The New Media Collective

Why photoblogging? What made you choose this medium to display your work?
It sorta grew as a natural extension of my hobby and profession. Combining photography and technology—it was the perfect synergy for my life. I stumbled upon a few NYC-based photoblogs in the fall of '94 and till that point, I hadn't touched digital photography at all, but I was amazed by the stuff people were doing. Photoblogging has given me the opportunity to share my work with people around the globe. It's totally different than say, shooting a roll of film and just saving the contact sheet in a shoebox like in the old days. It's a complete experience.

Most of your photos are cityscapes and buildings shot at night. What attracts you to nighttime shooting? And to architecture?
I always thought I would answer that question by responding, "cause buildings don't move," but that doesn't seem to fit here. I really appreciate the challenge of night photography. It really makes the city come alive. It's amazing how different kinds of light can give a building various 'personalities.' I try to consider it like a character study or portraiture, and approach it in much the same way a studio photographer might shoot a model. What are the subject's best features? What kind of mood do I want to portray? What is the best angle? How can I compose this in a way that hasn't been done before?

Are your photos mostly planned or spontaneous? What makes you stop and say, "I've got to shoot that"?
I'd say more spontaneous. I'll usually walk or drive down random streets and just see if anything hits me. Sometimes though, I'll walk 40 blocks and not take a single picture (like today). Often I'll just be looking up, and it's pretty much a gut reaction when I see something I like. I try to mentally frame the shot first, and if it works, I'll shoot it.

The lighting in your photos gives them a surreal, otherworldly quality. Do you use flash, or available light with timed exposures? Tell us a little about your technique.
This is part of my fascination with night photography because you never know what you're gonna get. I never use flash, I don't even own one. It wouldn't make a difference when you're shooting something like a building or cityscape anyway. Most of my shots are timed exposures often with some experimentation to achieve different results. One of the most annoying things about shooting at night is the harsh orange glow cast by the infinite sea of NYC's Sodium Vapor lamps.

Do you use tools like Photoshop to enhance your photographs? If so, to what extent?
Though I'm no purist, I try to keep photoshopping down to a minimum. The better you take a picture in the field, the less you have to do at home.

Who are some of your artistic/photographic influences? Whose work do you admire?
I find the most inspiration from fellow photobloggers, the New Yorkers can be found at nyc.photobloggers.org and the rest at photoblogs.org.

Your photos often juxtapose the old and the new. Why does that attract you? Do you often find yourself caught between the two worlds?
There is so much history in New York City within the midsts of the current infrastructure. Tie this in with the current waves of gentrification happening all over, and it makes for some very interesting contrasts. I like subjects that are in a transitional state such as buildings under construction. By creating a visual chronicle of these changes, I have come to appreciate the documentary aspect of photography.

As a person of color, how do you feel about the digital divide? Do you believe it's closing? If not, what do you believe can, or should, be done about it, and who's responsibility is it to bridge the gap?
As someone who has leveraged technology to revolutionize his personal and professional life, I feel very strongly about this topic. Technology is a tool, but unlike other tools, it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to be implemented effectively and efficiently. The greater challenge is to provide an understanding about what technology is and its application in our lives, i.e. you can give someone a hammer, but that doesn't automatically make them a carpenter (or something like that). It's our responsibility to foster this curiosity within our communities and among our peers. Ultimately, we want to be able to empower ourselves to work "smarter," not harder.

Who is Jimmie Yoo outside of the blogosphere? What's your life like in the real world?
I have been taking a great interest in politics and how it affects us as minorities, as New Yorkers, as citizens, and as inhabitants of this planet. I am realizing the importance of awareness in this society of ours and regret that I was not aware of this earlier in life.

I am also learning what it is to have a girlfriend in New Jersey. The logistics of meeting more than once a week are quite daunting. But I'd rather be happy with someone who is slightly farther away, than be miserable with someone on my own block. And yes, it's very likely that I will soon become an ex-pat New Yorker.

What's next for you? Will your work be shown anywhere in the near future?
I have a few online collaborative projects in the works which I'll publicize in due time. In addition, you can expect a complete redesign of Cornershots coming soon.