Q&A

SeongJoon is a freelance photographer based in Seoul, where he covers a number of subjects central to Bloomberg’s business and financial coverage. Our team recently sat down with SeongJoon to discuss his experience working as a photojournalist in Asia.

What have you covered during your eight years with Bloomberg?
My first assignment for Bloomberg was shooting general economy images of Seoul in December, 2009. Since then, I have covered many subjects including the growing tuna industry in Mindanao Island, the Singapore Airshow, and North Korea’s nuclear tests in South Korea. I have also had the chance to photograph high-profile leaders, including former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, China’s president Xi Jinping, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I am looking forward to capturing U.S. president Donald Trump on camera at the upcoming APEC in Danang, Vietnam.

Can you characterize your relationship with Bloomberg photo editors at the Hong Kong desk? How closely do you work with them on stories?
I use messaging apps to talk with my assignment editor more than my wife. Once I conceive of an idea, I discuss the subject closely with my editors. My Hong Kong photo editors always listen and respect my opinions. It’s an honor to work with such talented people.

You shoot a variety of subjects for Bloomberg in Asia. What do you hope that Bloomberg’s audience gets from these photographs?
As a photographer, I feel responsible for my photos. Bloomberg has many audiences around the world, including terminal users. My goal is to offer our readers a fresh pair of eyes through which they might understand the world differently. That’s why I shoot a variety of subjects, from inside a luxury private jet to a slum area in Manila. Wherever I take my camera, I approach my subject with professionalism and integrity.

What is the biggest challenge you face in the field?
Creativity is the most challenging part of my job. As a photographer, I always try to see the subject with my unique eye. When I photographed Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2015, I wanted to capture him in a uniquely aesthetic way, so I shot him with a tiny red dot displayed in the television camera. China’s national color is red, and the color totally matched him. This photo is now everywhere, and I am happy that many editors still use it.

Access is another big issue for me. A central part of photojournalism is logistics. I spend a lot of time trying to contact the proper person in order to get permission to shoot. In order to use a drone to shoot a container terminal in Busan, South Korea, I had to get permission from three different organizations. Sometimes, it is a painful procedure, but it is such a joy to get gorgeous photos in the end.

– Gabriela Tama