Learning about Professor Sung Park from Newhouse School J-Camp on Vimeo.
By Vivian Gunn
Growing up, Sung Park just wanted to take art photos. But when he came to Syracuse University, he changed his major to photojournalism.
Park decided to become a photojournalist because he found more chances to meet people in the community. He was shy when he was younger, and he believed photojournalism would help him overcome his fear.
“I thought it would help me break out of my shell of shyness,” he said.
Park is working on a project called “bok-sa-jin.” This project shows the Korean tradition of a final portrait to remember those who’ve died.
Park considers Austin, Texas, his home but for the past few years, he has lived in Syracuse working on his master’s degree Syracuse University and he has a contract to teach at the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
“Newhouse offers a lot of really fine education in photojournalism, up-to-date media and debt,” he said.
When Park was 5, he took his first photo. Park was trying to use a camera but lost his balance and in the middle of stumbling, he took a photo of grass. In 4th or 5th grade, Park bought his first camera at a garage sale for $1.50 and used his allowance to buy film. This is when Park fell in love with photography. He started taking pictures of his friends and family. He also began using his creativity in his photographs.
“I had an early childhood fascination with the process of photography,” he said
His pictures are just a story or an idea, Park said, and the message varies so he doesn’t have a specific message for his photos.
While attending Syracuse University, Park discovered the importance of photography and photojournalism.
“When I got to Syracuse University, I really learned what photography can do for me and society and learned how to overcome that shyness and it led to a career in journalism,” he said.
Park worked for USA Today in Virginia covering Capitol Hill and later for 14 years in Austin as a photojournalist for the American Statesman.
In Austin, he recalled, “I got to know the community one person at a time.”
He describes photography as a way to connect with peopl“It’s a real important part of the society and its relevant to neighbors and people around the world,” he said.
Park has also had the chance to work with famous people. He has worked with Willie Nelson, Selena, Lyle Lovette, Dick Clark, Lady Bird Johnson and the Johnson family. He also photographed five presidents: Carter, Ford, Clinton and both Bushes.
Park’ s favorite photographer is Sabastio Salagato.
“All his photos are all around the whole world, black and white and powerful,” he said.
Five years ago, Park expanded to multimedia and video. He was applying for a job that demanded he shoot video. Now, video has opened more opportunities for him, he said.
Park teaches graduate and undergraduate students, teaches at J- Camp and gets paid for shooting video. He never studied video, he taught himself and he learned from his peers in Austin, Texas.
He describes his earlier work as preparing him for a career in teaching. “My number one priority is to teach here at Newhouse,” he said.
For future students who want to study photojournalism, Park advises to keep an open mind on what they want to study at Syracuse University. They should be a students of the world, understand what’s happening in the world and stay up on current events.
“Every photo is history, when documented, it’s already happened,” he said
Sung Park encourages students who wants to major in photojournalism, photography or video to attend Syracuse University. It has worked for him, he said.
“It’s been an incredible career,” he said.
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