Discovery

David Lee

What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
I have been working on multiple ongoing projects. A few include documenting the American Midwest and old Korean architecture.

What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on it?
I think the most important lesson I’ve had to learn is pacing. I tend to shoot as much as I can wherever I am, but with some of the projects I’ve been working on, it’s been more important to take my time and plan photos ahead of time.

What words, ideas or emotions were running through your head?
Whenever I am working on my projects, I always look at the scenes I’m capturing and ask myself whether I am telling the story I want to tell.

Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
Mostly conversations with other photographers have found their way into this work. I have several photographer friends I talk to for constructive feedback, and that’s been very helpful for gaining new insight. I enjoy watching movies and shows in general, and that has definitely influenced me over time. Some of my favorites, in no particular order, are Hereditary, Dunkirk, Parasite and The Man in the High Castle.

What’s been the most difficult thing you’ve faced recently in your creative process?
Balancing a full-time job with these projects has been the biggest challenge. Finding time to shoot and finding access to the right locations and subjects doesn’t always fit neatly into a busy schedule. But I’ve been pushing through it, and if anything, the constraints have made me more intentional about the time I do have to go out and create.

What is your favorite coffee shop and why do you like going there?
My favorite coffee shop is Common, which I randomly discovered on my last trip to Tokyo. I love going there because they have a unique selection of food and coffee.

If your life were a movie this month, what would it be called and who would write the soundtrack?
The title would be Discovery, a quiet film about someone moving slowly through familiar and unfamiliar places, trying to notice things before they disappear. The soundtrack would be made by Jung Jae Il: understated and emotional, with a rhythm that feels like wandering with purpose.

Which studios, laboratories, or workshops have you collaborated with recently or would you like to collaborate with in the future?
I have never collaborated with any studios, labs, or workshops, but I would love to in the future.

Recommend one or more artists you follow who inspire you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
Greg Girard has been one of my favorite photographers. His documentation of different countries and the lives people lived in inspires my projects. The way he explores places and captures what genuinely interests him encourages me to find meaning in the details of daily life.

Eli Beaverson’s street photography inspires my work documenting people. I love how he frames his subjects and tells stories through a single image. He has a remarkable ability to find beauty in all kinds of environments.

Yusuke Nagata’s work capturing Japanese youth is deeply inspiring. He is documenting an important part of Japanese society, and it pushes me to think more intentionally about my current and future projects. He also runs Far East Darkroom, a publisher that supports artists from East Asia.