it’s fair to say that North Korea is one of the most isolated least understood
of the most isolated least understood
of the most isolated least understood places on earth part of the reason that
places on earth part of the reason that
places on earth part of the reason that it is so misunderstood nothing is known
it is so misunderstood nothing is known
it is so misunderstood nothing is known about it there’s been very few
about it there’s been very few
about it there’s been very few photographs that have ever been taken
photographs that have ever been taken
photographs that have ever been taken there
The Associated Press in 2011 came up
The Associated Press in 2011 came up with the idea to open an office in North
with the idea to open an office in North
with the idea to open an office in North Korea and I begged them to let me be the
Korea and I begged them to let me be the
Korea and I begged them to let me be the Pyongyang photographer if it worked and
Pyongyang photographer if it worked and
Pyongyang photographer if it worked and they did I went there and that meant
they did I went there and that meant
they did I went there and that meant that I was the first Western
that I was the first Western
that I was the first Western photographer to ever have regular access
photographer to ever have regular access
photographer to ever have regular access to the country and between then and now
to the country and between then and now
to the country and between then and now I’ve made about 40 almost 50 trips to
I’ve made about 40 almost 50 trips to
I’ve made about 40 almost 50 trips to North Korea it was a very difficult
North Korea it was a very difficult
North Korea it was a very difficult place to work unlike any other you can’t
place to work unlike any other you can’t
place to work unlike any other you can’t just move around freely and do whatever
just move around freely and do whatever
just move around freely and do whatever you want a guide goes with you
you want a guide goes with you
you want a guide goes with you everywhere and they are sort of half
everywhere and they are sort of half
everywhere and they are sort of half facilitator half babysitter
facilitator half babysitter
facilitator half babysitter they didn’t censor what I did they
they didn’t censor what I did they
they didn’t censor what I did they didn’t put their hand in front of my
didn’t put their hand in front of my
didn’t put their hand in front of my lens but they did have a very different
lens but they did have a very different
lens but they did have a very different idea of how I should be portraying their
idea of how I should be portraying their
idea of how I should be portraying their country and in fact they had a very
country and in fact they had a very
country and in fact they had a very different idea of what photojournalism
different idea of what photojournalism
different idea of what photojournalism is completely the word propagandist is
is completely the word propagandist is
is completely the word propagandist is not a dirty word in North Korea it’s
not a dirty word in North Korea it’s
not a dirty word in North Korea it’s what they do at their news agency but I
what they do at their news agency but I
what they do at their news agency but I went there I think with an open mind and
went there I think with an open mind and
went there I think with an open mind and a free mind and a point of view this is
a free mind and a point of view this is
a free mind and a point of view this is their version of NASA on the week that
their version of NASA on the week that
their version of NASA on the week that the North Koreans were going to
the North Koreans were going to
the North Koreans were going to test-fire a missile the whole world was
test-fire a missile the whole world was
test-fire a missile the whole world was condemning them and saying that it was a
condemning them and saying that it was a
condemning them and saying that it was a test of a nuclear capable rocket the
test of a nuclear capable rocket the
test of a nuclear capable rocket the North Koreans are saying no this is a
North Koreans are saying no this is a
North Koreans are saying no this is a rocket we’re going to put into space to
rocket we’re going to put into space to
rocket we’re going to put into space to put a weather satellite so they took us
put a weather satellite so they took us
put a weather satellite so they took us there so that I could photograph it this
there so that I could photograph it this
there so that I could photograph it this is the best example what my job was
is the best example what my job was
is the best example what my job was while I was in North Korea I was
while I was in North Korea I was
while I was in North Korea I was interpreting reality trying to decide
interpreting reality trying to decide
interpreting reality trying to decide what was real and what was not real and
what was real and what was not real and
what was real and what was not real and I did that through photography the
I did that through photography the
I did that through photography the content of the photography but also the
content of the photography but also the
content of the photography but also the composition the humor the whimsy I
composition the humor the whimsy I
