Being lighted, ‘Bidirang,’ a club for monochrome photography
Everything, even a man, flower, and sky is rendered in black and white. Without the glamour of colors and bright look of the digital era, space is deeply and fully dyed with shade. The world that seems to be monotonous and dull is hardly refused when tasting its serenity. This is the world reflected and felt through the camera of ‘Bidirang,’ a club for monochrome photography. Somewhat crude black film is felt like a precious gift to us and a monochrome photograph is like long-forgotten and distant memory or a missing part in the hectic busy life. We met ‘Bidirang,’ a club for monochrome photography made by Kookmin people who fell in love with the charm of such black and white photograph.

Q. Introduce ‘Bidirang.’
‘Bidirang’ is a club for monochrome photography. We take a black and white photo, develop film, and exhibit photos. Since all works are in black and white, all photos go through the course of shooting and development not with a digital camera but with a film camera instead. The active club members who are currently attending the university are called YB and the graduates who keep participating in club activities are called OB. Including YB and OB, there are a total of about 170 members in ‘Bidirang.’ The club name ‘Bidirang’ means ‘to be lighted.’ It is a name that reflects the nature of a monochrome photograph as various outcomes are created depending on how an object is lighted and how much is subjected to light. At the early stage of the club, it was named as ‘Bugak Photography Club’ but was changed to its current name in 1991.

Q. What is your exhibition schedule?
We have an exhibition every semester and there is a regular exhibition of previous members for the 1st semester and an exhibition of new members in the 2nd semester. Whenever we have an exhibition, it is held for about a week to a week and a half in and out of the university. In case of intramural exhibition, it is held on the first floor of Bugak Hall and for extramural exhibition, it has been held in a gallery located around Cheonggye Brook. Also, a ‘small exhibition’ is held once a year oriented by new members. You saw a small exhibition on the fifth floor of Gyeongsang Hall in the previous 2nd semester. It was a great time for new members to feel their worth by learning about monochrome photograph under unfamiliar and challenging situations.

Q. What is the pride and joy of ‘Bidirang?’
‘Bidirang’ has a relatively big club room compared to that of other central clubs. Thanks to this, we were able to provide a darkroom and through this darkroom, members can easily and comfortably develop films. It is considered to be a quite important aspect as a photography club. The club members can hone their ability by taking photo as much as they want through the club room. In addition, we have solid club network as we have a large number of club members. We have weekly meetings and seminars to discuss the operational measures while teaching camera techniques to our members. For example, old club members easily teach about the structures of a camera as well as the taking and developing methods such as how to set the aperture and shutter of a camera and develop photos. Also, we take a photo for several days during the summer and winter break. These are times when we can completely focus on photographing as well as the time to develop camaraderie among club members under a different environment away from that of everyday life.

Q. Can you share some tips on how to take good monochrome photographs for other Kookmin people reading this interview?
As with every photo, it is important to shoot several times in monochrome photography. As mentioned earlier, monochrome photography is highly influenced by light. Depending on the amount, intensity, and location of light, we can obtain a variety of photos. It is even possible to realize a totally different outcome when light is used differently. For this reason, the possibility to obtain the desired photos increases when using light from various angles and shooting for several times.

Q. What are the charms of monochrome photography?
There is a thing spoken by the members of ‘Bidirang.’ They feel delight when an image is gradually reflected on a printout. Such is impossible through a DSLR or digital camera that grants access to a photograph through the screen. In case of a film camera, we cannot see the final work until the film is developed or when being processed. Since there is no color, the complete mood of a photo is only available when it is placed under exhibition light. Thus, we can completely feel the beauty of waiting through monochrome photography. Compared to DSLR that is set to automatically produce the perfect picture depending on situation, a film camera allows photo shooting of one’s own way through various manipulation techniques. That is the unique charm of monochrome photography.

Q. Tell us your comment to Kookmin people.
There are many people who question and feel distant about monochrome photography. It is true that monochrome photos are somewhat dull and boring. However, monochrome photography has its own charm. The unlimited harmonization created in black and white through light is as dynamic as the harmonization of various colors. I hope that more Kookmin people will see the new aspects of monochrome photography and be interested in it. ‘Bidirang’ welcomes trial members who join in ‘Bidirang.’

Like a photography club, the club room was full of photos along with the just-developed photos that are hanging with a strong strap, pile of black film set on the desks, albums filling the bookshelves, and photos reflecting the members’ faces. From the moment that is stained by time passes to the memory of yesterday, the time spent with the members of ‘Bidirang’ as well as the present of the members with big smile are shining bright in the club room. Maybe the objects that are lighted are not in the photos but on the members of ‘Bidirang.'