Unboxing: BTS Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me" Photobook

(Warning: This post is long and photo-heavy.)

My copy of Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me" arrived last week, which is the 8th and final book of the BTS member photobook series. This series is called Special 8 Photo-Folio because there is a total of 8 photobooks — one for each member and one group edition. Though not confirmed by statement, this is BigHit's unofficial birthday project for the BTS members, as they've been releasing them by birthday order starting with Jungkook (September 1), then RM (September 12), then Jimin (October 13). We did get the BTS group book in November, but we resumed birthday order with Jin (December 4), then V (December 30), then J-Hope (February 18), and now Suga (March 9).

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Front with PET Overlay Cover
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Front and Back Covers
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Frontispiece

Suga's photobook is called "Wholly or Whole Me." With this photobook, Suga has said he wanted to show "the grandeur of nature" and used these vast, remote locations for "remembering not to lose preciousness as being deceived by familiarity. We need to remember how precious our lives in the city are." "Wholly or Whole Me" contains five photoshoots across three locations based on this concept and has a total of 80 pages. It is a soft cover book with a removable PET overlay. Included with the photobook are several extra items: a sheet of "postage stamps," Suga's item (a compass card), two photocards (one that is included with every book and a second one that is randomized out of 3 options), a mini poster, and a folded poster. The photobook retails for ₩33,000 or $30.65 USD on Weverse Shop Global. 

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Away From Me" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Away From Me" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Away From Me" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Away From Me" Photoshoot

The first photoshoot is called "Away From Me," which was taken across two different locations. It features Suga in a dark purple anorak with baggy black pants, a black beanie, and sky blue combat boots. The shoot starts off in a barren desert mountain landscape with Suga posing against a white jeep and continues on with him walking a dog on a seemingly abandoned street.

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Way" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Way" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Way" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Way" Photoshoot

The second photoshoot is called "Way," which was taken against different backgrounds at the same general location. Suga is initially wearing a thick ivory knit sweater with loose ivory pants against a vast barren meadow, and then changes into an ivory V-neck knit sweater with a matching long coat, now deeper into the meadow with rocky mountains in the background.

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Myself" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Myself" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Myself" Photoshoot
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me""Myself" Photoshoot

The third photoshoot is called "Myself," which was taken against different backgrounds at the same location. Suga is initially wearing a thick multi-coloured knitted coat with a graphic tee underneath and ripped patchwork jeans in front of his camping shack in the middle of the desert. He has clearly made a home here, as it's fully furnished, his dog is in the background, and he's playing guitar, roasting marshmallows, eating popcorn, etc. We then move to the inside of shack, where he poses with his dog in a flannel with the same graphic tee and jeans.

Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Suga's Item: Compass Card and "Postage Stamp" Sheet
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Photocards
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Mini Poster
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Suga — "Wholly or Whole Me"Folded Poster
Finally, we get some extra items that come with the photobook. Each member has picked their own unique item to include in their photobooks, and Suga's item is a compass card (a inner card can be spun so that a different photo can be seen through the cut-out hole of the outer card) that features photos from all of his photoshoots. As with all the photobooks, Suga's also includes two photocards (one that comes with every single Suga photo book and one that is randomized out of 3 options), a "postage stamp" sheet (eight photobooks in and I'm still not sure what purpose these serve), a mini poster that features a photo from one of the member's photoshoots (the back side also features an image of the member, but is a puzzle piece to a bigger group photo), and a folded poster. 

In the photoshoot sketch, Suga said, "I took photos at places you've never seen before so try to focus on that part as you look at them. Everyone said the photos look good, so I guess they came out good." Yes, sir, they came out good. Really, really good. I mean, if he asked me to go camping with him, I wouldn't hesitate. Which is saying a lot.