Return of the Genius Photographer

Dawn, when the world was still asleep.

The plane cut through the sky.

A quiet moment—so still, even the sound of someone turning in their sleep felt absent.

I had woken early, my heart trembling as I tried to steady my thoughts.

America.

Was there anything else that reminded me of my past life as much as this word?

When I closed my eyes, the memories still played vividly.

My decision to go to the U.S. in my past life had been half-impulsive.

Back then, my situation had been completely different—a struggling family, discord between my parents, the clash between dreams and reality…

I had no one to lean on, no place to truly rest. I just wanted to leave.

Anywhere.

I wanted to escape the things that were suffocating me.

The fact that there were magazines and photographers I admired had been a big reason I chose the U.S.

At the time, all I had was a sturdy body, a camera I had barely managed to buy, and a little travel money.

Going to the U.S. with nothing was reckless…

But even so, I had believed life there would be better than what I was leaving behind.

In a way, my trip to the U.S. in my past life was more of an escape, wasn’t it?

I had no plans, no preparation—just a desperate desire to achieve something…

‘Back then, I was so scared on the plane that I was trembling…’

I remembered gripping the armrest, my body tense with fear after making such a rash decision.

Anxiety about being in a foreign place, uncertainty about the future, regret over my choices…

I had been so worried during the ten-hour flight that I hadn’t slept a wink.

Thinking back on that time, it was hard to believe how different I was now.

Now, I was heading to the U.S. after having achieved many of the things I had longed for in my past life.

And unlike back then, I had a clear goal, a plan, and thorough preparation.

Just like in my past life, I hadn’t been able to sleep properly because my heart was trembling…

But this time, it wasn’t fear or worry—it was excitement and anticipation.

The anticipation of returning to the U.S. after so long.

The thrill of new possibilities unfolding.

And the confidence that I could do anything.

I was so excited about what lay ahead that I couldn’t sleep.

Light seeped through the small airplane window.

Dawn was breaking.

We would be arriving soon.

***

― Welcome To New York, Kai!

I had arrived in New York.

As I stepped off the plane and walked into the airport, a woman who appeared to be an agency employee was waiting for me, holding a sign.

A young white woman with striking red hair and freckles.

Her features were soft rather than sharp, with a hint of Asian heritage.

As I approached, she recognized me and greeted me warmly.

“Welcome, Kai. I’m Emma, here to guide you.”

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

“You must be tired. Should I take your luggage?”

“Oh, no, I’m fine.”

Emma, who had been smiling warmly throughout the conversation, took my suitcase despite my refusal.

I was a bit groggy from the time difference, but not too tired…

“Please don’t hesitate. The company told me to make sure you settle in well. Oh, can I take your bag too?”

She eyed the backpack I was carrying, but I firmly held onto the strap and declined.

“Really, it’s fine. I’ll carry this one.”

“Alright.”

Emma laughed cheerfully, as if she enjoyed the situation, and said, “Shall we head to your accommodation now?”

I followed Emma, loaded my luggage into the car, and we headed straight to the accommodation.

“Here we are.”

We passed through the bustling heart of Manhattan, the world’s most vibrant city, and arrived at a street in the north.

Though it didn’t compare to the towering skyscrapers that seemed to pierce the sky, the building looked decent among the row of structures.

I naturally expected the room to be in good condition, but…

“You must be surprised…”

The studio Emma showed me was old and shabby.

She spoke cautiously, as if gauging my reaction.

“This is the best we could find within your desired conditions.”

Her tone sounded apologetic.

“As you know, New York’s housing prices…”

“It’s fine. This is good enough.”

But I gave a casual reply and started unpacking.

I was well aware of New York’s notoriously high cost of living and housing prices.

Even in this condition, a place near the heart of Manhattan…

The rent alone would easily exceed a thousand dollars.

Since I had to pay the rent, the agency must have done their best.

If I had saved enough for my study funds as planned, I would have asked for better conditions…

But that was in the past.

I was truly grateful for this.

In my past life, I hadn’t been able to afford rent and had ended up homeless…

‘I really don’t know how I lived like that back then.’

At least now, I had a personal space, which was something to be thankful for.

“If you ever find a better place, I’ll help you move.”

“It’s fine. I’ll only be here for a few months before moving into a dorm once university starts.”

And I didn’t plan to stay here long anyway.

This was just a temporary stop.

“Oh, I heard you were preparing to study abroad.”

Emma nodded like she already knew.

I added, “Yes. I came early to adjust to life in the U.S.”

“You speak English well, so I’m sure you’ll adapt quickly.”

Emma smiled warmly and then, as if remembering something, pulled out a stack of papers from her bag.

“Oh, and there are many projects the agency would like to entrust to you.”

