Due to the continuation of online lectures, the Korea University (KU) campus feels vacant compared to prior semesters. There are freshman students who have not yet seen the campus buildings, the Central Plaza, and the Hana Square — all places that would be bustling with students by now. However, KU students are now able to view the campus through the astonishing photographs taken and uploaded by Jung Jae Hyun (’13, Geography Education). The Granite Tower (GT) met with Jung to discuss his photographs and future plans as a campus photographer.

About Jung Jae Hyun

Jung Jae Hyun is a photographer who has mainly focused on taking pictures of the KU campus since 2017. Known for his username “daniel231593,” his beautiful photographs have gained wide popularity online among KU students. Jung has been uploading photographs of the campus to online platforms including the KU Everytime community website and his personal Instagram. Furthermore, he has been taking charge of uploading photographs of the campus on the KU official Instagram page as well as being a student reporter for the Communications Team at the KU Office of Development and External Affairs.

GT: How did you start taking photographs of the KU campus in particular?

Jung: When I was a high school student, one of my friends was in a photography club. Through my friend, I became interested in cameras and photography, which led me to purchase my own camera. Later on, during my sophomore year in university, I had a chance to live in Europe for about eight months. During this time, I familiarized myself with the functionalities of the camera by frequently taking pictures around the cities. I started taking pictures of the KU campus in 2017 with the help of a student photographer known as Ryurang. He greatly helped me with shooting and editing campus photos. From then on, taking pictures of the campus has become a regular activity of mine.

GT: When taking pictures, is there a particular type of camera you use? In addition, how do you utilize special equipment such as drones?

Jung: The main camera I use when taking pictures is a Nikon D750. Sometimes I also use the Canon 5DM3 and 5DM4 which are provided by the Communications Team. Last year, I took pictures of KU buildings several times using drones as well. There is a complicated process in order to fly drones — you have to check for prohibited or restricted airspace and receive permission from several institutions including the airline business plan processing system, the Ministry of National Defense, and KU as well. After going through this strict process and obtaining approval, flying drones and taking pictures are permitted. With the drone, I was able to take pictures of the Main Hall, the Central Library, and the People’s Square.

GT: Could you introduce the most memorable photograph you took?

Jung: My most memorable photograph is one of fireworks that I took in Gangneung. When capturing fireworks, you actually have to prepare several pieces of equipment and settings. However, this picture was taken by chance yet still turned out great, capturing the bright and colorful lights of the fireworks.

A memorable picture that I took within the KU campus is a picture of a streetlight near the College of Law Annex Building taken in the spring of 2018. The reason why this picture is memorable is because it reminds me of the poem “A Gaslight” by Kim Kwang Kyun. I think the line “In the empty sky hangs a bleak gaslight” goes well with the picture’s atmosphere, which is why it made a great impression on me.

GT: What is your favorite place or building in the KU campus to photograph?

Jung: Personally, I love taking pictures of the Central Plaza. This is because it has a wide, open view of the campus, and you can catch glimpses of nearby buildings such as the Main Hall, SK Future Hall, Centennial Memorial Samsung Hall, and the College of Liberal Arts.

When I take photographs, I enjoy taking them from a bird’s eye view. That is, I like to go to high places to shoot buildings from above. After receiving prior permission, I frequently go to the rooftops of buildings including the College of Law Annex Building, the College of Law, or the Techno Complex Research Center. Otherwise, I sometimes take pictures through the window sitting on the sill as well.

Recently, I uploaded a post on my personal and KU Instagram with photographs introducing the Business School Main Hall, LG-POSCO Business Hall, and Hyundai Motor Hall. These pictures are part of a project that I started with fellow student photographers of the Communications Team. As many freshman students currently cannot come to school easily, we are trying to introduce them to different buildings on the KU campus. We hope freshman students find these posts helpful to familiarize themselves with the buildings.

GT: Do you have any advice for the students of KU who are interested in photography as well?

Jung: I want to offer several tips for fellow students who are interested in photography like me. First, take your time and continue taking photographs. Learning photography takes many steps to master, as it includes the entire process of planning, shooting, and editing pictures. As it is difficult to achieve all of these steps in a short amount of time, do not hurry and regularly practice taking photographs step by step. Secondly, I think it will be beneficial to invest in good camera equipment. Although it is possible to take astonishing pictures with any type of camera, using quality equipment can help achieve your photography goals easier. Lastly, I want to recommend students to actively learn from other photographers. These days, many photographers upload their works on their Instagram accounts. These photos can give excellent photography tips and inspiration. Furthermore, watching photography- related YouTube videos or joining photography clubs are great ways to find help as well!