composition the humor the whimsy I wasn’t the senior most American diplomat
wasn’t the senior most American diplomat
wasn’t the senior most American diplomat in North Korea it was this guy here he
in North Korea it was this guy here he
in North Korea it was this guy here he is smoking cigar in the gym helping pick
is smoking cigar in the gym helping pick
is smoking cigar in the gym helping pick the national basketball team Dennis
the national basketball team Dennis
the national basketball team Dennis Rodman I covered the spectacles in the
Rodman I covered the spectacles in the
Rodman I covered the spectacles in the propaganda this was a mass synchronized
propaganda this was a mass synchronized
propaganda this was a mass synchronized swimming event for the birthday of the
swimming event for the birthday of the
swimming event for the birthday of the leader they were swimming or dancing to
leader they were swimming or dancing to
leader they were swimming or dancing to a song called we will defend Kim jong-un
a song called we will defend Kim jong-un
a song called we will defend Kim jong-un with our very lives and this is the
with our very lives and this is the
with our very lives and this is the National Football State
National Football State
National Football State and they hold this thing that they call
and they hold this thing that they call
and they hold this thing that they call mass games it’s like a wonder of the
mass games it’s like a wonder of the
mass games it’s like a wonder of the world a hundred thousand people in the
world a hundred thousand people in the
world a hundred thousand people in the stands holding these books with colored
stands holding these books with colored
stands holding these books with colored pages and they flip them and they create
pages and they flip them and they create
pages and they flip them and they create these mass mosaics they look like little
these mass mosaics they look like little
these mass mosaics they look like little pixels but you for the long enough lens
pixels but you for the long enough lens
pixels but you for the long enough lens you can see that they’re actually human
you can see that they’re actually human
you can see that they’re actually human pixels a little faces peeking over the
pixels a little faces peeking over the
pixels a little faces peeking over the tops of the books eggs with legs and
tops of the books eggs with legs and
tops of the books eggs with legs and sometimes you just have to photograph
sometimes you just have to photograph
sometimes you just have to photograph whatever’s right in front of you I don’t
whatever’s right in front of you I don’t
whatever’s right in front of you I don’t really have to try so hard that’s kind
really have to try so hard that’s kind
really have to try so hard that’s kind of the way I worked everywhere I went
of the way I worked everywhere I went
of the way I worked everywhere I went you know if they took me to a patriotic
you know if they took me to a patriotic
you know if they took me to a patriotic flag factory or a school for Performing
flag factory or a school for Performing
flag factory or a school for Performing Arts I just pretty much photographed
Arts I just pretty much photographed
Arts I just pretty much photographed what was in front of me I thought it was
what was in front of me I thought it was
what was in front of me I thought it was revealing to show how the Koreans wanted
revealing to show how the Koreans wanted
revealing to show how the Koreans wanted to present themselves in their country
to present themselves in their country
to present themselves in their country and over time I got further and further
and over time I got further and further
and over time I got further and further away from the spectacles and away from
away from the spectacles and away from
away from the spectacles and away from the Capitol and out into places that
the Capitol and out into places that
the Capitol and out into places that really no other foreigners had ever been
really no other foreigners had ever been
really no other foreigners had ever been and certainly very few photographers had
and certainly very few photographers had
and certainly very few photographers had ever seen and maybe was even more
ever seen and maybe was even more
ever seen and maybe was even more important to me is that I found my way
important to me is that I found my way
important to me is that I found my way into people’s homes and into people’s
into people’s homes and into people’s
into people’s homes and into people’s offices like this woman was a secretary
offices like this woman was a secretary
offices like this woman was a secretary at the Korean Central News Agency with
at the Korean Central News Agency with
at the Korean Central News Agency with her little aquarium full of fish and I
her little aquarium full of fish and I
her little aquarium full of fish and I could look into people’s eyes and feel
could look into people’s eyes and feel
could look into people’s eyes and feel like I actually could make a connection
like I actually could make a connection
like I actually could make a connection to Koreans I traveled within Secretary
to Koreans I traveled within Secretary
