Return of the Genius Photographer

Other construction sites were closer than I thought.

Not wanting to stray too far from where my father was, I arrived at another construction site.

Containers used as warehouses caught my eye at each site.

Since they were probably building apartment complexes in the new town, it seemed like everyone was working near the area.

From my perspective, it was fortunate.

If the construction sites were far apart, it would have been difficult to move around.

In this environment, I should be able to take enough photos.

“Foreman Baekho! Can you tidy up the area here a bit!”

“Hong, did you hurt yourself with the tools?”

“Where’s the pickaxe! Pickaxe! Where is it?”

The workers, busy with their tasks, moved about in a flurry.

Seizing the opportunity, I quietly slipped into another container.

“Looks like it’s the same here too.”

Upon entering the container, what greeted me was a chaotic array of safety equipment.

Much like where my father was, this place seemed to be in a similar state with only shabby equipment.

Well, they’re probably from the same construction company.

I expected as much, but seeing it firsthand left me incredulous. They’re just leaving it like this?

Actually, it’s fortunate nothing serious has happened so far.

I quickly took out the equipment, neatly arranged it, and swiftly took photos before anyone could come.

Click!

Click!

Click!

The sound of the shutter accompanied each photo being captured by the camera.

“Good. This should be usable.”

Nodding as I reviewed the photos depicting the harsh conditions of the construction site.

These photos would serve as excellent evidence.

I intended to expose the situation at Hyunwoo Construction.

“Should I call myself a social journalist?”

How can a powerless individual confront giant corporations or governments?

Undoubtedly, it’s about informing the public.

Inform as many people as possible about the injustice in society and strive for improvement.

Commonly known as journalism, this method is currently the best option available to me.

Well, honestly, I’m not sure if things will change, but taking action is far better than doing nothing.

And photos have a significant impact when it comes to informing others.

Therefore, it’s not entirely implausible.

From the perspective of Hyunwoo Construction, which is hiding corruption, they would be uncomfortable with the rumors until the construction is safely completed.

They’ll likely respond somehow to prevent the issue from escalating.

I just hope their response aligns with what I want.

So, the action I’m taking now is to make the situation as big as possible.

Like a single minnow causing ripples across the water.

I’ll make it impossible for the construction company to ignore.

Click!

Click!

Click!

I took out other equipment again and continued taking photos.

The more evidence, the better.

“Let’s quickly finish here and move on to another place.”

Before lunchtime, I planned to visit other construction sites and take photos.

I wanted photos not only of safety equipment but also, if possible, of the construction environment…

As I finished taking all the photos and was about to pack my camera back into my backpack.

“Hey, what are you doing over there?”

Someone suddenly entered the container and shouted at me.

He was wearing a white safety helmet, distinct from the ordinary workers in yellow helmets.

He was the site manager from Hyunwoo Construction.

An unexpected situation.

I was slightly taken aback and didn’t respond immediately.

“Mister, what are you doing here instead of working?”

Seeing me not answering, he glanced over my attire and suspiciously asked.

He probably mistook me for a worker goofing around.

Luckily, he didn’t seem to notice the camera.

‘My heart almost skipped a beat.’

Quickly closing my backpack zipper, I calmed my startled mind.

That was a close call.

If I had been a bit greedier for one more shot…

But it’s not safe to relax just yet.

I needed to get out of this suspicious situation.

I lowered my head as much as possible, avoiding showing my face, and calmly replied.

“The chin strap is loose. I was going to change my helmet.”

As I gestured towards the strap, the helmet wobbled slightly.

“Geez, it’s not that expensive to buy a new helmet.”

He replied dismissively as if finding me pathetic.

“So, what are you doing here?”

“I’m in charge of organizing materials.”

“Oh, a slack-off, huh?”

“Yes.”

Organizing materials means exactly that—tidying up materials around the construction site or removing unused materials and garbage.

I had thought of this answer in advance in case something like this happened.

The manager seemed to finally understand, nodding in agreement, and then scoffed.

“Well, I guess you don’t need a helmet if you’re just slacking off. Don’t just come in here for nothing. Hurry up and go. Stop goofing around here.”

He still thought I was up to something, but the suspicion was lifted.

“Yes, I’ll leave now.”

I bowed my head to the manager, who was now ignoring me, and quickly left the container.

“Phew… I thought I was caught.”

A sigh of relief naturally escaped me as I exited the container.

To think someone would come in like that…

“I need to be more careful.”

If I make a careless mistake and get caught, it could even affect my father.

