Taekwon-do Photography: John McKissok in Action

A Scenic Train Ride and a Surprise Tournament
My trip to photograph John McKissok started with a train ride into the countryside—one of my favourite ways to travel. Proper seats, a table, and views that unfold at a civilised pace. I was shooting John for Resident Magazine and honestly had no idea what I was walking into.

Turns out, I arrived in the middle of a local school Taekwon-do tournament: a sports hall full of frenetic energy, children sparring, and a rhythm that was as chaotic as it was abrupt. Matches began and ended with little warning—it was a kind of organised mayhem.

A Moment of Stillness (and Controlled Violence)
Once John was free, we found an empty hall nearby. It was perfect for what I had in mind: a minimalist space, shadows everywhere except on him—dressed head-to-toe in white. I set up two flashes facing each other and gave him a spot to jump to.

Because of flash recycle time, I only had one shot per jump. I assumed I’d miss most of them… but out of 60 jumps, nearly all the shots were spot on. None were cropped. The lighting froze him mid-air with crisp, theatrical clarity, and I love how it revealed the form and folds of the fabric. It felt dimensional, almost sculptural.

High Contrast, High Drama
This kind of lighting isn’t about beauty—it’s about structure, edges, and presence. For martial arts or other sports portraits, I think this dramatic, flash-driven style works perfectly. I’ll definitely be using it again.