Hi! I’m Hyunju Blemel

(Pronounced Hyeon-joo Bleh-muhl)

I am a second-generation Korean American raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I started taking photos at a young age as a creative hobby. Soon, I was carrying a camera with me at all times and capturing every possible moment I could—using my friends and family as subjects, or capturing the natural beauty of our enchanting desert landscapes.

I attended The University of New Mexico and graduated with a degree in Integrated Studies, with a focus in Marketing & Communications. During my time there, I worked for several private, state, and university organizations doing graphic design, print design, social media marketing, and of course, photography!

After graduating, I was a full-time content creator for Dion’s Pizza. These days, I'm back at UNM as a Marketing Representative for University Communication & Marketing doing photography and design. I love photography because I love meeting new people, getting to know them, and capturing their joy.

My work has been featured on billboards, in national ad campaigns, in Scribendi magazine, in Conceptions Southwest magazine, and been exhibited at various galleries at The University of New Mexico, the Albuquerque Museum, and more. Below you can find an extensive portfolio of all my professional work.

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to meeting and learning more about you.


Hyunju Blemel Photography is a US Government Small Business Administration (SBA) program certified Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned Small Business and 8(a) Minority-Owned Small Business. 


Awards

2024

  • University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show (Competition Among Schools & Colleges in the U.S. & Canada)
  • Excellence in Special Event Print Collateral, Graphic Design - Silent Lights 2023 (Matthew Saavedra & Hyunju Blemel)
  • Gold in Campus Photography Series – UNM North Golf Course
  • Silver in Student Life Photography Series – Silent Lights 2023
  • Silver in Arts & Culture Photography Series - Cherry on Top Hot Air Balloon
  • Excellence in Athletics Photography Series - Rio Grande Rivalry Football Game - Student Section
  • Excellence in Science & Research Photography Series - Clayton Lake State Park
  • Excellence & Judge's Choice in Student Life Photography Series - Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Hot Air Balloon Regatta
  • View all the winners here.

2023

  • Hermes Creative Awards (International Competition)
  • Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Platinum in Print Media, Photography, Event and Lifestyle Photography – The Lobo Life Photography Series
  • Jon Sanchez, Josiah Garza, Hyunju Blemel: Honorable Mention in Print Media Design, Illustration/Graphic Design – Lobo Day 2022
  • Honorable Mention in Print Media, Photography, Advertising – UNM Brand Photography Series
  • University & College Designers Association (Competition Among Schools & Colleges in the U.S. & Canada)
  • The eighteen judges evaluated 728 entries, awarding 146 awards—12 Gold Awards, 21 Silver Awards and 113 Awards of Excellence.
  • Excellence in Student Life Photography Series – Silent Lights 2022
  • Excellence in Student Life Photography Series – Balloon Fiesta
  • Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Red Rally
  • Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Student Health & Counseling
  • Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – UNM Branded Event
  • Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series – Kamala Harris Visit to UNM

2022

  • Albuquerque Business First, Inno Under 25, Innovation Award
  • MarComm Awards (International Competition)
  • Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp: Gold in Print Media Photography, Advertising, Red Rally Photo Series

2020

  • Western Regional Honors Council Photography Award
  • UNM Honors College Outstanding Senior Award

2019

  • New Mexico State Parks Partnership of the Year (UNM's The Lobo Life project lead & point of contact)
  • UNM Student Employee of the Year finalist (top 3)
  • UNM Leadership and Involvement Award 

2016

  • Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham’s Congressional Art Competition Juror’s Choice
  • City of Albuquerque Public Permanent Art Collection Purchase Award
  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, mixed media, Elements of Design, first place
  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital photography, Yo, second place
  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Hotel Lines, honorable mention
  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Railyard Fantasma, honorable mention
  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, digital special techniques, Rust, honorable mention
  • Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Railyard Fantasma, digital art gold key award winner, American Visions & Voices Nominee best of show. 
  • Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Hotel Lines, digital art silver key award winner
  • Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, digital art, Surrealismo, digital art honorable mention

2015

  • International Robotic Sailing Regatta One Meter First Place (Newfoundland, CAN). Designed and programmed an unmanned autonomous robotic sailboat
  • Scholastic Art and Writing Regional Art Competition, photography, Texture Dyptich, photography gold key award winner

2014

  • APS Metro Youth Art Exhibit, silver photography, Lumen Print, first place

UNM North Golf Course, Gold in Campus Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

The University of New Mexico has two golf courses. To capture the beauty and convenience of the North Golf Course, a sunrise photoshoot was organized with a small group. A narrow aperture of f/22 was used to capture a wide photo of a golfer on the course, showcasing the stunning sunbeams over the Sandia Mountains with maximum depth of field. For detailed shots, a wide aperture of f/1.4 was used to create a shallow depth of field, bringing focus to specific elements like a golf ball or faces while blurring the background.

