Geun-lin Park

November 5, 2013. Geun-lin Park, Cheonan.

This park is right across the street from Asan and Cheonan-Asan train stations, which is about a 10-minute bus ride from where I live, so I wind up going there fairly often. November 5th was an exceptionally pretty day, full of lovely reflections and ginkgo leaves.

The park can be really pretty, but it's actually not that well taken care of. The first time I went, weeds were overgrowing the path surrounding the lake and the water had trash floating around in it (which isn't too surprising as I've seen many Koreans just throw their trash wherever they happen to be at the time). But the yellow bridge crossing the lake has multi-colored lights that come on at night, and there is a colorful fountain show every now and then (I don't have the schedule pegged down yet). There are also ducks!

Ducks!

Ode to my Rokinon 35

     This is a farewell post. On Saturday, November 23, 2013, I sold my beloved Rokinon lens to a fellow photographer in Seoul. Laugh (or chuckle) if you must, but I will genuinely miss it.

From the last day with my Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 (left). Fun with lightpainting on the 2012 anniversary of 9/11, at Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY (right). I spent around 30 minutes trying to write out "We Remember" and "USA" above these flags.

     I got into photography in 2009, and spent the first couple of years playing with my dad's lenses and figuring out how the whole camera thing works. Then I got to a point where I wanted something a bit different and I started reading about Rokinon's 35mm manual lens. It was getting great reviews because it was a third the price of Canon's 35mm f/1.4 but just as good optically. The only problem was that nothing on the lens is automatic. There is no autofocus and the aperture doesn't stop down (hole doesn't get smaller) automatically when you press the shutter; you actually have to twist a ring at the base of the lens to close the aperture, which also makes the viewfinder darker. Those two things are automated in newer, more expensive lenses with similar specs.
     Things didn't start out so swell with us. I wanted a change and I got one.

I was roaming around the Bernheim Arboretum in Clermont, KY, when I saw this beautiful car driving up the entrance road. I had almost no time to mess with settings, so this was shot at f/1.4. It's not tack sharp, although I somehow managed to get the car mostly in focus.

     I purchased my first copy from Amazon on August 8, 2011, and had to exchange it for a new one due to a focusing issue. My first photos were out of focus and frustrating. Everything was slow. I wasn't used to manually focusing or stopping down. I forced myself to shoot in manual mode, which meant I was also choosing my shutter speed and ISO. The only thing my camera did for me was tell me if my choices would result in a shot that is too dark or too light. Off-the-cuff shots were rarely good. Photos that I could take my time with would turn out to be out-of-focus when I put them on my computer later.

This photo from the Brooklyn Bridge (left) is now a 20x30-inch print hanging in my room in Kentucky. One of my favorite photos from my first year as a teacher in Korea is from Seosan Birdland (right), and is now a 20x30-inch puzzle on my shelf, courtesy of my girlfriend.

     It was frustrating, but I learned patience and I became a much more efficient photographer. I learned the relationships between all of the settings and how to balance them to produce something that I could hang on my wall and be proud of. The time it took to focus and adjust forced me to take a few extra seconds, every shot, and find my composition, look for background distractions, and think about taking a second or a third look at something before even bothering to raise my camera.

An image I took while heading towards a hiking trail for Gayasan, in Yesan, South Korea.

     All of this could have been accomplished with a different lens, but I decided to take a gamble on this one and it became a valuable teacher. From Louisville, KY, to South Korea and Vietnam, my Rokinon was my trusted go-to lens for over two years, and I have taken some of my most favorite photographs with it. The ones featured in this post are just a few.

     Next up for me is a Sigma 35 f/1.4. The main difference between the two is that the Sigma is automatic. I know I just spent a decent amount of your time talking about how much I loved and will miss my Rokinon because it wasn't automatic and then I turn around and tell you I bought a lens that is, but bear with me. Regardless of how much I have grown as a photographer, there are still countless photos that I have missed because of the few seconds it takes to focus and change the aperture, and especially when taking photos of people, those seconds see gestures and reactions disappear.  By automating those processes, outside of making selfies much easier, I'm hoping to build on what I'm already capable of doing and become a more effective photographer. As to what that means or where that will take me, only time will tell.

Seoul Extras

November 16 & 17, 2013. Seoul, South Korea.

As a follow-up to my previous post, here are some more photos from last weekend in Seoul.

