Min Hyunwoo’s sun-drenched photos capture the essence of youth

CNN — Summer is Min Hyunwoo’s favorite time of the year. For the 32-year-old South Korean photographer, it’s a period reminiscent of his childhood – an opportunity to relive vivid memories and create new, long-lasting ones.

“Summer is so short and fleeting,” the photographer said. “We have to wait so long to experience it again yet it’s interesting because it seems like we remember memories made in the summer forever.”

In Min’s latest series, “We Are Going to Live This Summer,” young men and women play in a large lake, submerging themselves at varying depths. Capturing subjects splashing, dragging their bodies through the water or playing with giant lotus leaves and lavender buds, the photographs demonstrate the subtle tenderness of youth.

"We Are Going to Live This Summer" was shot during sunset. Min was drawn to the "soft but sharp lighting" of the late afternoon hours.

CNN: What inspired your latest series? Aesthetically, what were you trying to achieve?

Min: I was very sick, emotionally, in the summer of 2018, so it felt like it had never happened. When 2019 came along, I wanted to keep hold of that summer.

I often think that we have a lot of time but there never seems to be enough. I was very upset about having had a meaningless summer, so this series is an apology for that.

Source: CNN Style