By Cherry Zhi
Collingwood School alumnus Taehoon Kim is a distinguished visual journalist who uses the lenses of his camera to capture and document the world around him. After graduating from Collingwood, he went on to pursue political science at the University of Pennsylvania. He intended to go into law school afterwards, but ended up taking a few years off to teach and to travel in Asia instead. Before embarking on his trip to Asia, he purchased an intro-level DSLR camera so he could take pictures of his travels. This turned out to be perhaps one of his best decisions as it allowed him to realize his passion for meeting people and finding out their stories. This newly discovered passion led him to Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication, a highly prestigious program in the country, where he formally pursued photojournalism. Although Taehoon was relatively inexperienced in the field of photojournalism at the time, his talent and dedication allowed him to learn quickly; he states that he feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to “learn from the amazing faculty and students [there]”.
Collingwood School alumnus Taehoon Kim is a distinguished visual journalist who uses the lenses of his camera to capture and document the world around him. After graduating from Collingwood, he went on to pursue political science at the University of Pennsylvania. He intended to go into law school afterwards, but ended up taking a few years off to teach and to travel in Asia instead. Before embarking on his trip to Asia, he purchased an intro-level DSLR camera so he could take pictures of his travels. This turned out to be perhaps one of his best decisions as it allowed him to realize his passion for meeting people and finding out their stories. This newly discovered passion led him to Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication, a highly prestigious program in the country, where he formally pursued photojournalism. Although Taehoon was relatively inexperienced in the field of photojournalism at the time, his talent and dedication allowed him to learn quickly; he states that he feels very fortunate to have had the opportunity to “learn from the amazing faculty and students [there]”.
Since then, Taehoon has continued to add pieces to his portfolio and has created many poignant pieces that effectively tell stories and offer glimpses into the lives of people from all over the world. Currently, at Collingwood School, he strives to document the school and its population with a professional photographer’s eye; these dynamic photos not only embody the essence and spirit of the school, but also tell the stories of the students and faculty.
Behind the camera is a humble but immensely talented photojournalist who pushes himself to strive for perfection. When asked if he has a favourite piece, he stated that the “worst thing [he] could do as a photographer is to become complacent with [his] work”. Instead, he states that he hopes he hasn’t taken his favourite photo yet. This drive and determination have pushed him to continue pursuing his passion despite the tough nature of the industry.
His greatest inspiration comes from the work of photojournalists who are able to poignantly tell narratives through their pictures. Some of his favourite photographers include his fellow Ohio University classmates Ian Bates and Bryan Thomas and former co-workers John Tully and Andrea Morales; he states that their captivating and thought-provoking works challenge him to think differently. His favourite pieces, including Marcus Yam’s “The Home Front”, Melissa Lyttle’s “The Girl in the Window”, and Brad Vest’s “Adrift”, capture ephemeral moments that explore themes such as hope, love, and family.
In regards to the future, Taehoon states that he hopes to continue being a visual storyteller who uses his camera to capture the meaningful moments that comprise life. Recently, he was recognized by the News Photographers Association of Canada’s National Pictures of the Year Contest for some of his work. He says it’s great to be recognized, but hopes that it only sets a standard because “nothing would frustrate [him] more than peaking in [his] twenties”. With his vigour and positive attitude, Taehoon Kim is bound to accomplish great things in his beloved field of photojournalism.