This is the entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is where one of the major streets in Seoul ends. On that street are things like the American Embassy, Seoul's City Hall, and another palace. Fulbright's Thanksgiving Dinner was held at the National Folk Museum of Korea, which is just behind the palace complex, so after the dinner, I walked by the entrance with a group that was heading to the Lantern Festival (no pictures from there because I didn't get any I like). Speaking of the Folk Museum...

Buy a tripod, Neal.

This pagoda is on top of the Folk Museum and the entrance to the museum is just to the left of it. I had some time to kill before the dinner, so instead of roaming around the museum, I walked outside, put my camera on the ground, and used my wallet to tilt the lens up so I could get a few exposures at a lower ISO. So I was alone, in the dark, kneeling on the ground to frame up my camera, which happened to be partially supported by my wallet. I looked pretty silly, but that's what happens when you don't have a tripod at night.

There are buildings all over the place here, but luckily, this guy is big enough to hide them from my camera.

Earlier that day, I stopped by Namdaemun market to buy a new camera strap. Turns out that after a little over a year and a half, my old strap was wearing pretty thin where it supported the camera. Luckily, the camera shops in Namdaemun line the street where you can find the newly rebuilt/renovated Sungnyemun, so I strolled around a bit to grab some photos while I was there. Probably should have looked at tripods, as well.

Hongdae is a really interesting place (left) and Seoul is full of surprises if you decide to skip the subway and just walk a while (right, near Seoul Station).

The next day, I went to see the new Thor movie (meh) with my girlfriend and my friend Jason, and then met up with some of this year's Korea Fulbright Infusion staff, of which yours truly is one of the photo editors this year! We met up in Hongdae and went over all the juicy details for this years two-issue volume. After that, it was back to Cheonan.

To see all the cool stuff (including a bunch of my photos!) in Volume 6 of the The Korea Fulbright Infusion magazine, check this out: http://infusion.fulbright.or.kr/?cat=6. 

And check out the staff while you're at it: http://infusion.fulbright.or.kr/?page_id=19

A Bukchon Stroll

November 16, 2013. Bukchon, Seoul, Korea.

Dino says no parking.

This past Saturday was the annual Fulbright Thanksgiving get-together in Seoul, but before dinner, I decided to roam about. I found my way to Bukchon, an area known for its Hanok, or traditional Korean buildings.

Hanok tiles and doors...

It was cold and hazy, but I wound up spending a few hours exploring the alleys anyway. The homes are a pleasant surprise in the middle of the bustling giant that is Seoul, and there is graffiti and other art scattered throughout. There are also crowds, power lines, and those lovely big city smells, but nothing overwhelming. From a photography perspective, this place was a challenge, but that just means I get to go back!

I really liked the mailboxes!

After walking for a while, I came out on top of a hill on the eastern side of Bukchon, with a beautiful fall view of Bukaksan. I made my way down and worked through more alleys until I hit the subway.

They had blanks for Korean, Chinese, and English! Pretty cool.

This was between Bukchon and Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace).

Sudeoksa, Buddha's Birthday

Sudeoksa, Yesan, South Korea. April 30th and May 1st, 2013. 

It was midterm time at Buseok High School, so I decided to spend one of my off days roaming Sudeoksa, which turned into two days once I stood under these:

부처님 오신날 means "the day when Buddha came"

As I entered the temple complex, there was a single string of these lanterns on each side of the main path, but when I looked up the steps to the main temple, I realized what I was getting myself into.

I knew it was Buddha's birthday, but I had no idea that I was going to see all of this color. When people visit temples like this, they can write short prayers or wishes on tags, and these tags are then attached to the bottoms of lanterns, and the lanterns are hung around the temple. So I stood there, color above and shadow below, listened to the constant tapping, tapping, tapping of these tags when the wind blew, and it was awesome.

The lanterns hanging outside my favorite, smaller temple nearby.

Pagoda and lanterns (left). Jumping me and lanterns (right, photo courtesy of my girlfriend).

This is my last Sudeoksa post until I visit again, which will hopefully be soon.

Sudeoksa, Winter

Sudeoksa Temple, Yesan, South Korea. 

Sudeoksa Temple

The third time I came here was February 23, 2013, and it was with my girlfriend, her father and stepmother, and her host family. We visited one of her host family's friends, a monk living at Sudeoksa, and then explored the grounds on a cold, clear day. I didn't take many pictures, so I've thrown in another photo from my September visit. Enjoy!

