Return of the Genius Photographer

The day after the exhibition spot lottery.

“Big news!”

Victor came running to Monica, who was in the middle of shooting photos for the exhibition.

He entered the studio with a beaming smile, as if something great had happened.

“Monica, did you hear the news?”

Monica tilted her head, watching Victor, who was acting unusually excited for someone of his size.

“What news?”

Her studio was already packed with photos.

Except for a tiny shooting space, the walls were covered with photos hanging on easels.

All of them were shots she’d taken for the upcoming exhibition.

There were still about two weeks left until the exhibition.

While it might seem like plenty of time, the diligent Monica had already amassed twice as many photos as anyone else.

The sight of the photos lined up as if she were rehearsing for the exhibition was breathtaking.

But Victor didn’t even glance at the photos and immediately spoke to Monica.

“I heard that guy from Yale didn’t even show up for the lottery.”

“What? Who?”

“You know, that famous guy. What was his name…”

After a moment of thought, Victor smirked and said.

“Ah, right. Kai. Kai didn’t show up for the lottery.”

Then he added sarcastically.

“Seems like he chickened out and ran away from the exhibition.”

The news that Kai—Woojin—hadn’t shown up for the exhibition spot lottery quickly reached RISD.

The lottery was not only for deciding the exhibition areas scattered across Yale but also the first time participants would meet face-to-face.

Not showing up was unprecedented, and the fact that it was Woojin, the most talked-about participant, made it impossible for the news not to spread.

Hearing Victor’s words, Monica immediately recalled what had happened the day before.

Now that she thought about it, it was strange.

She’d heard that teams competing in the same field usually exchanged greetings during the lottery.

Though she hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, Monica, as someone who loved photography, had been extremely curious about what kind of person Kai was.

She’d been eagerly waiting for the lottery.

But contrary to her expectations, she hadn’t gotten a proper look at Yale’s team.

She’d already been wondering if something was wrong, but she never expected Kai to be absent entirely.

There must have been quite a commotion at Yale.

At the same time, a question arose.

‘Why didn’t Kai show up?’

As if reading her mind, Victor spoke up.

“He must’ve cracked under the pressure.”

“Pressure?”

“Yeah, with all the expectations riding on him at Yale, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it either.”

Victor acted as if he understood the actions of Kai, whom he’d never even met.

“But how could he even think of running away from the lottery?”

Then he sneered.

“Well, it’s good for us. Our biggest competitor just disappeared.”

But Monica, who had been quietly listening to Victor, shook her head and replied.

“I don’t know… It’s too early to be sure.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

When Victor asked in confusion, she continued slowly.

“While preparing for the exhibition, I saw some of the photos Kai took.”

She set down the camera she’d been holding.

With a serious expression.

As if trying to recall Kai’s photos, Monica closed her eyes and said.

“I can’t imagine someone who takes such beautiful photos running away because of pressure.”

It was a kind of conviction.

Someone who could take beautiful photos must be equally remarkable…

Her belief that to capture beauty, one must have the eyes and heart to see it.

“Maybe he’s out there taking photos somewhere?”

“Are you taking his side?”

Victor asked, looking baffled.

“No, it’s just that I don’t want to win against our opponent in such an empty way.”

“Well… I guess that makes sense coming from you.”

Monica smiled slightly and added.

“Anyway, the exhibition isn’t far off. We’ll find out soon.”

***

At that moment, Woojin was preparing for the exhibition with Dali.

It had been days since he last held a camera.

Just when he thought they were finally about to make progress—

All his expectations were shattered the moment he saw where Dali had brought him.

A scrapyard.

― Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dali was smashing a junked car with a metal pipe he’d picked up from somewhere.

“What are you doing?”

Watching the scene unfold, Woojin asked with a baffled expression.

“I thought we were working on art.”

“Come on, kid. Can’t you see? I’m looking for inspiration.”

Dali answered matter-of-factly.

“Art doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.”

“So… breaking a car gives you inspiration?”

Dali didn’t bother responding.

As if he had said all he needed to, he just kept swinging.

For a while, the sound of metal striking metal filled the air.

Then—

“Ha! I think I’m starting to feel it.”

“…What came to you?”

“Yeah.”

Dali dusted off his hands and nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

“…Where? Another scrapyard? What are you going to smash this time?”

