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.
Moka Lee Portraits for Artsy
Last August I met Moka Lee, a young South Korean painter was who was profile by Artsy . We shot a few portraits in her studio in downtown Seoul, South Korea. Here are some of those photos.
Tim Franco is available for editorial & commercial portrait assignments in Korea, China, Japan and all over the Asia Pacific region.
Ami Fashion Show in Seoul
During the 2022 Seoul Fashion Week, the brand Ami produced a stunning fashion show in downtown Seoul. I had the chance to document this unique event. Here are some of the images
If you are looking for a photographer to cover fashion and luxury events in Seoul, Korea or greater Asia, get in touch timfranco@gmail.com
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
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.
South Korean Drag scene Portraits
Last year, during the pandemic, I stared to work on a new series about the drag scene in South Korea. In a country where conservatism still prevails, I wanted to do a series about a community that goes against this trend. I started to shoot 4x5 portraits of different person from the community but unfortunatly, because of the pandemic, I am left with an un-finished series. As soon as we are allowed back in bars and clubs, I will continue shooting the performances to make it complete. In the meanwhile, please check out a few of those portraits here:
Tim Franco is a portrait photographer based in Seoul, South Korea
Chanel | Korea, Japan & China Photographer
Chanel has been working with me for the last 2 years in the Asia region for their digital content. Most of the shoot are with local and international celebrities who are wearing or using Chanel products. I had the chance to work in 3 different countries , Japan, South Korea and China to cover those assignments. Its always a pleasure to work with such a great name in the industry, a luxury and fashion brands that still bring sparkles in people’s yes. Here are some of those photos:
Pharrell Williams performing in Tokyo
Nana Komatsu
Lee Dong-wook
shin min ah
Kristen Stewart
Soo Joo Park
Chanel Flagship Store in Seoul South Korea
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | Schools
Schools were the first to close as the pandemic hit the world. In South Korea, as the curve has flattened, some grades came back to school but in limited numbers with partitioned tables. For the past month, students all over the countries met together online with their teachers using different technologies from zoom to google classroom. Last week, I visited the Dongbu elementary school in Northern Seoul and documented their new process. Hwang Myeong Sin, a 4th-grade teacher welcomed me in her class and showed me the amazing content of google class that she has put together with other colleagues to teach her students online. Here are some of the photos.
Hwang Myeong Sin is ready to welcome her students once the governments will allow it.
Google classroom with students
Special classes are organized to welcome the students from homes who cannot take care of their children during work hours. Here children are being taught coding.
Robert Thomas Shurmur teaching an english lesson to his students online.
An active class with an empty classroom
All photos by Tim Franco, get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com if you are interested to publish.
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | masks
In touristic spots and large public spaces, everybody is wearing masks.
0 new domestic cases in South Korea for the past 2 days - we are slowly getting there! As the global pandemic continues worldwide, I will continue documenting the situation from here. Touristic sites are mostly empty most of the international flights have come to a stop but people have continued to wear masks, even by themselves in empty spaces as a courtesy in case of a sudden encounter. Those new landscapes give an eerie feeling of what is to come in the rest of the world
The royal guard performers at the Gyeongbokgung palace are wearing masks - but theirs are special are they are embroidered with a mystical creature from the Korean folklore that are suppose to protect people from plagues.
The Gyeongbokgung palace, one of the most touristic site in Seoul is mostly empty.
A royal guard performers at the Gyeongbokgung palace are wearing a mask.
Even in large empty spaces such as the DDP, people are wearing masks.
all images by Tim Franco. Get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com if interested
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | Portraits 1
This post is dedicated to those people in the serving industry who continue to work and interact with a large number of people every day in Seoul South Korea.
8 new cases as per yesterday feels like a small victory in South Korea. The curve is flat, people are working, student are starting to use online schooling and life goes on! On the front line, in the serve industry, people wear masks everywhere, in coffee shops, convenient stores, markets etc. This post is dedicated to those people in the serving industry who continue to work and interact with a large number of people every day!
Cho Ju Ok is welcoming customer in her coffee shop in downtown Seoul.
Lim Yung Ok, 7/11 owner is using gloves for every customer and washing his hands with sanitizer between every sale.
Kim Jina is preparing coffee in her shop in Jamsil downtown Seoul.
Kang Hye Ryeong has placed protecting glass to implement safety in her pharmacy
Park Gwan Woo works with a mask at the fish market in downtown Seoul
A large selection of photos on the Covid 19 are available upon request - all photos by Tim Franco - get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul
A live dispatch for the Covid 19 situation in Seoul South Korea with weekly photos and text by Tim Franco.
Strange times… I remember the morning of september 11 2001, I just came back from a night out in the Paris catacombes with friends and I got a message on AOL messenger from a friend in New York where I was a week earlier telling me a plane just collided with one of the twin tower. As I watched the events unfolded live on my television, I was certain that was probably the biggest historical event I was about to witness in my lifetime. This year, I stand corrected. As I am watching the entire world going from panic to lockdown, this time mainly through the screen of my iphone, I am wondering what lays ahead for the world. It also seems important to do my job and pick up my camera and start recording this unique moment.