I had just come through this door and liked the colors, broom, etc. This monk decided to walk through the door right as I was lining up the shot!  

A smaller temple, to the left of the central path in the complex.

Sudeoksa

Sudeoksa Temple, Yesan, South Korea.

Sudeoksa and its pagoda in early fall, 2012.

I went to the Sudeoksa temple complex several times throughout my 2012-2013 grant year. My first visit was on September 26, 2012, a date that sticks out in my Lightroom (photo organizing program) catalog as having the most photos from a single day, and this includes the days I spent in Vietnam over my winter break. I couldn't stop taking pictures of the gates, buildings, and statues, all painted in vibrant greens, blues, golds, and reds. I took my time passing through the main entrance, two smaller gateways (see photo below), and a large building that I at first thought was the main temple. Then I climbed up a set of stairs and was finally met with the pagoda and South Korea's National Treasure number 49, Sudeoksa.

Two of the Four Great Heavenly Kings housed in one of the smaller gates.

The main temple is famous for being South Korea's oldest wooden building, and is quite simple compared to the surrounding buildings. The only color on its sides is the orange-yellow paint between the wooden columns and crossbeams. I spent nearly three hours exploring the surrounding temple buildings, befriending dogs and speaking to a few friendly monks.

Detail of the paintings on the ceiling of the main entrance gate.

The following photo is from one month after my initial visit. It was a Friday evening and my girlfriend decided to come with me after she finished teaching for the day. After the sun set, a drum began to sound and bells rang. The drumming continued even after we left 20 minutes later. In the meantime, everything else was still and quiet...easily one of my favorite memories from my time in Korea.

Before the drumming began, these people gathered around. I think they were participants in the temple stay program.

I'll post later with more photos from here.

Exploring Seoul, take II

September 7, 2013. Seoul, South Korea.

This is a continuation of my previous post, where I discovered the industrial side of the Mullae neighborhood in Seoul. That adventure took up a few of my morning hours. These photos are from the places I visited before and after.

A bridge and underpass near Seoul Station (left). Art and artist, relaxing in Hongdae (right).

My day began with a train. Kaley and I arrived in Seoul Station around 7:30 a.m. and decided to walk around a bit before parting ways. My evening began after she finished her run. I met up with her and a few other Fulbrighters in Hongdae for some awesome mexican food.

Soju and beer. Yep.

In between Seoul Station and Hongdae, I hopped on the subway to Mullae, walked through some side streets and eventually stumbled onto a market. The stalls (mostly vegetables, fruit, and ajummas) stretched down several blocks on one side of a street.

The old Korean ladies use kittens to lure in...everyone.

Colors and Whatnot

After I walked along the market street, I wound my way through the streets and alleys where I took the photos in my previous post. Then I got back on the subway and headed towards Chungmuro Station and the Namsangol Hanok Village. It was your standard bright, sunny, warmish day in a huge park. There was some kind of festival or cheerleading competition going on, filling up the spaces between the traditional Korean homes. Heading towards the back of the park, Namsan Tower eventually found its way out behind the trees and I found the grave of the time capsule commemorating Seoul's 600th anniversary. The stone dais marking it's location (below) has messages from some of Seoul's sister cities - like San Francisco and Honolulu - engraved on it.

Namsangol Hanok Village, which houses the time capsule commemorating 600th anniversary (left).
Once I learned how to read Hangeul (Korean characters), I learned "no smoking area" really quickly. Those signs (right) are all over the place.

Exploring Seoul

September 7, 2013. Mullae, Seoul, South Korea.

I woke up around 5 or 6 (I don't remember exactly, but it was way too early) to get to Seoul on the Saturday of the Color Me Rad run in Incheon. As you can see from the first image, I didn't run in that particular event. While my girlfriend ran, I explored Seoul a bit and found this:

 

I still get really nervous taking these photos. I basically walked past this guy, metered and focused my camera, then walked back and snapped it while he wasn't looking.

This is the Mullae neighborhood in Seoul. I was trying to find the Mullae Art Village that I saw here: http://magazine.seoulselection.com/2013/07/22/mullae-art-village/. Me and my camera couldn't get past the colors and shapes of this industrial area to find the art village, and I'm okay with that. Not much to tell here. I spent a few hours walking around, and the photos can speak for themselves.