to Koreans I traveled within Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as she met
of State Madeleine Albright as she met
of State Madeleine Albright as she met with then leader Kim jong-il we stood in
with then leader Kim jong-il we stood in
with then leader Kim jong-il we stood in this Wizard of Oz looking Palace and
this Wizard of Oz looking Palace and
this Wizard of Oz looking Palace and we’re all alone waiting for him to come
we’re all alone waiting for him to come
we’re all alone waiting for him to come in the room and she’s looked at me and
in the room and she’s looked at me and
in the room and she’s looked at me and said what should I do
said what should I do
said what should I do where should I stand I said I don’t have
where should I stand I said I don’t have
where should I stand I said I don’t have no idea we stood on these big flowers
no idea we stood on these big flowers
no idea we stood on these big flowers and then the door open and he walked in
and then the door open and he walked in
and then the door open and he walked in and it was like I’d only seen this kind
and it was like I’d only seen this kind
and it was like I’d only seen this kind of fantasy on in a movie before and it
of fantasy on in a movie before and it
of fantasy on in a movie before and it was like he just stepped out of the
was like he just stepped out of the
was like he just stepped out of the screen into this room it was the first
screen into this room it was the first
screen into this room it was the first time that I understood how I connected
time that I understood how I connected
time that I understood how I connected to the that country and how surreal and
to the that country and how surreal and
to the that country and how surreal and how I connected as a photographer but
how I connected as a photographer but
how I connected as a photographer but also it was the first time I realized
also it was the first time I realized
also it was the first time I realized how important the work that I could do
how important the work that I could do
how important the work that I could do there if I could only invest my time and
there if I could only invest my time and
there if I could only invest my time and commit to the place it wasn’t easy at
commit to the place it wasn’t easy at
commit to the place it wasn’t easy at the beginning everyone watches you there
the beginning everyone watches you there
the beginning everyone watches you there and on my first trip with Madeleine
and on my first trip with Madeleine
and on my first trip with Madeleine Albright when it came out of the airport
Albright when it came out of the airport
Albright when it came out of the airport they drew the drapes on the bus
they drew the drapes on the bus
they drew the drapes on the bus put black plastic over the windows of my
put black plastic over the windows of my
put black plastic over the windows of my hotel I couldn’t see out I felt like
hotel I couldn’t see out I felt like
hotel I couldn’t see out I felt like there was nothing real out there was all
there was nothing real out there was all
there was nothing real out there was all just a facade but over the years through
just a facade but over the years through
just a facade but over the years through photography I could peek around out to
photography I could peek around out to
photography I could peek around out to the other side of those curtains and I
the other side of those curtains and I
the other side of those curtains and I came to understand that there was real
came to understand that there was real
came to understand that there was real life in North Korea and through my
life in North Korea and through my
life in North Korea and through my pictures I tried to take everybody else
pictures I tried to take everybody else
pictures I tried to take everybody else on that same journey there was no better
on that same journey there was no better
on that same journey there was no better place than North Korea to test the power
place than North Korea to test the power
place than North Korea to test the power of photography photography carries
of photography photography carries
of photography photography carries meaning and mood in ways that writing or
meaning and mood in ways that writing or
meaning and mood in ways that writing or any other medium can’t so when this pale
any other medium can’t so when this pale
any other medium can’t so when this pale pink curtain comes down just covers the
pink curtain comes down just covers the
pink curtain comes down just covers the eyes of the people in Pyongyang I can
eyes of the people in Pyongyang I can
eyes of the people in Pyongyang I can say something that I couldn’t say in
say something that I couldn’t say in
say something that I couldn’t say in words and photography has multiple
words and photography has multiple
words and photography has multiple meanings and interpretations this is
meanings and interpretations this is
meanings and interpretations this is kind of how I survived there the line
kind of how I survived there the line
kind of how I survived there the line that I walked this was a vocational
that I walked this was a vocational
that I walked this was a vocational school for children to teach them how to
school for children to teach them how to
