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.
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
Keum Suk Gendry-Kim for Le Monde
A couple weeks ago, I was assigned to take a portrait of Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, the South Korean coming book artist who explores the themes of war, trauma, North Korea etc… I met her at her home on the Ganghwa island where I photographed her in her studio house. Here are some the photos.
I am a portrait and commercial photographer based out of Seoul - South Korea
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.
Dior Beauty Korea Travel
In early December 2022, influencer Lily Mac and Tara Milk Tea from Australia came to Seoul to visit the special holiday pop-up store by Dior Beauty. I was hired by Dior and Harper’s Bazaar to follow the pair during their trip in the South Korea Capital. The photos resulted in a story published here. Here are more of the photos
If you are looking for a photographer to shoot fashion, beauty, commercial and editorial portraits in Seoul, South Korea, please get in touch with Tim Franco timfranco@gmail.com
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
Testing the Hasselblad X1d2
I finally invested in a medium format digital camera. I have been using the Fuji GFX for some campaign shoot but my choice finally went towards the Hasselblad X1d2 as I found the quality of the colors amazing and the size was much smaller. I went on a small testing tour with it as I soon as I received it with neighbour and model Jin. Please see some of the photos here.
Tim Franco is available for commercial portrait & photography work in Seoul & 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.
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
Dior Retail | South Korea Photographer
For the past year, Dior has been working in partnership with me to photograph their new store in South Korea. I have been shooting architecture, interior and retail photography professionally for the past 10 years and I was glad to work with one of the best name in the luxury industry. Here are some of the photos.
Tim Franco is a Seoul based architecture photographer who specialises in high end luxury retail photography. He is available in South Korea and greater Asia ( China / Japan / Taiwan & Hong Kong ) for retail and architecture assignments.
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.
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 | The Itaewon Cluster
A new cluster of cases started in the busiest entertainment district of the South Korean capital. Find out what Itaewon looks like after being shut down.
When South Korea managed to flatten the curve, the government decided to ease restrictions and recommendations. Strict social distancing got more loose and most of bars and clubs reopened their doors. All of those actions came in just as the country was getting ready for the biggest holiday break of the spring. This was a big test for South Korea and it did not go well. On the 1st of may week end, an infected person came to the busiest nightlife district in Seoul and went clubbing - he was infected. A couple weeks down the road, cases linked to that first patient rose above 130 and authorities are still tracking 7000 people who have possibly been on the routes of those positive patients. The Itaewon district has been shut down and what was once the busiest nightlife attraction of the South Korean capitals now resemble a ghost town. Furthermore, most of the places visited by patient 0 were clubs linked to the LGBTQ community - one that is already struggling in a very conservative society and that is already facing the backlash of this new cluster of cases.
The busiest nightlife district of Seoul now resemble a ghost-town.
The epicenter of this new cluster is located around the the clubs catering to the LGBTQ community.
The name of Queen club hidden behind A4 paper because of the fear of repercussion
Trunk club was another establishment visited by patient 0.
King Club was another place visited by patient 0 according to the routes shared by local authorities
The entire Itaewon district is now empty and local business have been forced to shut down
A lot of local business have been enjoying crowds for the past couple of weeks and have been now ordered to shut down.
All images by Tim Franco - get in touch if you are interested at timfranco@gmail.com
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | Exams
Exams during a global pandemic in South Korea
At a time of a global pandemic, South Korea is taking all kind of mesures to avoid the spread of the disease despite continuing to run businesses - and that includes exams. For this particular process, people are lining up before with social distancing before being tested for body temperature. Then they are allowed to enter an outdoor field with strong social distance between each desks . On the 25th of April, it was time for the General Insurance Association of Korea at Seokyeong University and I was there to document it.
Please get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com if you are interested for publiction
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 | Testing
Beyond the general usage of the masks, one of the big reasons why South Korea managed to get ahead of the Coronavirus is because of its intensive testing from the get-go.
Beyond the general usage of the masks, one of the big reasons why South Korea managed to get ahead of the Coronavirus ( 8 new cases today ) is because of its intensive testing from the get-go. South Korean laboratories were amongst the first to create an efficient test for the Covid 19. Then they deployed the test all around the country through free testing sites. All the hospitals became sealed off the general visitors and testing centers were constructed in container buildings in front of them. That allowed the hospitals to stay safe of contaminations. On top of that, a lot of testing centers were deployed in sensitive areas or in front of official government buildings. Then to ensure even more safety, South Korea installed drive through and walk through testing site were people did not have to get out of their car to be tested. All tests are free for locals and foreign nationals and results are available within hours by text message. Here are some of the photos of those testing sites and the people operating them.
A nurse posing in front of a drive through testing center in Downtown Seoul
The drive through testing for Coronavirus is divided in 4 stages and takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
As cases are decreasing, the nurses are often waiting in their suits cars to come through.
The nurses & doctors are in full protective gears during the test.
A test center on the parking lot of the main hospital of the Hanam district of downtown Seoul
An old woman waiting to be tested in front of an hospital in downtown Seoul.
A selective clinic testing center in front of the Yongsan government building
A queue for people waiting to be tested in front of the makeshift testing center of the Yongsan Government building.
All photos by Tim Franco | Available for publication, please get in touch: timfranco@gmail.com
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | Elections
The parliamentary elections took place yesterday in South Korea. The government took multiple mesures to allow electors to cast their votes in the safest way.
The parliamentary elections took place yesterday in South Korea. The government took multiple mesures to allow electors to cast their votes in the safest way. Each elector had to queue 1 meter from each other and wear a mask. Upon arrival at the door, a first temperature check was processed, then, voters had to wash their hands with sanitizer before picking a pair of disposable gloves. Only then, they were allowed inside to cast their vote.
South Korea was among the first countries to hold a national vote since the pandemic began. The party of President Moon Jae-in has won a decisive victory in those elections, with voters backing the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
A candidate campaigning from a truck in Downtown Seoul
Voters queuing with a safety distance on election day in the Yongsan district of Seoul
Voter being checked for body temperature before being allowed to cast his vote.
Disposable gloves are being distributed to each voters
Gloves are then being disposed after the casting process
Volunteers from the ruling party are campaigning on a street of downtown Seoul.
A member of the conservative party finishing a campaign speech from a truck in Downtown Seoul
A conservative candidate visiting a local cafe during his campaign.
Fever checks are not only applied during this electoral process. They are also mandatory for the entrance of most major public and office building in the city.
all images by Tim Franco - get in touch at timfranco@gmail.com for publications.
Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | back to the office
White-collars are getting back to work in their office all over South Korea. With social distancing, masks and constant checks, the working force is learning to live in a new reality.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, a lot of office workers have been working from home. When the situation in Seoul did not escalate as much as in Daegu, offices have started to organize a system of shifts to preserve social distancing. With only half of the effective present, the chances of transmission supposed to be kept to a minimum. This week as the curve is flattening, most companies have decided to get their full effective back to work. The center of Seoul is once again busy with white-collar workers covered with masks walking around, getting lunch and coffee and enjoying the first warm days of the spring. Wearing masks almost constantly is a new normality and each office building checks the temperature of each employee before they are allowed back in.
Office workers on their way to their lunch break.
On some terraces. office workers are allowing themselves to take out the masks in small groups.
Each worker is checked for body temperature before getting inside their office building.
All photos are copyrighted by Tim Franco - available upon request : timfranco@gmail.com