sculptor Jason Mehl's studio in Seoul, Korea

I went to Jason Mehl's studio a few months ago to photograph him in his studio for an article about the Expat Art community in Seoul, Korea. I told him I was going to be experimenting with some videos in the future, and he was very open to letting me film him in his studio so I could practice later. 

Later was today. It's not perfect, but I'm pretty pleased with this practice! Feedback is much appreciated (if you have any) good and bad. I'd like to keep videos in the series short. I'm told I should get in front of the camera a bit- which I'm going to try to do, even though I'm MUCH MUCH more comfortable behind the lens!

Here are some of the stills that I took for the article:

Steve and Johanne's home in Dongtan, Korea

Can I just start this post by saying how much I love this first image? Mostly (obviously) because of Jo and how she is surveying the grilling going on. Jo and I met a couple of years ago at a magazine launch party. My Holga camera caught her eye, and we've been in touch ever since. Steve, also known as QiRanger to his blog followers, and I are both members of the Nanoomi network as well.  Through my visit, I realized I've never had a loft apartment in Korea and I'm kinda jealous of theirs.  I miss having a huge open window looking out over Korea.  And Jo was obviously trying to seduce me with her drool worthy box of vintage cameras.  We bonded.  I now feel less weird for taking on average three different cameras with me on every trip!  I could also totally relate to her when she admitted she wasn't used to being in front of the camera.  She looks great though, and both her and Steve were the perfect hosts as they let me sneak into their routines when they're home.

If you're thirsting for more, take a video tour of their apartment that Steve made for his blog! For more of Steve's videos, head to  qiranger.com, and for Jo's fabulous photography, head to johannemiller.com.  Thanks Steve and Jo for opening up your clean home to me, for the delicious lunch, and lovely conversation!

Juliet's home in Seoul, Korea

Juliet and I met modeling for a runway show this past Fall.  (Doesn't that sound fancy?)  Since then, I've realized those into the arts (Juliet is into theater and painting) are way more inclined to agree to opening up their home for a photo project.  For that, I am SO thankful.  My favorite parts of her apartment were the purple couch and upside down LOVE pillow, the artwork she has salvaged from the side of the road in Haebongcheon, and her slightly-tipsy-from-the-night-before friend, Joseph, who seemed to appear out of nowhere wrapped up in a pink blanket and not much else on.  (He. was. hilarious.)

Jane's home in Seoul, Korea

Jane is a super talented performance artist and a trained vocal actress.  She opened up her lovely (and very spacious!) home for this project two months ago.  I was most impressed by her paintings (if I remember correctly- all self portraits) hung up throughout her apartment.  Seriously, all I wanted to do when I left her apartment was go home and break out my own dusty set of paint and brushes. 

I was also struck by this American diner menu on her refrigerator.  What everyone (I should say expats) puts on their fridges has become one of my favorite things about this project.  Most of the time it's what reminds us of home.  (Me very much included) I think it's another small window into each person, and their experience of living abroad, and sometimes missing home.

 

Jane was brave enough to let me photograph her bedroom.  I got some really great shots, that my computer unfortunately did not want me to keep.  It's on its last leg (my computer) and I've been cramming a lot of projects on it at once.  I cannot thank Jane enough for this photo shoot, and I feel terrible that my computer & my ambitious uploading lost the second (my favorite) portion of the shoot.

Rick, Joo-Young, and Baby J's home in Anyang, Korea

Rick is my oldest friend in Korea.  They invited us (me and Andrew, whom they are laughing at in the picture above) over for dinner.  I warned them I was going to take advantage and; photograph them, and their home for this project.  It wasn't long before Christmas, and Rick went ALL OUT on the decorations.  Despite being in Anyang, a suburb of Seoul, Korea it felt very much like any suburb in America.  Cooking is his new thing and it suits him perfectly because the chicken was Ah-mazing.  Joo was incredibly sweet to indulge us in a visit while she was 8 months pregnant.  (THANK YOU!)  Baby J was adorably feisty- don't let her innocent looks fool you!  We had a great time, and I can only hope all of my shoots are this successful.