Nils Clauss on The INNERview — Observing Seoul Through Film and Photography

In Seoul, where older neighborhoods coexist with rapid urban development, I work between film and photography to observe how the city moves and changes. In a recent episode of The INNERview, host Susan Lee MacDonald invited me to talk about this ongoing process and about my relationship with Seoul as a place of work and everyday life.

Seeing Seoul Through Practice

My work as a director of photography, filmmaker, and photographer developed gradually through long-term engagement with the city. Living and working in Seoul shaped the way I approach visual storytelling. Rather than searching for spectacle, I focus on details, transitions, and the spaces in between. Film and photography allow me to look closely and return to places over time.

Inside The INNERview

During the conversation on The INNERview, we spoke about working across different formats and about moving through Seoul with a camera. From residential alleys to large-scale architecture, the city offers constant contrast. These contrasts inform both my photographic work and my films, not as subjects to explain, but as environments to observe.

Between Film and Photography

My background in cinematography continues to influence how I photograph. Movement, rhythm, and duration play a role even in still images. At the same time, photography allows for a different kind of pause. Working between these two forms helps me think about how stories unfold without relying on narrative structure.

Visual Work as Connection

Although much of today’s exchange happens digitally, my work depends on presence and time spent on location. Film and photography create a way to engage with people and places without imposing interpretation. The aim is not to define meaning, but to leave space for viewers to look and reflect.

Closing Notes

The conversation on The INNERview offered a chance to step back from production and reflect on process. My work continues to revolve around observation and long-term engagement with Seoul. Through film and photography, I try to make space for looking carefully, and for understanding a city through its everyday rhythms rather than through explanation.