LEAVING NYC

I've been back in Seoul from my East Coast adventure for about a month already, but I only just picked up 18 rolls of "personal" film from my lab in Chungmuro this week.  We've had a lot going on recently: we moved into a new (3-bedroom!) apartment at the beginning of this month, Jenny finished her job contract and is settling back into the ever-important role of stay-at-home mom, and I've been preparing for my SHIFT/TILT: SEOUL photography workshop, set for this weekend.  Lots of exciting things going on, but these street and personal images from my last few days in NYC were a nice reprieve from juggling so much recently.

Enjoy, and please say "hi".  I know I have many visitors who prefer to stay anonymous, but I'd love for you to leave a comment or question. :)

-Romin

p.s.  It's our second son Joely's first birthday today!  Happy Birthday Joel!

Shot on Leica M6 + 50mm Summicron f/2 and Canon Elan 7 + EF 35mm f/2.  Portra 400 and Ilford HP5 400.

ANNIKA + JOSHUA  //  PASADENA, MARYLAND

Annika and Josh were married on Chesapeake Bay in Pasadena, Maryland last month.  I feel truly blessed that they had enough faith in me and my work that they would fly me halfway around the world from Seoul to have me document their rehearsal dinner and wedding.  I actually tried suggesting to Annika that it would be more convenient and cost-effective if they hired one of a handful of photographers I recommended on the East Coast instead.  Annika didn't find that an acceptable alternative, and a few months later I found myself on a week-long trip to Washington DC by way of Shanghai and New York City.  I'm grateful that she was insistent.

This was actually my first wedding that I documented completely on film -- I used primarily my Leica M6 with a 50mm Summicron f/2.  I used Kodak Tri-X 400 for the black and whites and shot a handful of rolls on Portra 400;  22 rolls in total over the two days, or 792 frames.  It was definitely a lesson in patience waiting for decisive moments.  The camera itself is so quiet and non-intrusive.  I felt like many of the people I was photographing had quite an easy time letting down their guard, allowing me to focus on the moment at hand.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much I as enjoyed being a witness for them.

SHIFT/TILT WORKSHOPS. NYC PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP.

SHIFT/TILT: NYC CLOSING NIGHT
5D MARK II / 16-35L / 20" EXPOSURE / 2 OFF-CAMERA FLASHES
CONCEPT BY ROMIN LEE JOHNSON AND TONY YANG
SHOT BY ROMIN; POST-PRODUCTION BY TONY
MODEL - RONA

Thanks to Shira Weinberger for letting us steal her NYC rooftop for an evening, and for all the students.

BORA + DAVID. KOREA PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER.

David and Bora flew in from New York City to honor Bora's parents and her heritage with a traditional Korean wedding. I was very blessed to be a witness and to be entrusted with documenting their singular love for one another. David plays lead guitar and backup vocals for The Vanguard.

Shot with a Leica M6 and Contax 645 on Portra 400 film.

SHIFT/TILT:NYC  //  MAYA VS. IRENE

Shot on Leica M6 / Portra 400 / Tri-X 400