school for children to teach them how to be farmers the Koreans took me there and
be farmers the Koreans took me there and
be farmers the Koreans took me there and they were very proud to show me this
they were very proud to show me this
they were very proud to show me this very high-tech tractor simulator of
very high-tech tractor simulator of
very high-tech tractor simulator of course for people outside they see it
course for people outside they see it
course for people outside they see it differently we see their care and their
differently we see their care and their
differently we see their care and their love for their children but to us this
love for their children but to us this
love for their children but to us this is a practice tractor with this sort of
is a practice tractor with this sort of
is a practice tractor with this sort of dose level computer terminal on top we
dose level computer terminal on top we
dose level computer terminal on top we had a lot of very tough arguments about
had a lot of very tough arguments about
had a lot of very tough arguments about why did you take that photograph we saw
why did you take that photograph we saw
why did you take that photograph we saw that picture that doesn’t make us look
that picture that doesn’t make us look
that picture that doesn’t make us look good but I could always fall back on
good but I could always fall back on
good but I could always fall back on photography I could hold it up and say
photography I could hold it up and say
photography I could hold it up and say this is what I saw I was there this is
this is what I saw I was there this is
this is what I saw I was there this is what we saw I use many different camera
what we saw I use many different camera
what we saw I use many different camera formats not just to be arty but because
formats not just to be arty but because
formats not just to be arty but because of the cat-and-mouse game I had to play
of the cat-and-mouse game I had to play
of the cat-and-mouse game I had to play when I worked this is an old-fashioned
when I worked this is an old-fashioned
when I worked this is an old-fashioned camera that don’t make anymore a
camera that don’t make anymore a
camera that don’t make anymore a Hasselblad X pan a film camera I wore it
Hasselblad X pan a film camera I wore it
Hasselblad X pan a film camera I wore it around my neck I had a cable release so
around my neck I had a cable release so
around my neck I had a cable release so I could just talk and smile take
I could just talk and smile take
I could just talk and smile take pictures and I had a little carpenter’s
pictures and I had a little carpenter’s
pictures and I had a little carpenter’s level in the flash mount so I can make
level in the flash mount so I can make
level in the flash mount so I can make sure that my horizons are always
sure that my horizons are always
sure that my horizons are always straight and when I picked up my big
straight and when I picked up my big
straight and when I picked up my big fancy National Geographic camera
fancy National Geographic camera
fancy National Geographic camera sometimes people were a bit intimidated
sometimes people were a bit intimidated
sometimes people were a bit intimidated and the guide certainly watched me a
and the guide certainly watched me a
and the guide certainly watched me a little bit more closely but when I use
little bit more closely but when I use
little bit more closely but when I use this one they would say oh that’s just
this one they would say oh that’s just
this one they would say oh that’s just David’s old-timey camera and I did the
David’s old-timey camera and I did the
David’s old-timey camera and I did the same with my mobile phone I took my
same with my mobile phone I took my
same with my mobile phone I took my mobile phone and
mobile phone and
mobile phone and North Korea everybody by now is a mobile
North Korea everybody by now is a mobile
North Korea everybody by now is a mobile phone photographer we all are even the
phone photographer we all are even the
phone photographer we all are even the North Koreans take pictures with their
North Koreans take pictures with their
North Koreans take pictures with their phones believe it or not and I was able
phones believe it or not and I was able
phones believe it or not and I was able to do things that I couldn’t do with my
to do things that I couldn’t do with my
to do things that I couldn’t do with my big cameras it was normal for them to
big cameras it was normal for them to
big cameras it was normal for them to see me with a mobile phone taking
see me with a mobile phone taking
see me with a mobile phone taking pictures and I would also stop and
pictures and I would also stop and
pictures and I would also stop and photograph things that I wouldn’t
photograph things that I wouldn’t
photograph things that I wouldn’t normally notice if I was working as a
normally notice if I was working as a
normally notice if I was working as a photojournalist things that you rush
photojournalist things that you rush
photojournalist things that you rush past on your way to telling the news
past on your way to telling the news
past on your way to telling the news things that are a little simple still
