Geo Travel Story about Seoul
I recently photographed a travel story on Seoul for GEO magazine, exploring the city’s unique balance of tradition and modernity. From quiet palace courtyards to the energy of neon streets, and from spring blossoms to futuristic architecture, Seoul revealed itself as a place constantly shifting between memory and transformation.
Through this assignment, my goal was to capture more than postcard views — to show how history, culture, and everyday life meet in one of Asia’s most dynamic capitals. Each frame became part of a larger portrait of a city that is at once deeply rooted and endlessly reinventing itself.
I am available for new assignments in Korea and across Asia. Whether for magazines, brands, or organizations, I bring both local experience and a documentary eye to creating images that tell meaningful stories.
Green Shadows in Arles
My series about the rehabilitation of old Seoul waterways has been displayed at the Arles festival as part of the Thrutopia exhibition with my cooperative “ Inland Stories”.
In the heart of Seoul, beneath the bustling façade of concrete and steel, lies a ghostly world of forgotten waterways that tell the story of the city's history.” Green Shadows ( not final title)” is a photographic project dedicated to documenting the rehabilitation of those ancient streams, which have emerged from their subterranean confines to reveal a surreal urban oasis.
Captured exclusively at night, this photo series aims to tell the story of this eerie yet enchanting realm where trees and plants glow under the urban city lights. This nocturnal illumination creates a surreal atmosphere, transforming the familiar landscape into a strange, dreamlike environment that beckons reflection and exploration.
These revitalized waterways not only serve as tranquil retreats but also hold historical significance, connecting the small villages that once thrived before Seoul evolved into a sprawling metropolis. This project aims to highlight the delicate balance between nature and urban life, illustrating how these hidden gems serve as reminders of our collective heritage, even amidst the relentless pace of modern living.
Portrait of a North Korean Defector for Liberation
A portrait assignment by french newspaper Liberation of a North Korean defector: Kim Il-hyuk. He defected in 2023 and tells the story of North Korea during Covid 19 - a rare view inside the closed up state, full story here in French.
Tim Franco is available for portrait assignment in South Korea and the rest of Asia.
House of Remnants - New Project at Ulsan Art Fair
Last month, I ventured into a new direction, creating a body of work that departs slightly from my usual approach. Centered on a neighborhood in Seoul undergoing transformation, the project began as a photographic exploration but gradually evolved into something more immersive. The result is a new series that I had the pleasure of exhibiting at the Ulsan Art Fair. Here is a presentation
In central Seoul, a neighborhood disappears. Bogwang-dong, once filled with daily activity, is now marked by empty homes, abandoned rooms, and traces of lives once lived. This photographic series documents both the physical demolition and the subtle marks left behind.
Through black-and-white images and recovered materials, the work reflects on what it means for a city to dismantle its past in pursuit of progress. Each photograph acts as an afterimage (잔영) — a trace of something gone, yet still present.
These images will later be transferred onto debris collected from the site — wood, glass, tile — forming objects that carry both visual and physical remnants of the place.
In a city constantly rebuilding, the project asks: what is left behind when everything changes?
The presence of Seoul’s past may not always be visible, but it lingers — in the spaces, the silence, and the structures that once held life.
The project was displayed at the Ulan Art Fair in 2025
Choi Sang-mok - South Korea's acting President for the WSJ
On Tuesday, I had the unique opportunity to photograph Acting President Choi Sang-mok for The Wall Street Journal. Assuming office on December 27, 2024, following the impeachments of President Yoon Suk-yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Choi faces the formidable task of steering South Korea through a period of significant political upheaval.
One of the pressing challenges confronting Acting President Choi is managing the nation's foreign relations amid escalating global trade tensions. Despite President Trump's escalating tariffs on various countries, Choi is striving to maintain strong ties with the U.S. With South Korea running a significant trade surplus with the U.S., concerns arise that Trump may target it next with tariffs. Choi seeks to negotiate directly with Trump but faces challenges due to his temporary status. As Trump accuses South Korea of having unfair trade practices, Choi aims to assure the U.S. of the surplus's temporary nature and offer collaboration in shipbuilding. South Korea's significant investments in the U.S. reflect its commitment to strengthening economic ties, but the uncertainty of Choi's tenure and impending decisions from South Korea's Constitutional Court add to the urgency of stabilizing the U.S.-South Korea relationship.
Domestically, Choi's administration is on high alert as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its verdict on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol. The court's decision, expected in the coming days, could either reinstate Yoon or permanently remove him from office, potentially triggering further political polarization and public unrest. In anticipation, the government has vowed strict measures against any illegal protests to maintain public order.
Navigating these complex issues, Acting President Choi Sang-mok remains committed to upholding South Korea's democratic processes and ensuring stability during this transitional period.
4x5 Portraits at KromatiK
This winter, I turned a small meeting room in our Propaganda Studio office into a mini studio where I placed one of my old 4x5 film cameras. Every week, I invite friends and acquaintances to pass by the studio for a portrait session. I am usually shooting 6 to 8 frames per subject. There is no particular goal with this project - it is just about invitng people that are part of my life in Seoul and sharing a creative moment together with them
Green Shadows in the snow
For the past few years, I have documented the water streams in downtown Seoul. The series is now part of a bigger collective project with Inland and will be released in 2025. When snow started falling over South Korea, I continued documenting those streams with my 4x5 field camera. Here some of those photos.
