Interview with Siyun Yuh | A Pragmatic Street Photographer from South Korea

My name is Siyun Yuh. If I had this question 4 years ago, I could definitely say I'm a street photographer. But now, I'm just an unknown photographer in Seoul, South Korea. I started to take pictures in 2013 and at that time, I always wanted to find my vision, which I'm still finding to this day.

I self-taught myself in photography to survive. I've always wondered how can I earn from the photographs that I like and want to take. How can I be known as an artist? How can I be a better photographer than I was?

Honestly, I don't remember my first shot. But I'm sure it wasn't an elaborate work.

I usually use a Nikon D750 camera with 24-120 lens. But I still don't think the equipment makes better photography because even though the masters who I admired, such as Andre Kertesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, etc, using film cameras, left numerous masterpieces.

For now, nothing. I just want to earn some time off for photography.

A viewer once said that my photography is like poetry. I was touched and he was thankful because sometimes poetry has to be simple even if the meaning is complicated. This touched me as it affirms my effort in doing the things that I like.

My storytelling is mostly inspired by my emotions during that time. I usually take inspiration from classical movies, arts, poets, music, and lifestyle to name a few.

Reality, emotion, and moment.

Thank you for selecting my photos for this honourable award. I'm so glad to achieve recognition and to show my pictures on an international stage.

A forked road is about a man who has to choose his way whether he wants or not. Its meaning is similar to our life. We don't know his emotions at that time and what happens to him after he goes to the end. All we just know is that we have to choose our best way. It is similar to my present situation so I chose to enter it.

Man's shadow and handrail are shown for my ability to work. It has an ordinary life, geometric lines, decisive moments, colour, golden light, and the beauty of space. Before I take one more step toward my vision, I wanted to check whether it is the right way or not.

It has been a challenge, as it is hard to win awards. Even if I did win awards, I have to do more and improve my work because of the people who watch or support my work. It could be two or three people, I'm not sure, but I know that whenever I win an award, the expectations of me will increase. This means that I will need to always improve and try other works, no matter if it's great or not, as long as I'm alive and able to.

I mentioned them before, the photographers who inspired me are Andre Kertesz, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Josef Koudelka. I deeply think about this but the answer is the same to me.

I had no mentor to teach me photography and my role model had already been gone. But I know their lives, they never gave up and they tried a lot for their visions.

For me, even if I, fortunately, won this honourable award, that doesn't mean I'm doing well with photography. I still don't know how I can make use of it and earn some profit from this.

But because of my passion for it, I still did it and participated in awards or exhibitions. I'm doing these because they keep and make me alive up till now. For people who would like to become a photographer today, just remember that when you do it, you're committing to it and there is no fantasy in doing so.

I don't think I'm a successful photographer. So I can't answer this unfortunately.

I'm not a perfect man. I've still got a lot to learn from photography as I don't know a lot of things in terms of photography. There are many photographers and artists who keep doing their best, so I have to be receptive to it as well.

If I'm still alive, I will participate in this award again and then, I will win the Photographer of the Year title. Thank you again for this award.