Sunghoon Hong (34 yrs old / Anyang, Korea)

In college, I had majored in fine arts. I took a class in photography, which was one of the classes in my major. While seeing renowned works of photographers, I was quite mesmerized by new perspectives that I had never seen and the power of a photograph. Since I originally studied the arts, I was able to bring my own feelings into my photography which was pretty different from the others. I was brought up with my friend’s and professor’s compliments. But that confidence turned into obsession-I must be different from others, and I must capture a shot that only I can create.

The longer I suffered from this mentality, the farther I got from reality. My photography that I thought would communicate and connect with the world ended up making me more isolated from it. Being stuck in my own world, my passion for photography was actually an over-tenacious obsession. Eventually there was no one left around me anymore, not even my family and friends.

It wasn’t until everyone had left me that I faced reality. I realized that the world I had built up, the world where I was obsessed with art, photography and creation was devastating my mind. It was almost like I had created my own tomb and locked myself up in it. The only way to get out of this tomb is to let go of everything I’ve been trying to possess, along with what I’ve achieved. I chose this meditation as a method to deal with it.

I left everything behind and dedicated almost one whole year to do this study. While meditating, I came to realize that I was completely deceived by my own fascinating image. The more I discarded those minds, the bigger my perspective and consciousness got.

The world that I faced again with my camera taught me countless things I’ve never been able to see before. There was not a single thing that was not beautiful and priceless. It was so fascinating to see the world without any thought of this and that.

I am back to my career again. There were tons of things in the world to be taken of. And I feel indescribably free at every shoot. Now that I am with camera again I am so grateful that I am able to take pictures of the world without any desire or greed. Click !


Source: maummonthly.com