South Korea is also quite unique in this sense. As the rest of the world seems to slowly go into full lock down, South Korea has managed to flatten the curve. With a population wearing masks extensively to a big campaign of free testing and contact tracing throughout the country, the death toll as remained incredibly low. Life seems almost normal if its not for the fact that the entire population is wearing masks. I am going to document the life in Seoul, not knowing where is going but more as an exercise and a way to record this historical moment.
A young couple on a date in Gangnam.
A social distance volunteer in Yeouido getting ready for the the popular cherry blossom week end.
As social distancing is being reinforced in Seoul, all public square equipments has been sealed off to prevent contact infestions.
On the main shopping street of Gangnam, it is almost business as usual.
all photos by Tim Franco are available for publishing - please get in touch : timfranco@gmail.com
Illicit Ink Exhibition in Dresden
My series Illicit Ink was selected for the Hellerau Photography Award and I had the pleasure to be present for the opening of the exhibition at the Dresden Technical Museum last month. Here are a few snapshots from the exhibition.
Tim Franco’s work and prints are available for exhibition and sale - please get in touch : timfranco@gmail.com
Camp Humphrey | South Korea
Life in Camp Humphrey, the biggest American Military base in Asia.
A while ago, I was assigned by NBC to shoot a story at Camp Humphrey, the biggest American Military base in Asia. It is a two hour drive south from Seoul and its slowly replacing the Yongsan based which was located in downtown Seoul. I have spent a day on the base and we had a great access as the local football high-school team was playing against another base ( Okinawa ). The base looks like any suburban American city with its shopping malls, fast foods, trucks etc… Here are some of the photos shot during that assignment.
North Korea's life
A story from North Korea by Asia photographer Tim Franco.
In June 2019, I got the chance to get to travel to North Korea. During 10 days, I was able to shoot with my medium format analog camera around Pyeongyang, Hamhung, Wonsan, Sariwon, Kaesong and lot of other places. I produced a mini series now available on the site, here are a few of the phots as well!
check the full series and text here: The Democracy of the people’s dictatorship
Amore Pacific | Seoul Photographer
Seoul photographer documenting the Amore Pacific Building in South Korea.
Last july, I was assigned by Monocle magazine to document the work life of Amore Pacific new headquarter in Seoul. For those who are not familiar with it, Amore Pacific is a South Korea conglomerate focusing on cosmetics and beauty, its hugely popular on the Asian market and its making its debut in the west. I got the chance to hang out and photograph their amazing building design by David Chipperfield. I have also photographed their CEO Suh Kyon-bae and followed some staff during their daily schedule. Here are some of the photos.
Tim Franco is a Seoul Photographer available for commercial and editorial assignment in South Korea.
Pullman China | Asia Hotel Photographer
Last winter, I was assigned by Accor to shoot one their newest hotel in Inner Mongolia. The Pullman was located in the city of Baotou, at the gates of the Gobi Desert. The photos will be used by the Accor group for marketing and commercial purposes. Here are some of those images:
Tim Franco is a commercial photographer based between Seoul and Shanghai. For more information please get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com
Seoul Watch Fashion | South Korea Photographer
On my latest assignment for the New York Times, I have been asked to photographs Seoul watch owners for a story. It was a great opportunity to shoot street portraits with natural lighting the way I was doing it long time ago when I started shooting bands in Shanhgai. I really enjoyed the locations in the backstreet of the Gangnam district. You can see the full stories and photos here : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/fashion/watches-seoul-street-style.html
Tim Franco is a Seoul, South Korea based photographer who travels for assignment all around the Asia region. He works on commercial and editorial assignments.
Seo Ji-hyun for Time Magazine
Tim Magazine assigned me to portray Seo Ji-hyun in South Korea. Miss Seo is a prosecutor who was the first woman to speak out about the #MeToo movement in South Korea. Her courage inspired thousands of women in the country. It was a last minute assignment and we had very little to work with but I am pretty happy with the final photo!
Tim Franco is available for editorial portrait assignments in Asia.
North Korean portraits | Unperson
This is the first portrait of my new series about North Korean defectors.
When Kim Pil-joo was a young boy, his mom was often traveling to China illegally to purchase and sell products. Every time she got back, a smell of candy and sweets was invading their home. He imagined China as a big candy factory. At 12, during a rough year of famine in the country, he experienced a public execution. The man had stolen a copper safety line from a mine and tried to sell it. It took him two attempts to manage to escape North Korea. His mom was already in China and it was a question of survival. When he finally arrived in South Korea, he was first shocked by how welcomed he was by the local government. All his life he was told how evil the South Korean were. Even thou he now lives and studies in the south, he finds it difficult to integrate fully the social and hope for a unique identity, where north and south are just one.
To reflect this incredible transition, I chose to portray those defectors on an analog material that is not supposed to exist. Just as their situation, the negative of a Polaroid is not supposed to be usable. It is only obtained through a series of chemical purification’s of the back paper of the original image. The result is often uncertain, dirty and imperfect. This series of portraits is the first chapter of a project reflecting on North Korea and the notions of borders and identity.
The complete series is available for publication upon request @ timfranco@gmail.com