IMG_3723_2.jpeg

1996, I was still in elementary school. One August day, my father brought home the very first edition of the Vogue Korea magazine. This was also my first magazine that I truly delved into. Mesmerized by Linda Evangelista on the cover and intrigued by the new visual wonders, I continued until I ran into the stunning Stella Tennant – back then she was introduced as one of the up and coming super models. That single black and white image, was the first time I held my breath for a moment.

I remember that time my father got me my first camera shortly after – a Sony point and shoot camera. I can still feel that silver camera in my hands, although I have moved onto DSLR and film cameras.

I wanted to learn to photograph her. My desire grew to see the bigger world portrayed in the magazines; until it pushed me to make it to New York from Korea. That allowed me to get exposed to the bright lights and people from parts of the world I have never been to. I wanted to see firsthand where theirs lives were built around near or far. At every chance, I was moving to get out of my comfort zone. Although she’s no longer with us, rest in peace, I still dream about what if I had the chance to meet her, if I would have been able to create that image I saw years ago.

Again and again, many continue to inspire me to grab my camera. I know I am not moving any mountains with my photographs. But maybe they will make someone feel the way I did when I first woke up in a cabin in Alaska after a snowstorm. If I try hard enough, maybe the images will sound like the voices of Emily Haines and Chan Marshall. Speaking of the all the lessons and blessings I encountered in my life. And the little steps I took to persist to this point.


All images/content copyright © Jungyon Park 2019-2021