Silent Lights 2023, Silver in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

Silent Lights is an innovative homecoming dance featuring multiple DJs across three stages, where students wear light-up headphones to tune into different channels, creating a vibrant silent disco experience. Photographing this event presented unique challenges due to the low-light conditions. ISO settings were carefull managed and a 85mm f/1.4 lens was utilized to minimize grain and preserve image quality. This was crucial for the large-scale prints planned for a new building’s wall display. To accurately convey the event's energy and scale, we secured access to the fifth-floor roof of an adjacent building. From this vantage point, 30-second exposures were done to capture the dynamic interplay of lights and the movement of the crowd below

Cherry on Top Hot Air Balloon, Silver in Arts & Culture Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

Have you ever wondered how a hot air balloon takes flight? Well, here’s how! First, our incredible crew lays out the envelope and fills it with air using a big fan. Then, our pilot Travis will use the burner to heat up the air inside, because as you may know, heat rises. Once a Zebra (yes, a Zebra! AKA an official launch director) gives pilot Travis a thumbs up (and throws a ‘Bo), Travis adds more 🔥🔥🔥, and off it goes! Cherry on Top is The University of New Mexico's hot air balloon, which was unveiled at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world. The photographer woke up at 3:00 am eight times to capture this series. One time they even went up in a hot air balloon!

Rio Grande Rivalry Football Game - Student Section, Excellence in Athletics Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

The Rio Grande Rivalry game between New Mexico State University (NMSU) and The University of New Mexico (UNM) alternates between cities. This year, UNM hosted. This series focuses on the excitement and enthusiasm of the student fans, who are incredible supporters of UNM athletics. These photographs highlight the students' school spirit as they proudly wear cherry and enthusiastically throw a 'Bo. The images celebrate the passion, energy, and unwavering support of the student section, emphasizing their essential role in creating an electrifying atmosphere at The University of New Mexico.

Elephant Butte Lake State Park - Hot Air Balloon Regatta - Judge's Choice & Excellence in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

This series highlights a destination for students at The University of New Mexico, focusing on the Hot Air Balloon Regatta at Elephant Butte Lake State Park. To capture the event’s dynamic energy, a fast shutter speed was used as the boat was constantly in motion. The striking blue skies against the vibrant rainbow colors of the hot air balloons created visually stunning images. Taken in partnership with New Mexico State Parks, with park rangers driving the boat, these photographs showcase the incredible recreational opportunities available to students.

"This series brightened my eyes and made me wish I was at this school"
-Kat Wilson, UCDA Design Awards Show Judge, Freelance Photographer & Marketing Director

Clayton Lake State Park - Excellence in Science & Research Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

This series highlights Clayton Lake State Park and Dinosaur Trackways, emphasizing its research significance, recreational services, and state tourism appeal. Located 15 miles north of Clayton, New Mexico, and 4 hours from The University of New Mexico Main Campus, the park is renowned for its stargazing, being the state of New Mexico’s first dark sky park and an International Dark Sky Park. The night photo was captured as a single 30-second exposure using a tripod & intervalometer. By day, trails and over five hundred dinosaur footprints highlight the park's historical value, while the 170-acre reservoir offers boating, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, camping, and bass fishing.

Silent Lights 2023 - Excellence in Special Event Print Collateral, Graphic Design (Matthew Saavedra, Hyunju Blemel, Ethan Rule, & Debra West)

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show


For Silent Lights 2023, I collaborated with key stakeholders to coordinate and execute the event, including the Director of University Marketing, Ethan Rule; Creative Services Manager, Debra West; Marketing Assistant, Matthew Saavedra; ASUNM Student Special Events; and the UNM Student Activities Center.


As a Project Manager, I:

  • Helped select the team to create the installation, UNM Masters of Architecture Alumni Kaitlin Kerl and Justin Grove.
  • Oversaw the budget, production, installation, event interactions, and removal.
  • Incorporated the installation into a visually compelling theme: Neon Bosque.
  • Managed the timeline, deadlines, photography/videography shot lists, and staff assignments.
  • Decided and placed promotional item orders, including volunteer t-shirts, holographic sticker designs, bandanas, and LED light batons.
  • Developed a promotion strategy with Institutional Social Media Manager, Sarah Carsrud, which included:
  • Social media graphics and posts
  • Digital signs across campus
  • A toolkit for cross-promotion across campus


Creative Design:

  • Primary illustration credit goes to the incredibly talented Matthew Saavedra.
  • Together, we workshopped, revised, and executed the designs.
  • I assembled his illustrations into designs for flyers, social media posts, standing banners, and event signage.


Outcome:

The Lobo Life - Platinum in Print Media, Photography, Event and Lifestyle Photography (Hyunju Blemel & Benjamin Thorp)

Hermes Creative Awards

These photographs capture Lobos from The University of New Mexico experiencing a unique part of University and New Mexican culture. These experiences are what it means to live “the Lobo life” and build a community of students passionate about what UNM has to offer. The goal of these images was to engage current students with uniquely UNM experiences, while simultaneously marketing towards prospective students by showcasing, not only why our University is special, but what their life can be like as a Lobo. These photographs are actively being used as University collateral to promote curiosity outside of the classroom.