things that are a little simple still
things that are a little simple still lives that make up the life around you
lives that make up the life around you
lives that make up the life around you and they’re pieces of the puzzle and
and they’re pieces of the puzzle and
and they’re pieces of the puzzle and explaining a country like North Korea
explaining a country like North Korea
explaining a country like North Korea they didn’t allow mobile phones into the
they didn’t allow mobile phones into the
they didn’t allow mobile phones into the country until 2013 he used to be I would
country until 2013 he used to be I would
country until 2013 he used to be I would arrive at the country and they would
arrive at the country and they would
arrive at the country and they would take it away and lock it up in a box
take it away and lock it up in a box
take it away and lock it up in a box 2013 they suddenly said Oh foreigners
2013 they suddenly said Oh foreigners
2013 they suddenly said Oh foreigners can bring their phones into the country
can bring their phones into the country
can bring their phones into the country not only that but they opened a 3G
not only that but they opened a 3G
not only that but they opened a 3G network Koryo link and you could do
network Koryo link and you could do
network Koryo link and you could do everything that we do anywhere with our
everything that we do anywhere with our
everything that we do anywhere with our phones right in the streets of North
phones right in the streets of North
phones right in the streets of North Korea suddenly I was sending pictures to
Korea suddenly I was sending pictures to
Korea suddenly I was sending pictures to the world tens of thousands of people
the world tens of thousands of people
the world tens of thousands of people following me right from a village or on
following me right from a village or on
following me right from a village or on the street in that way sort of
the street in that way sort of
the street in that way sort of everything became worthy of photography
everything became worthy of photography
everything became worthy of photography worthy of my attention I think a piece
worthy of my attention I think a piece
worthy of my attention I think a piece in the puzzle I started buying things
in the puzzle I started buying things
in the puzzle I started buying things collecting things and photographing them
collecting things and photographing them
collecting things and photographing them and putting them out on my Instagram
and putting them out on my Instagram
and putting them out on my Instagram account I started an artefact series
account I started an artefact series
account I started an artefact series North Korean artifact 101-102
North Korean artifact 101-102
North Korean artifact 101-102 this was the first one the great teacher
this was the first one the great teacher
this was the first one the great teacher of journalists a book I bought in the
of journalists a book I bought in the
of journalists a book I bought in the bookshop North Korean artifact 102
bookshop North Korean artifact 102
bookshop North Korean artifact 102 mountain mushroom moonshine hangover
mountain mushroom moonshine hangover
mountain mushroom moonshine hangover chaser tea I think this one was made for
chaser tea I think this one was made for
chaser tea I think this one was made for export money that was no longer in
export money that was no longer in
export money that was no longer in circulation a debit card from the bank
circulation a debit card from the bank
circulation a debit card from the bank sheet music for piano a cookbook from
sheet music for piano a cookbook from
sheet music for piano a cookbook from North Korea here’s a good one the
North Korea here’s a good one the
North Korea here’s a good one the intercontinental ballistic missile test
intercontinental ballistic missile test
intercontinental ballistic missile test firing commemorative greeting card and
firing commemorative greeting card and
firing commemorative greeting card and these were a hedgehog quill toothpicks I
these were a hedgehog quill toothpicks I
these were a hedgehog quill toothpicks I photographed them all and they became
photographed them all and they became
photographed them all and they became this sort of popular or like museum
this sort of popular or like museum
this sort of popular or like museum series on my Instagram account so every
series on my Instagram account so every
series on my Instagram account so every day I would go out to some new and
day I would go out to some new and
day I would go out to some new and strange place this was a flower festival
strange place this was a flower festival
strange place this was a flower festival for their national flowers the Kim Jong
for their national flowers the Kim Jong
for their national flowers the Kim Jong Aliyah and the Kindle Suniya and I would
Aliyah and the Kindle Suniya and I would
Aliyah and the Kindle Suniya and I would go back to my hotel and I would
go back to my hotel and I would
go back to my hotel and I would my pictures back to the newspapers and
my pictures back to the newspapers and
my pictures back to the newspapers and magazines and I would post these on
magazines and I would post these on
