Photographing the Beauty of Aging Project

I photographed the Beauty of Aging (그대로) project in Seoul. The project began with a simple question: is aging a sad thing? Instead of answering directly, it looks at people and lets their presence speak.

The work focuses on older individuals, not as a group defined by age, but as people shaped by time, work, relationships, and memory. My role was to observe and photograph them without asking them to perform or explain themselves.

The Idea Behind the Project

Beauty of Aging was initiated by graphic designer Shin In-ah (co-founder of the Feminist Designer Social Club) and editor Maeng Sunho. Their intention was to create a space where different generations could meet through images and text.

Rather than framing aging as loss, the project treats it as accumulation. Experience, care, and endurance become visible through faces, posture, and gesture.

Issue 0

The photographs shown here come from issue 0, the first edition of the magazine. While working on this issue, I focused on simplicity. I avoided dramatic lighting or strong direction and stayed close to natural expression.

Each portrait stands on its own. The people in front of the camera remain present as individuals, not symbols or examples.

Working with Faces and Time

Photographing older faces requires patience. Lines, wrinkles, and expressions carry weight. I tried not to soften or hide them. Instead, I allowed time to remain visible.

These details tell stories without words. They reflect humor, fatigue, care, and resilience, often at the same time.

Design and Context

The visual language of the project is shaped by Shin In-ah’s design work. Her approach keeps the layout open and restrained, which gives the photographs room to breathe.

The design does not compete with the images. Instead, it supports a slower way of looking and reading.

A Space Between Generations

Beauty of Aging does not aim to document aging as a social issue. It creates a space for attention and recognition. In a culture that often values youth above all else, the project shifts focus. It asks viewers to slow down and look again.

Continuing the Project

This work reminded me that photography does not need to explain. Sometimes it only needs to stay present. Beauty of Aging continues to grow through new encounters and conversations. Each portrait adds another voice to an ongoing exchange between generations.