The painting, Namhansanseong, shows the historical mountain fortress of Namhansanseong, south of Seoul. Ryu considers it his best work, which received the Gold Medal at a competition in Slovakia. RYU SHIN-WOO/THE KOREA HERALD
In his sunset years, a civil engineer-turned-photographer has been making his name at international photography competitions.
Over the past five years, professional photographer Ryu Shin-woo, 76, has won 2,420 acceptances for 352 works in 466 competitions across 73 countries, sponsored by the Federation Internationale de l’Art Photographique, also known as the International Federation of Photographic Art.
The federation, an NGO recognised by Unesco, connects national photography associations around the world. South Korea is represented by the Photo Artists Society of Korea.
“I originally just saved up the digital files of my photography on the computer. But one day, I realised that the files would be digital trash when I die,” Ryu told The Korea Herald. Since 2015, Ryu has participated actively in international photography competitions.
“It is as if I am having my possessions valued. To be evaluated for my works and to wait for the results are exciting events that energise my senior years,” he said.
To this day, Ryu travels across Korea and the world, including Iceland and the US, driving for hours to capture that “perfect moment”, like any other photographer.
“I would not be able to climb a mountain for leisure. But if there is a camera in my hand, I will crawl to the top, dreaming of a masterpiece,” Ryu said.
Ryu began his career as a civil engineer after graduating from Seoul National University. He was an adjunct professor at the College of Engineering at Kyungpook National University.
As a civil engineer he participated in multiple dam-building projects, and he once received a presidential award for his work on the Daecheong Dam in North Chungcheong province. Through the projects, he learned to appreciate the beauty of nature.
“Dam construction is about creating an eco-friendly artwork in nature. I often was awed by the beauty of nature on construction sites. The experience led me to a career in art photography,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ryu wishes the Korean art photography scene could be more “broad minded”.
“Local photography competitions ban the submission of released works, unlike international competitions. Also, international competitions appreciate the creative art of photoshopped images, allowing submissions under the Open Section. But some photographers in Korea do not approve of such photos,” he said.
“From time to time, photographers have to edit their photos to express creative art. Photographers are sometimes poets, as they have to imply things through objects. Other times, they are like novelists, creating fiction and delivering a story through their photos.”
THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