She handed me three stacks of papers with a grin.

“The company said to take it slow so you can adjust, but I thought you’d prefer to know sooner rather than later.”

She’s quite perceptive.

I was about to ask about it anyway.

“We’ve selected projects that won’t be too burdensome for your current situation.”

I flipped through the documents as Emma explained.

There were three offers from Oswald.

One was a cover photo request from World Travel magazine.

Another was an album cover photo proposal from a music company.

The last was a fashion photography request from Vera Wang, a New York-based clothing brand.

All were projects I could shoot in New York, considering both my career and income.

It was clear how much Oswald was looking out for me.

“You can choose one that interests you and take it slow.”

Emma politely suggested that I could pick just one of the three, but…

“Do I have to choose just one?”

“Huh? No, you don’t, but it might be too much for you…”

“Great. I’ll take all three.”

I readily accepted all three projects.

“Are you sure? You’re probably still adjusting to the time difference.”

“I don’t like sitting still.”

I smiled at Emma.

There was no reason for me to take on just one project.

What I needed to prepare now was a resume and a portfolio of about 20 pieces for my application.

Of course, with my current achievements and my Arles award, no other applicant would come close.

But I never saw my peers as competition.

What I wanted was to fill the gaps in my professional knowledge.

And to build connections with professors and alumni who could help my future career.

To achieve that, I needed to solidify my image even further.

So I wanted to build a portfolio so impressive that even current professors would be in awe.

I also needed the money.

The results would not only add to my resume but could also be submitted as part of my portfolio.

These projects were a win-win—no, a triple win.

I was thirsty for work.

“Understood. I’ll handle the responses to the clients. If you have any questions or need anything, feel free to contact me anytime.”

“Thank you so much.”

“It’s my job. Have a comfortable stay.”

As I bowed slightly, Emma bowed back politely.

She smiled warmly, just like when we first met, and left the room.

‘Should I start working right away?’

I went through the documents Emma left behind, pondering which project to tackle first.

I had agreed to do all three, but doing them all at once would be too much, so I needed to prioritize.

‘As Emma said, I need to adjust to the new environment, so something light to ease into things would be best…’

After carefully reading through the proposals, I quickly made a decision.

‘This one seems best.’

Then I headed straight out.

***

―Click!

The camera, untouched for a while, fit snugly in my hands.

Along with it came the crisp sound of the shutter.

I had been a bit worried since I hadn’t held a camera in a while due to preparing for my departure.

But without any awkwardness, the camera moved as if it were an extension of my body.

I wandered aimlessly around New York, capturing everything that caught my eye.

―Click!

From the Empire State Building, Manhattan’s skyscraper.

―Click!

The bustling crowds at Times Square.

―Click!

The fashion streets of SoHo.

―Click!

The buildings of Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty, America’s symbol.

I pressed the shutter like a madman, as if I wanted to capture all of New York in a few days.

The reason was simple.

It was for the cover photo request from World Travel magazine.

‘Nothing’s catching my eye…’

As I checked the hundreds of photos I had taken today, I tilted my head in confusion.

I had visited all the iconic spots in New York over the past few days, but none of the photos felt impactful.

‘This might take longer than I thought…’

I sat on a quiet park bench and thought about the request again.

The request from World Travel magazine was straightforward.

A cover photo for travelers visiting New York, something unique to World Travel.

Though the request was simple and intuitive, I had expected it to be easy…

But now I felt it might take longer than I thought.

At first, I thought simply—photographing iconic buildings and streets of New York.

I took photos of famous tourist spots.

But the photos felt… ordinary.

They all seemed to lack that extra 2%.

They were all familiar, nothing new.

They didn’t feel like they could make a compelling cover photo.

At this point, I wondered if my approach was fundamentally wrong.

I decided to rethink everything from the start.

What is travel?

Why do people seek out new places?

Why do strangers pilgrimage to distant lands?

The answers may vary, but for me, travel was about creating a new version of myself.

Through unseen sights and new experiences.

Crafting a version of myself different from before…

Just as I had hoped my trip to the U.S. in my past life would change my life.

Travel, I thought, was the manifestation of a desire to break free from one’s current self.

So the essence of travel was novelty.

Things you didn’t know.

Things you hadn’t seen.

Experiences you hadn’t had.

Things that were hidden.

The photo I would send to World Travel magazine had to evoke that kind of stimulation.

With that conclusion, I hurriedly moved on.

Avoiding famous spots, I ventured deep into the alleys.

From downtown New York to the ghettos.

From the heart of Manhattan to the north.

Where people’s footsteps grew sparse…

Alley after alley…

After walking for what felt like ages, I finally saw something in the distance.

An old, run-down paint shop that looked as if it might collapse at any moment.