Lee Jae-Myung for the Wall Street Journal
A few days after the martial law declaration in South Korea, I was assigned by the Wall Street Journal to take the portrait of Lee Jae-Myung, the leader of the Democratic Party and main opponent to the conservative party. Not only has he is led the movement to impeach President Yoon Seok-Yeol, but he is the most likely candidate to take over the presidency in the next elections. We came to the National Assembly which still had signs of the recent attempted coup with broken doors and windows. I only had a few minutes for that portrait in the main debate room of the democratic party which had a giant poster calling for the impeachment.
Tim Franco is available for portraits and editorial assignments all over Asia
Park Seo-joon for Chanel
Some portraits of Park Seo-Joon for Chanel in November at their new Ice Rink in Seoul, South Korea. I have also documented the Ice Rink and the decor around it!
Tim Franco is available for photography assignments all over Asia. Tim is a Seoul-based photographer with access to production facilities in China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan.
South Korea Martial Law declaration [ news ]
On 3 December 2024, at 22:27 Korea Standard Time (KST), Yoon Suk Yeol, the president of South Korea, declared martial law during a televised address. In his declaration, Yoon accused the Democratic Party (DPK), which has a majority in the National Assembly, of conducting "anti-state activities" and collaborating with "North Korean communists" to destroy the country, thereby creating a "legislative dictatorship". The order prohibited political activities, including gatherings of the National Assembly and local legislatures, and suspended the free press. Separately, Yoon reportedly ordered the arrest of various political opponents, including the leaders of the DPK and his own People Power Party (PPP). This event was widely characterized by Korean politicians and news organizations, both international and domestic, as an attempted self-coup.
Around 11 pm that same day, I drove to the National Assembly to document the events as they happened. A few minutes after I joined the protestors in front of the gates, I witnessed the army helicopters landing on the roof of the National Assembly. Even thou between the protesters, the police, and the military, the situation was chaotic, people remained mostly calm. A few hours later, the assembly voted against the martial law and 10 days later, the president was impeached.
Some of my footage on ABC news
Unperson exhibition in Daejeon South Korea
My series “ Unperson - Portraits of North Korean Defectors “ is part of the first edition of the Daejeon International Photo Festival. 9 portraits of defectors as well as landscapes from North Korea and the escape routes have been exhibited in the Art Center of the city for two weeks. Here some of the documentation of the exhibition.
North Korean Military Defectors for the WSJ
When North Korea decided to send its troops to Ukraine to help the Russian Army, the Wall Street Journal interviewed two ex-military defectors about this strategy. I was assigned to portray them. The full story written by Dasl Yoon is available here. Below are two of my portraits.
Tim Franco is a portrait photographer & commercial photographer based between South Korea, China & France.
Malaysia | Kuala by night
While on assignment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, i spent a bit of time exploring and capturing the city and its surroundings, mostly at night. Here is a collection of some of those images. From the Batu caves to the historical center of the city - please find everything that caught my eyes.
Batu caves - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tim Franco is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Asia.
Macau - Vegas of the East
I recently traveled to Macau on assignment and enjoyed a night out to explore the vintage district around the famous Lisboa casino in the old part of Macau. Please find a few photos taken during that night!
Tim Franco is an commercial and editorial photographer based in Asia
Lee Sung-kyung for Chanel
Lee Sung-kyung is a South Korean model, actress, singer and Chanel Beauty Ambassador. I had the chance to work with her on numerous occasion. Those photos were taken a couple years back. I think it was actually the first time I photographed her.
Tim Franco is a portrait and documentary photographer covering fashion and luxury commercial celebrity photoshoots in South Korea and great Asia. Please get in touch if his services are needed!
Korean Bear Farms
In 1981, South Korea started importing bears to farm them for their bile. The liquid located in their gallbladder is very popular in traditional Asian medicine and has been used for multiple purposes.
In 1985, South Korea banned importation but the farms continued their breeding to provide the growing demand. In 2014, a deal was reached with the government to stop the exploitation of the bears.
There are about 24 bear farms still existing in South Korea with about 360 bears kept in small and old cages. Some of them are still trying to evade the laws. Since 2018, Tae Gyu Choi founded an organization to help the bears and eventually move them to a Sanctuary where they can be treated better.
If you are interested to publish that story get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com
Porsche Korea | Editorial
A small assignment for the official Porsche Magazine in Seoul
Tim Franco is an Asia based photographer available for commercial and editorial photography assignment in the entire region. Please fee to get in touch!
New York Times Publication - Post Olympics
Last weekend, I traveled to the Pyeongchang area in South Korea to shoot a report for a story looking at the impact of the 2018 Olympics. For this story, we looked at facilities but also local businesses. The full article can be found here. More unpublished photos below
I am available for editorial assignment in South Korea.
Creative Portraits in Seoul
I finally took the time to book a studio session here in Seoul to go over some new lighting techniques that I wanted to try for portraits. I have always wanted to extend my commercial portfolio but I end up trying very creative technique that tends to be too artsy for any kind of commercial photoshoot. Two young South Korean actresses were kind enough to spend the day in front of my camera and here are some of the result!
Tim Franco is a Seoul - South Korea based portrait photographer who takes assignment all over east Asia ( China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and others). He specializes in creative portrait commercial photography.
Floods in Seoul | Heavy Rain in South Korea
The rain has been insane for the past month in South Korea. While there is serious damage and casualties in the South, the capital has only seen his main river, the Han river, raised by more than 8 meters and the different parks and roads on its banks have been completely flooded. I went down and documented a few of those strange new landscapes formed by this downpour.
Tim Franco is available for editorial and commercial photography assignment in Seoul and South Korea.