While documenting the homeless, this photographer found her own father

1_photographer found her homeless father

BY: SHAY ANSARI

Photographer, Diana Kim, was working on a project documenting the homeless when she discovered her own estranged father. In 2003, Kim began her project photographing homeless communities in Hawaii where she grew up. As a child, her father owned a photography studio, sparking her interest in the art. However, she started to see less of him when her parents separated, and eventually lost touch with him all together.

Kim pursued her project for many years and in 2012, she stumbled upon her own father in Honolulu where she was shooting the local homeless.

Kim pursued the project for many years and in 2012, she stumbled upon her own father in Honolulu where she was shooting the local homeless. He had lost an excessive amount of weight and was suffering from schizophrenia. “I eventually did walk up to him at the corner of the intersection and called out to him. He didn’t respond or turn around, so I stood there trying to get him to look at me and acknowledge me. It was at that moment when a woman came up to me and said, ‘Don’t bother, he stands there all the time.’” She tells NextShark in an interview.

“I eventually did walk up to him at the corner of the intersection and called out to him. He didn’t respond or turn around, so I stood there trying to get him to look at me and acknowledge me. It was at that moment when a woman came up to me and said, ‘Don’t bother, he stands there all the time.’”

Kim’s father didn’t recognize her but it didn’t diminish her spirit. She regularly returned to the same spot to keep an eye on him despite the fact that he refused any help.

In 2014, he had a heart attack that landed him in the hospital. Kim rushed to his side, relieved to find him looking much better. Just before leaving, her father woke up and called her name. “Having the heart attack truly saved his life. It gave him the opportunity to get back on a treatment plan. And he has been on it ever since.” Kim tells NBC.

Since the heart attack, Kim and her father have reunited. “My father is doing really well today. He is really proud of the fact that he has overcome such incredible adversity…He has goals, he has hope, and he has the will to succeed…”