[Article] Photographing Kim Hyun Joong

By : aprilstarr@emprezz.com
Fanarts: Lina Perez

Photos: Credit as tagged

Photography of the human subject has always been fascinating. In the hands of a photographer who knows how to record various human moods and the photographed who knows how to make love to the camera -the magic begins. But it does not end there-for the viewer,the one who gaze at them afterwards will decide if indeed the human essence has been captured. Editing softwares while widely used now so far can only touch the aesthetic part of the human form but not its essence.

The human emotions depicted in the ephemeral fleeting moods are no longer confined to the basic ones that we know. Its nuances can be subtle, can be loud, just a hint or a-borning, they can be obviously contrived ,spontaneous, unguarded,posed,ordered and rehearsed. If photographed at the spur of the moment ,or at the behest of somebody who has some intentions in mind can make a difference.

Thanks to his fans and Media, our star has his many moods filmed and recorded. Camera technology allows the recording of even his fleeting and ramdom human expressions while the photographer expert of his craft knows how to elicit the desired expressions, whether still or in action. On the other hand, many fans go beyond the face value by trying to read from the finished product clues, his inner thoughts and whatever else they think is there.

Kim Hyun Joong appears to be an ideal subject of photography. As a dancer -athlete his body is supple and pliant he can easily give the wanted poses . As an actor he is used to the camera,the lighting,the people involved in the production-in short he is not distracted for the mission for that day -whether it is to do commercial film, poster for his drama, music video, magazine covers, and others. His patience is endless, his efforts do not wane. 

He may close his eyes for a quick power nap or revive himself with his endless dancing or humming a tune, singing a song, looking at the test screen shots , hours just go by. When he is asked for reshoot no matter how frequent, he may dread it, but just the same go back to step one, because it is the professional in him to do that for a common aim for the best ever image.He wasn’t awarded in 2011 the best commercial film model for nothing.He was also given for three consecutive years the Style Icon trophies.

Does Kim Hyun Joong know he is one of the most photographed among the Hallyu stars ? If he didn’t his talent agency must have known it, because of prohibitions in camera being brought in exclusive public events. It is one of the attempts to manage his public image. Camera flashes also disturb both performer and the audience. But fans still are able to get beautiful, clear pictures. Their shots are eye catching for they were able to get him in his pensive mood, attentively listening, processing what he just heard, surprised, flushed, pleased,bored,sleepy ,spaced out, many times no nonsense.This listing is by no means complete and exhaustive. He has an almost zero angry looking face. Perhaps he has learned to control his emotions in public – he once said in an interview he seldom gets angry. The last time I saw him reigned in his emotions was during the last days of the SS501 together under DSP. Once I’d seen his picture with tightened facial muscles after a dispute in soccer. Almost all of Hyun Joong’s commercials show him smiling and in light moods, while by contrast, Hangten was able to bring out his intensely grave manly moods in dramatic sepia colors. Hangten must have gambled as everybody wants to put Kim Hyun Joong and his sunshiny smiles on every space available be it on the walls of building,show window , sides of buses , glossy magazine covers,etc. But Hangten was proven right in its decision that they signed Hyun Joong for another year as their model.

There is of course a world of difference between the posed and guarded photography to that of unguarded ones . The latter has a complex nature in them though simple they appear to be.The milieu no matter how commonplace adds value compared to backdrops synthetically made. Because celebrities are high profile people, it is not unusual for fans as well as media to attempt to get their pictures anywhere they chance upon them. It is the uniqueness that counts where each photo become priceless.

Needless to say,as Kim Hyun Joong gets more photographed he becomes more recognizable as a result. His hotness is additionally fueled by the endless posting and re-posting of his photos past and present in social networking sites. When fans create fanarts out of these photos , they create another context ,perhaps even another universe whose central character is of course Hyun Joong.

His photographs of all types tell stories words cannot. The good photograph is said to stop a moment from slipping away. They also preserve a moment that has become part of someone ‘s memory -yours and mine. Many years from now, they will tell us something we might have forgotten. Those will bring smiles to our lips and fondness in our hearts. And before we know it we are back to where our love story began- with him.