Kamala Harris Visit to UNM - Honorable Mention in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham, and Chair of the OB-GYN Department at The University of New Mexico Hospital, Eve Espey, moderated a conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris on protecting reproductive health care rights at The University of New Mexico on October 25, 2022. The event was closed to the public, and White House press passes were issued, including to a photographer at UNM University Communication and Marketing, who captured these images.

Silent Lights 2022 - Excellence in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

Balloon Fiesta - Excellence in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

Student Health & Counseling - Excellence in Student Life Photography Series

University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Awards Show

The University of New Mexico Student Health and Counseling (SHAC) underwent an extensive 1.25-million-dollar remodel, updating three floors and all departments. The goal of the photoshoot was to fully refresh the existing photos, as they could no longer be used. Services include a pharmacy, lab, medical appointments, and more. The UNM SHAC provides quality health and counseling services to all UNM students to foster student success. The mission is to enhance the wellbeing of students through access to the highest quality health care, education and advocacy. Fees charged at SHAC are much lower than community rates and is funded in part by student fees. SHAC is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Healthcare (AAAHC).


Publications

View the published research paper here: Improved Fish Tagging Technology: Field Test Results & Analysis


Page 57. 삼세대: 자화상 Samsedae: Jahwasang (Three Generations: Self-Portrait). Pigment Pigment print on archival fabric with wooden dowel, 47’' x 24’’, 2020.

Page 69 (right). 웅녀춤: 자화상 Ungnyeo Chūm: Jahwasang (Bear Woman Dance: Self Portrait). Pigment print on archival paper, 2020.


Page 48 & 49. 호랑이 1998: 자화상 Horangi 1998: Jahwasang (Tiger 1998: Self Portrait). Pigment print on archival paper, 13’’ x 19’’, 2020.

Page 2 (right). 기억아, 네가 필요해: 자화상 Gieogah, nega pilyohae: Jahwasang (Memory, I need you: Self Portrait). Pigment print on archival paper, 13’’ x 19’’, 2020.

Page 60 (left). Emma. Pigment print on archival paper, 2020.

Page 38 (left). Welcome Home. Pigment print on archival paper, 2019.

Page 66 (left). Sky Conquered. Pigment print on archival paper, 2019.


Solo Exhibitions

2019

Pieces, The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.

2017- Present

Invisible Labor, Kitch Cleaners, Albuquerque, NM, 2017- (ongoing).


Group Exhibitions

2022

Alumni Homecoming Exhibition, Modern Dirndl, The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2022

2021    

A Yellow Rose Project 

Washington and Lee University, Staniar Gallery, Lexington, Virginia, October 4 - November 3, 2021 

Boston University, The Faye G., Jo, and James Stone Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts, June 1 - September 17, 2021 

University of Arkansas, sUgAR Gallery, Fayetteville, Arkansas  

2020     

A Yellow Rose Project 

PhotoNOLA, THE FRONT Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, Dec. 12-Jan. 3, 2021  

Texas Christian University, The Mary Couts Burnett Library, Fort Worth, Texas Oct-Nov. 

Old Dominion University, Gordon Art Galleries, Norfolk, Virginia, Oct. 14-Nov. 6 

Eleanor Wilson Museum, Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia, October 23 

Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, October 29 

Colorado Photographic Arts Center, Denver, Colorado October 9-November 21 

Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, August 26-29 

The University of New Mexico, Spectra Gallery, Albuquerque, New Mexico, August 18-Oct. 30 

2019

These Systems Are Not Static: Land Arts of the American West, The University of New Mexico, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.

Dia De Los Muertos, The University of New Mexico, Masley Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2019.

2018

For Freedoms, The University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, NM, 2018.

2017

Arts Unexpected, The University of New Mexico, John Sommers Gallery, Albuquerque, NM, 2017.

2015

Focus on Youth, Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM, 2015.


Conference Presentations

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) D4 Conference (<- these are hyperlinked if you want to learn more about the organizations!)

2020: Dallas, TX

  • Social for Students by Students: Letting Students Build Their Own Online Presence (UNM's @TheLoboLife)
  • Note: The UNM Social Media Manager presented in person and I video conferenced from Albuquerque, NM

World Oceans Conference

2019: Marseille, France

  • Improved Fish Tagging Technology: Field Test Results and Analysis
  • Note: The link to the research paper is below under the "Publications" section

Western Regional Honors Council Conference

2019: Bozeman, MT

  • Scribendi Regional Release
  • Marketing our Honors Program Using Adobe Products
  • Part I: What Makes an Engaging Honors Newsletter
  • Part II: Designing an Honors Newsletter Using Adobe InDesign

2018: Orange, CA

  • Scribendi Regional Release

National Collegiate Honors Council Conference

2018: Boston, MA

  • Idea Exchange: Scribendi

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