I decided to move more cautiously from now on.

Fortunately, after that brief moment of danger, nothing happened while I was taking photos.

Thanks to that, I successfully visited other construction sites as planned, capturing the old safety equipment and poor construction site conditions in photos.

I returned to where my father was just in time.

“Where have you been all this time? I checked a few times and couldn’t find you.”

Around lunchtime, my father, upon seeing me, questioned where I had been with suspicion.

“I was just walking around and taking photos.”

“You didn’t go into another construction site, did you?”

“Of course not.”

How surprised would he be if he knew I had not only visited other construction sites but also met the site manager?

There’s only so much I can brush off. If I keep responding to my father’s questions, I might slip up.

So, I reassured my worried father and quickly changed the subject.

“After lunch, I want to go up and see what’s happening on the second floor. Is that okay?”

I pointed with my finger at the construction ongoing on the second floor.

My father seemed to ponder for a while before nodding.

“Alright, since the temporary flooring is all laid out, it should be fine. But remember to be careful.”

“Don’t worry.”

“Make sure you wear all your safety gear and don’t go jumping around up there.”

My father emphasized each point.

It’s strange to see my father worrying about me like this, who has always been distant in my memory.

It feels awkward yet not unwelcome…

Could this be how my father always was, and I’ve just remembered him wrong all this time?

Such thoughts quietly surfaced in my mind.

“I won’t be around in the afternoon. Be careful not to disturb the workers.”

“Where are you going?”

“It’s something important. I’ll probably be back just before it’s over.”

“Okay. I’ll stay quietly around here.”

“Alright, I’ll say it again, be careful…”

“I got it. I won’t even look at the dangerous stuff. Seriously, don’t worry.”

After lunchtime ended,

I pushed my father, who kept walking worriedly, and headed back to the construction site.

* * * * *

The sunlight bathes the construction site intensely.

Under the strangely clear blue sky.

In the midst of the desolate field, the pale concrete building and stark black steel rods stood out.

Though it seemed quite mismatched at first glance, I found it surprisingly fitting, so I pressed the shutter towards the building.

Click!

From the dusty field to the ominously protruding steel rods, the still unrefined concrete and scattered wood here and there.

None of them were particularly beautiful materials, but…

The photos capturing them together were incredibly beautiful.

“As expected, following Father out here was a good choice.”

I murmured softly to myself as I examined the photos I liked.

The construction site I had followed to photograph Father.

Although the original plan had changed somewhat, regardless of such things, taking photos here was incredibly satisfying.

Click!

Once again, I pressed the shutter towards the barely finished building.

Come to think of it, the building under construction now looked somewhat like a collapsed one.

Whether that protruding concrete would now crumble or be raised higher, from the outside, it was hard to tell.

As if life and death coexisted.

I captured the duality in the building in the photos.

People were moving their steps toward the unsightly building.

I too moved my steps toward the building along with them.

Click!

Click!

Click!

Entering the building, I kept pressing the shutter like a fish meeting water.

As if the photos I took before entering here had been a signal to start.

I roamed the building and took photos here and there.

Where would be a good place to take photos?

If someone were to ask that, most people would probably think they should go to beautiful places.

Efforts would be made and they would search for places called hot spots like pretty cafes, well-decorated streets, expensive hotels, and so on, in order to take photos.

From that perspective, a construction site might not be considered a good place for taking photos.

At first glance, when you think of a construction site, it might seem dirty or dangerous, and construction materials are far from being aesthetically pleasing.

However, if you look inside, there may be no place as attractive as a construction site.

Vibrant scenes, materials that are difficult to encounter in ordinary photography, and even the structural aesthetics of buildings.

A construction site is exactly where things overflow that you want to capture with your camera.

Even the artwork titled “Lunch atop a Skyscraper,” recognized as a photograph representing the 20th century, was taken against the backdrop of a New York construction site.

Perhaps, even if it weren’t for my father’s work, someday I would have taken photos at a construction site.

Because this place has its own value.

Click!

I focused entirely on the photography.

There were about ten or so people here, and due to what my father had said, they were in an atmosphere where they weren’t paying attention to me.

Unlike the morning, there was nothing to bother me.

In the morning, I couldn’t focus on photography except for taking photos that could serve as evidence while avoiding people.

Click!

Click!

Click!

After filling the time without my father with the sound of the shutter for quite a while.

“Mr. Nam’s son! Have you taken a lot of photos?”

Suddenly, one of the construction workers spoke.