Hello! Please introduce yourself!
Sihyun: Hello, my name is KIM SI HYUN (@sihyunhada). The Hyun, in Chinese characters, means “giving to others”. I’m currently a college student majoring in Photography. I actually started majoring in Photography because I wanted my own studio. In Korea it is difficult to obtain studio space without the proper credentials. In order to start preparing for my studio, I recently started the Identification (ID) Photo Project — which has gotten more attention than expected, so at the moment, I am taking a gap year to work solely on the project.
What’s the ID Photo Project about?
Sihyun: My thought going into the project was that ID photos had the potential to best represent the current trends. For instance, when going into the photo studio to get an ID photo taken, the client would wear clothing and accessories and do their hair and make-up in a manner that reflects the latest trends. In order to represent the population of Korea in a year, one would need at least 1,000 pieces of data for it to be considered a legitimate data sample. So I set the number of portraits to be taken to 1,000 and started archiving not only the photos but also the trends and culture of the people. As of now I’ve photographed over 300 people!
What is your method for taking ID photos?
Sihyun: Identification pictures in Korea are generally seen as something that one must do in a standard way. It isn’t seen as a form of art, as it can be a repetitive process. There’s a white background, a certain type of lighting, and a face positioned in a certain angle. However, an identification photo, to me, is a picture that truly holds a person’s identity. I want to capture one’s true colors in the portrait. I don’t want to use an unnecessary amount of photoshop to cover one’s so-called flaws—everyone is beautiful in their own way. I want the person to be satisfied with how they are represented, as they are. I can add little touches, but I try not to dramatically change any feature on anyone.
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