“Ha, you’re such a talkative kid.”

“How can I not talk when you don’t tell me anything?”

“Tsk, just follow me quietly.”

Dali walked away without hesitation.

Honestly…

Woojin had no idea what the man was trying to do.

It felt like he was just being dragged around.

At least they weren’t heading to another bar this time.

But predicting Dali’s next move was impossible.

‘Will I even get to take a single photo today…?’

Just as doubt began creeping in—

Dali led him into a studio he had never seen before.

“…Where are we?”

“Can’t you tell? It’s a studio.”

“No, I mean… why are we in a studio?”

“I found inspiration earlier, didn’t I? Now it’s time to shoot.”

Woojin was speechless.

It was such an obvious answer, yet somehow, it felt absurd.

After all the strange places Dali had taken him, a studio felt out of place.

They hadn’t even stepped into one until now.

But Dali, unfazed, started preparing for the shoot.

He set up a tripod and mounted his camera.

Then, in silence, he assembled and adjusted the lighting equipment.

For all his bizarre antics, he was undeniably skilled.

Watching him work, Woojin had to admit—

‘He really is a photographer.’

The once-empty studio quickly transformed into a professional setup.

Then—

“Dali, I’m not late, am I?”

A woman entered, holding the hand of a small child.

Dali greeted her with a warm smile.

“Oh, Daisy! No, you’re right on time.”

She was Black, with deep brown skin, and the child looked about six or seven.

Dali hugged her, and she kissed him on the cheek.

…Wait.

‘She looks familiar…’

Woojin didn’t know her, but something about her face felt oddly familiar.

Then it hit him.

‘Ah! I saw her at the bar!’

He couldn’t remember exactly when.

But he was sure he had seen her clinking glasses with Dali at a club.

“This is Woojin. Say hi. You saw him at the club last time, right?”

At Dali’s words, Daisy and the child greeted Woojin.

“Hey, what are you standing around for? Aren’t you going to take photos?”

They had just exchanged greetings, and Dali was already nagging him.

At least tell me what to do before you nag…

“What am I supposed to shoot? How?”

“Hey, kid. Do I have to teach you how to shoot too?”

Dali shot back at me.

“Just click! Got it? Click! Don’t you feel it?”

Then, he sat Daisy down and lifted his camera.

―Click!

―Click!

―Click!

The shutter fired rapidly.

Just like at the scrapyard, Dali was completely absorbed, leaving Woojin behind.

*

‘Sigh… He’s telling me to figure it out myself, huh?’

I sighed inwardly, a bit annoyed, and started thinking.

It felt like I’d taken a detour, but… maybe it was for the best.

After all, I’d much rather take photos on my own than smash cars or drink all day.

I wasn’t sure if Dali was testing me, but this was what I wanted.

‘Alright, I don’t know what you think of me, but I’ll surprise you.’

Steadying myself, I gripped the camera and cleared my mind.

I thought about what I could shoot at this moment.

And out of that, what was the one thing I most wanted to capture.

I slowly looked around the studio.

What I saw was the studio’s backdrop.

Dali, immersed in his work.

Daisy, posing for the camera.

And the child, watching everything with wide, curious eyes.

What did I want to capture with my camera?

Dali operated on instinct, pressing the shutter whenever he felt like it.

In a way, he was your quintessential genius.

But I was different.

From the very start to the final moment of pressing the shutter.

I was the kind of photographer who always considered the intention, theme, and philosophy behind the image.

In that sense, I was the complete opposite of someone as spontaneous as him.

Even though I’d been dragged around by him all day…

This moment, holding the camera and taking photos, was entirely my own.

So I thought.

And thought again.

What was the most beautiful thing here?

‘The child…’

It was the child’s eyes.

Eyes that sparkled like emeralds, brimming with curiosity and wonder.

The contrast of their dark skin made the light in their eyes even more striking.

With the calm precision of a sniper taking aim, I raised the camera and focused on the child.

Slowly, I zoomed in on their face.

The child’s profile filled the viewfinder, their emerald-like gaze glowing within the frame.

―Click!

The sound of the shutter echoed, instantly silencing the room.

Dali, who had been absorbed in his shoot.

Daisy, who had been posing for the camera.

Even the child.

All eyes turned to me.