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Abstract
Architecture
Cityscapes
Conceptual
Culture
Environmental
Fashion and Beauty
Fine Art
Landscapes
Nature
Nudes
People
Photojournalism
Photomanipulation
Portrait
Sports
Still Life
Street
Travel
Wildlife and Animals
Honorable Mention
Time Before Fire
Younghwa Lee, Korea, Republic of
Time Before Fire
DESCRIPTION
In this photograph, my mother’s pocket watch and a small matchbox face each other. Between them flows a still tension — as if time itself has stopped to listen. To me, these are not simple relics, but moments of breath that linger between her presence and her absence. I wanted to capture that fragile stillness — the quiet moment just before memory catches fire again.

My still-life photography begins with the belongings of my mother who is no longer here. The small things she once used in her everyday life reappear — quiet traces of her presence within her absence.

Through the harmony of color, light, and composition, I hope these ordinary objects become emotional spaces, carrying memories that words cannot hold. They are not mere things, but echoes of love, longing, and the lingering breath of time. This is not a story of what has disappeared, but of what still remains — the traces of love and time that endure.
AUTHOR
With over 20 years of experience behind the lens, I capture the beauty of the world through its landscapes, the people I encounter on the streets, and the quiet poetry of everyday objects.
Even when something is not grand or glamorous, I strive to reveal its hidden story — a story that belongs only to that moment.

Through my photography, I seek to preserve memories and express love — not just by freezing time, but by sharing the timeless narratives that connect us all. For me, photography is more than capturing a fleeting scene; it’s about discovering the enduring stories that have always been there, waiting to be seen.

EDUCATION

2019 – present Korea Aesthetic Photograph Academy, Private Academy, Seoul, Korea
2013 – present Full member of The Photo Artists Society of Korea
2020 Certificate Program of Teaching Photography, School of Lifelong Education, Gachon University, Korea.
2009 Certificate Program of Photography, School of Lifelong Education, Kaywon University of Art & Design, Korea.
1981 – 1985 Bachelor of Japanese Language and Literature, Chung-Ang University, Korea.
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Time Before Fire
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