The UN left and the police stations crumbled into ruin. The gangs declared war and the people..they die in the midst of their relentless shoot-outs. The sound of gunfire had become a cruel melody in their ears. Last three years, a small voice in my heart grew louder and wilder: 'Can we talk about hope here?' That is when I heard the gentle whisper, a quiet but sweet melody. It was a melody that resonated through the impenetrable darkness—sound of children calling out for another day, that there will be a better tomorrow. For me, it was indeed a melody of hope.
Urim Hong is a editorial photographer who searches for light in the isolated world. After majoring in the humanities as well as pedagogy, he taught children for a decade and, in that process, found himself called to photography. He majored in photography at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. He captures various stories of the world on camera, including Haiti's City soleil project. He was selected as Editorial Photographer of the year at the 2018 IPA, 2019 MIFA and won 1st place in the editorial of the 2020 and 2022 IPA Awards.
Awards <2018>
2018 : International Photography Awards(IPA) / Editorial photographer of the Year/nonpro
2018 : International Photography Awards(IPA) / Editorial / 1st place
2018 : International Photography Awards(IPA) / Photo Essay / Honorable mentioned
2018 : Lucie Awards / Discovery of the Year finalist
2018 : Tokyo International Foto Awards(TIFA) / Editorial / Category winner 2nd
2018 : Tokyo International Foto Awards(TIFA) / People / Gold
2018 : Tokyo International Foto Awards(TIFA) / Children / Gold
2018 : Lensculture B&W Photography Awards finalist
<2019>
PDN EDU Awards
- Documentary Photographer of the Year
Moscow International Foto Awards(MIFA)
- Editorial Photographer of the Year(nonpro)
- Portfolio of the Year
- Photo Essay / Gold
- Personal portfolio / Gold
- People / Gold
2019 PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS
- Portraiture / Gold
- State of the World
<2020>
2020 Moscow International Foto Awards(MIFA)
- Ediorial,Personality / Gold
- Portrait,Children / Silver
2020 International Photography Awards(IPA)
- Editorial,Press / 1st place
- Jury Top 5 Selection / Professional
2020 Tokyo International Foto Awards(TIFA)
- People, Children / Gold
- Jury Top 5 Selection, Editorial
2020 Budapest International Foto Awards(BIFA)
- Event / 2nd place
- Event, music / Gold
<2021>
2021 Moscow International Foto Awards(MIFA)
- Events-sports / gold
2021 Budapest International Foto Awards(BIFA)
- Sports / gold
- Editorial / silver
2021 PX3 PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS
- Press, Feature Story / silver
- State of the world shortlist
<2022>
2022 International Photography Awards(IPA)
- Editorial, Press / 1st winner
- Best of Show, CURATOR SELECTION
2022 Budapest International Foto Awards(BIFA)
- Editorial-Photo Essay / gold
2022 Tokyo International Foto Awards(TIFA)
- Editorial-Personality / gold