magazines and I would post these on Instagram and I had nothing else to do
Instagram and I had nothing else to do
Instagram and I had nothing else to do the only thing that I could do was watch
the only thing that I could do was watch
the only thing that I could do was watch state sponsored propaganda on TV so I
state sponsored propaganda on TV so I
state sponsored propaganda on TV so I would sit and read the comments on
would sit and read the comments on
would sit and read the comments on Instagram and people would ask me
Instagram and people would ask me
Instagram and people would ask me questions and I would answer them and
questions and I would answer them and
questions and I would answer them and they would have all these stereotypes
they would have all these stereotypes
they would have all these stereotypes and I would get into arguments and it
and I would get into arguments and it
and I would get into arguments and it was my form of entertainment while I was
was my form of entertainment while I was
was my form of entertainment while I was there they called him followers on
there they called him followers on
there they called him followers on Instagram but it felt like that feel
Instagram but it felt like that feel
Instagram but it felt like that feel like they followed me out into the field
like they followed me out into the field
like they followed me out into the field that they were with me when I was there
that they were with me when I was there
that they were with me when I was there they became interested in North Korea
they became interested in North Korea
they became interested in North Korea that became invested in me and what I
that became invested in me and what I
that became invested in me and what I was doing and it was a very different
was doing and it was a very different
was doing and it was a very different experience that I’d ever had as a
experience that I’d ever had as a
experience that I’d ever had as a photojournalist
photojournalist
photojournalist so just publishing at people it was a
so just publishing at people it was a
so just publishing at people it was a more dynamic conversation and it wasn’t
more dynamic conversation and it wasn’t
more dynamic conversation and it wasn’t just Instagram I was doing all social
just Instagram I was doing all social
just Instagram I was doing all social media with my phone in North Korea
media with my phone in North Korea
media with my phone in North Korea Instagram I was tweeting I started using
Instagram I was tweeting I started using
Instagram I was tweeting I started using Foursquare i rated did restaurant
Foursquare i rated did restaurant
Foursquare i rated did restaurant reviews in Pyongyang and I opened up
reviews in Pyongyang and I opened up
reviews in Pyongyang and I opened up Google Maps one day and I saw that it
Google Maps one day and I saw that it
Google Maps one day and I saw that it was practically empty
was practically empty
was practically empty and so through Foursquare I started
and so through Foursquare I started
and so through Foursquare I started plotting red flags naming streets and
plotting red flags naming streets and
plotting red flags naming streets and naming intersections and buildings where
naming intersections and buildings where
naming intersections and buildings where else in the world can you feel like in
else in the world can you feel like in
else in the world can you feel like in the 21st century feel like a National
the 21st century feel like a National
the 21st century feel like a National Geographic Explorer from the 19th
Geographic Explorer from the 19th
Geographic Explorer from the 19th century besides North Korea with a
century besides North Korea with a
century besides North Korea with a mobile phone all I really wanted to do
mobile phone all I really wanted to do
mobile phone all I really wanted to do when I was there was open a window onto
when I was there was open a window onto
when I was there was open a window onto a country that people knew nothing about
a country that people knew nothing about
a country that people knew nothing about to get past all the geopolitics and all
to get past all the geopolitics and all
to get past all the geopolitics and all the saber-rattling between countries and
the saber-rattling between countries and
the saber-rattling between countries and to show that some young army conscript
to show that some young army conscript
to show that some young army conscript like that was a real person and to show
like that was a real person and to show
like that was a real person and to show that there was something worth
that there was something worth
that there was something worth understanding and worth discovering
understanding and worth discovering
understanding and worth discovering there I had never photographed birds
there I had never photographed birds
there I had never photographed birds before I’m not a I wasn’t a bird watcher
before I’m not a I wasn’t a bird watcher
before I’m not a I wasn’t a bird watcher and my friends who are all conflict
and my friends who are all conflict
and my friends who are all conflict photographers said you’re taking
photographers said you’re taking
photographers said you’re taking pictures of birds like going on
”
Be First to Comment