[Onstagram] Kim Dohyung, the World-Class Neighborhood Photo Studio Owner

A Veteran Photojournalist Opens a Black and White Studio in Seoul's Tongin Market
Exhibition at a University Hospital Inspired by Clients Who Recognized His Art

"I've heard hundreds of times since my early days, 'Photojournalists won't have to worry about making a living even if they quit their job. They have skills...' There was a long period when people regarded photography as a technical skill, and opening a photo studio was seen as something anyone with the skill could do. Nowadays, few people talk about photography as a technical skill. In an era where practically everyone in the world is a photographer, such remarks have faded, and countless photo studios have closed down. I know at least a thousand current and former photojournalists, but I have never seen anyone actually quit their job and open a photo studio. Then, about three years ago, for the first time, someone in my circle-a former photojournalist-became the owner of a photo studio."

? Photo by Kim Dohyung

Kim Dohyung, the owner of Tongin Market Black and White Photo Studio, worked as a photojournalist for over 30 years. He took magazine photos for the publishing division of a newspaper company. His photos of celebrities and fashion models appeared in well-known magazines such as 'TV Guide' and 'Queen,' and he watched the closure of 'Sunday Seoul' with tears. When the women's magazine where he had built most of his career became independent from its parent company, he resigned and joined the new magazine, serving as both head of the photography department and director of advertising for nearly 20 years. He said that while he was a photographer through and through, handling advertising sales never suited him. Nevertheless, he endured and continued in that role for nearly two decades. As he grew older and entered his 50s, he felt that both his sense for women's magazine photography and his aptitude for advertising sales were not what they used to be. After enduring work that did not suit him, he eventually left the company.

What he started afterward was a photo studio, but unlike typical neighborhood studios, he does not simply take and print ID photos. Moreover, people these days rarely print photos taken on outings at local studios. His studio, located in a small shop in the marketplace, has no automatic processors or printers-just a basic set of studio lights, a computer running Photoshop, and a photo printer. Drawing on his experience photographing fashion and celebrities, he decided to take portraits for people who need a 'professional eye.' The studio may be modest, but the results are as professional as the celebrity photos once featured in magazines. In life, there are times when you need a photo for an article, a presentation, or even a business card. His photos make ordinary people look as impressive as the dignitaries and celebrities who appear in glossy magazines or brochures. These are the kinds of photos he has taken since he matured as a photographer. You can get profile photos, family portraits, and commemorative pictures shot from an artist's perspective at unbelievably affordable prices.

? Photo by Kim Dohyung

When he opened his studio, he also started using Instagram. He began capturing landscapes and candid shots as another way of seeing the world. In fact, he has enjoyed photographing and expressing landscapes since high school, and as a student, his photos were featured in 'Monthly Photography.' He is always busy-not necessarily because of a flood of customers, but because every morning, he travels around the outskirts of Seoul, such as Gimpo and Ganghwado, taking landscape photos and posting them on Instagram with lengthy captions. Reading his daily photo journals, you can lose track of time, and as you follow his earthy, witty commentary, you may find yourself glimpsing the path of photographic mastery. He has already published two essay collections about photography and his childhood experiences in the countryside.

On Instagram, he calls himself a 'world-class photographer.' This is both self-hypnosis and a pledge of encouragement. Not only photography enthusiasts but also fans drawn to his humor and self-mockery fill both his online and offline circles. In the three years since he started Instagram (@photoly7), he has gained over 10,000 followers. It's impossible to know how many of them silently support and cheer him on, but hundreds frequently contact him and visit. Among these photography fans, some even pick him up on their way to work to go on spontaneous photo outings to the outskirts of Seoul. When requested by customers, he holds outdoor workshops on composition. (In professional terms, this is called 'framing'-the process of arranging and organizing a photo to make it appear stable.) After attending his hands-on workshops, people say their photography improves dramatically, giving them a sense of enlightenment.

In Korea, amateur photographers brimming with pride in their expertise tend to swarm and criticize anyone labeled a master. There are plenty of people who only talk about photography. Yet, those around him enjoy his boasting and banter, praise him, and, above all, love his photos. No one blames him for calling himself a 'world-class photographer.' Perhaps it's because his words and boldness have a disarming effect. Still, it seems that his self-hypnosis and relentless effort to become a world-class photographer have transformed his work. His photography grows deeper, fresher, and more intriguing by the day.

Kim Dohyung Instagram

For a photographer, merely taking and storing photos is neither meaningful nor the right attitude. Photography gains new life when it is revealed and shared as a language with others. While Instagram photos overflowing on smartphone screens are nice, he believes the essential communicative function of photography is fulfilled by printing and framing images to display to an audience. With this in mind, he held a week-long exhibition at a small gallery in Insadong. These days, unless it's a 'blockbuster' or a show by a 'world-renowned master,' who goes to see photo exhibitions? Yet, his exhibition was packed with visitors-truly on a 'world-class' scale. It seemed that more than half of his Instagram followers attended.

Tongin Market Black and White Photo Studio and Photographer Kim Dohyung ? Heo Younghan

Fans who saw his Insadong exhibition purchased small black-and-white photos, hung them at home, and posted pictures on social media. One such couple were doctors. A senior hospital official who enjoyed photography saw this and suggested holding an exhibition at their hospital, noting that they had gallery-quality walls where patients and visitors could find healing through art. As a result, a larger exhibition is now being held at Pusan National University Hospital in Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do. The exhibition runs until the end of this month (June). Kim, the owner of Tongin Market Black and White Photo Studio, is now reaching out to the world.