JONATHAN CHERRY: What time did you wake up today?

SE YOUNG: 7:00am

JC: What did you have for breakfast?

SY: Fresh summer peach, roasted twig tea & a handful of almonds.

JC: Who are your photography heroes?

SY: Anyone who isn’t following trends. Lone rangers. Contemporary photographers with an old-school eye. People whose work has longevity. Image makers that demand more from your eye and mind.

JC: Has something inspired you in the last 48 hours? If so, what and why?

SY: My mother’s strength and beauty. No, really. Enough said.

JC: What is your current project all about?

SY: Well, I’m currently working on a few seriously and have many ideas in the wings. The most flushed-out project is titled, Somewhere Between Here and There. This series explores different notions of what “home” can be and finding the common thread that ties all of those places together.

JC: How highly do you value the actual experience of photographing?

SY: The physical, tangible experience is sometimes a bit stressful for me in all honesty. There is a sort of ritual aspect that I quite like at times. Not to make it sound too serious, but by making images in a continuous way, you fall into some kind of pattern or groove. I also use it as a way to exercise and work out thoughts, so that becomes very therapeutic. 

JC: What is in store for you photographically over the second half of 2010?

SY: Hoping to start a zine/project space/blog with a friend between Seoul and Tokyo. Wanting to do some more travel throughout Asia and get inspired. Changing up my process a bit and keeping image making a bit looser. Making connections and collaborating with people whose work I admire.

JC: What does photography mean to you?

SY: It’s definitely always evolving. In school, photography meant studying and learning more ways to develop a skill set. The dialogue of critique was also essential in finding a voice and a way to express certain concepts. After that, I struggled with photography because I don’t feel like I define and limit myself by it. I’m not one of those people who eat, sleeps and breathes it - and for awhile I felt guilty because of that. Now, I feel like I’m coming to a place where my images and thoughts are coming together in a more cohesive way. I’ve found a way for photography to work for me.

JC: Any other thoughts?

SY: I’ve recently connected with many amazing and supportive photographers through the internet. I sound like an old woman saying this, but there is really no limit on who can access your work.  It really levels the playing field and gives people a voice who maybe normally wouldn’t be able to get their work out there. It also makes the community seem much more intimate, but the sheer volume of great work is also daunting at times.

Se also has a tumblr.