’s work was pure art, revealing the photographer’s life and attitude toward their craft in meticulous detail.

Tap, tap, tap—

The sound of his fingers on the keyboard grew louder.

He could write about his impressions of the photograph all day long.

However, there was one drawback.

The information about the photographer was incredibly sparse.

As he rapidly filled the page, Edward clicked his tongue in frustration.

According to the materials he received from Walter, the only activity mentioned was that the photographer had contributed images to World Travel in Australia.

Everything else about the artist was shrouded in mystery.

He had no clue whether this was a newcomer or an established artist hiding their name.

He didn’t even know if the photographer was male or female.

‘Although that mystery does make them more intriguing…’

With his fingers flying across the keyboard, the column came together quickly.

Even though it was just his impressions of the photograph, the length was easily double that of other columns.

What remained was…

‘The title…’

Choosing the most important title was the final step.

After pondering for a while, Edward suddenly exclaimed, “Aha!”

With a bright idea in mind, he smiled and wrote down the title in one go.

In no time, his column was posted on the website.

***

During the festival, thousands of photographs poured in, with more than a hundred reviewers from the industry judging them.

This panel, composed entirely of prominent figures in the field, preferred to be called reviewers rather than judges.

They roamed the city, leaving reviews as they went. Some wandered through the urban center, while others explored exhibition halls, each documenting their thoughts in their own way.

Among them, the most passionate reviewer was Sarah.

‘It feels like I’ve almost seen all the exhibition hall has to offer.’

She thought as she glanced at her organized list of reviews on her laptop in the hotel lobby lounge.

Yesterday, she had spent the whole day visiting booths and writing reviews on various photographs.

‘I think I’ve seen almost all the noteworthy photos.’

Once hailed as a master of black-and-white photography, Sarah had since retired from the front lines to mentor students and emerging artists as a professor.

During her time in Arles, she focused on her duty of writing reviews, resulting in a simple daily routine.

By day, she went out to view photographs and jot down her thoughts, and by night, she organized her reviews and browsed personal websites of columnists or web magazines to find photos to review.

That day was no different.

Before heading out the next day, she was searching for what photos she should see.

Whenever she found a photo she liked from a web magazine or column, she would visit it first, then wander around to appreciate the images she found along the way.

It didn’t take long for her to stumble upon Edward’s website while browsing the internet.

“Hmm?”

There was a post that had gone up just that morning.

But…

She frowned at the title.

‘Why is it so grandiose?’

“A Pearl in the Mud: The Newly Emerged Star of Photography Found in the Back Alleys of Arles.”

Such exaggerated language and praise felt excessive for Edward’s column, which was known for its cold, honest assessments.

‘How amazing could this photo be…?’

Clack!

Intrigued, Sarah clicked to read more.

— Kai is a completely mysterious photographer, with the only known fact about his career being that he contributed photographs to the Australian magazine World Travel…

— Yet, with just a few photographs, he possesses an outstanding talent capable of evoking deep emotions…

The opening section of the column provided an explanation of the photographer and included the images he had contributed to the magazine.

Having seen the photographs, Sarah nodded.

‘What a perceptive newcomer.’

The images captured ordinary life in Australia artistically.

They showcased a level of attention to detail not typical of most new photographers, making them beautiful works.

Personally, she thought they weren’t quite worthy of Edward’s high praise, but…

‘Still, in Arles, this wouldn’t be enough.’

Regardless of the quality of the photos, if this image existed in Arles, it wouldn’t have received high scores, Sarah thought.

After all, in the fiercely competitive environment of Arles, it was nearly impossible for modest photographs to earn favorable evaluations.

The city was overflowing with talented individuals, making it likely that if this Kai brought similar quality images, he would struggle to win any accolades.

‘What a shame…’

Sarah pursed her lips in disappointment.

The writing itself felt uncharacteristically different from Edward’s usual tone.

It seemed to convey a sense of excitement and heightened emotion that sparked anticipation…

‘This might not be all there is to it.’

She refocused her attention on the column.

— Chasing after a pickpocket, I turned the corner of an alley and encountered this photograph, as the informant said.

— If the wallet, passport, and valuables in the bag that were stolen had been the price for seeing this photo, it would have been worth it…

‘What?!’

Sarah chuckled at the exaggerated expression.

Then she continued scrolling.

— I express my deep respect for the little angel who made this chance encounter possible…