Back in Korea
 

Korea is a country I spend a lot of time in, and as being a place with fantastic food, it is a beautiful and fascinating country. I was involved with an event in the coastal city of Incheon at the weekend and one area, Song-do has had a huge amount of work including a skyscraper and many interesting apartment buildings. They are all built around a man made inlet with filtered sea water having been pumped in.

Pentax 645D FA 35 at 1/50 f/11 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872946702/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7872946702_e47dbe3db3_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872946702/]Incheon-apartments[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Same camera and lens:

f/8 1/60 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872954402/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7122/7872954402_af7ecf211d_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872954402/]Incheon-building[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/8 1/60 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872947216/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7872947216_3e71d3464d_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872947216/]Central-Park-Apartments,-Incheon[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/8 1/60 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7873001624/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7109/7873001624_59f0978520_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7873001624/]Early-evening-light-in-Inncheon[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/16 1/60 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872947836/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8430/7872947836_0fb1747240_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872947836/]Here's-Incheon-Canal-at-just-before-sunset[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/8 1/100 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872951180/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7872951180_47ea7f50fa_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872951180/]Evening-at-Incheon[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Traveled down by KTX bullet train to Ulsan or Hyundai town as it's popularly known. Had a tour around the shipyard, unfortunately photographs not allowed there, although many interesting subjects, not least the newly completed tankers that are nearly a quarter of a mile long. the engines are massive and 9 million bhp! Incredibly the shipyard builds 120 ships like this a year!

Afterwards went down to the shore and took a stroll. The lighthouse is influenced by dolphins which make a regular appearance here:

Pentax 645D FA 35 f/11 1/50 ISO 250 converted in Silver efex pro2

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872949944/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7872949944_865135d12a_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7872949944/]Ulsan-Lighthouse[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Took a stroll around the centre of Seoul, including visiting a fascinating Henri Cartier Besson exhibition at Seoul's Sejong Centre. After we left we took astroll along the very long traffic island which has a statue of the Emporor Sejong who was responsible for giving the Korean people their language and freedom from the Japanese influence at the time.


The Sejong statue:

Canon 5D mk III EF 24 - 70 at f/8 and 43mm 1/125 ISO 125

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888937734/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/7888937734_c71984ce6b_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888937734/]Sejong[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

We took a stroll in an area where a river has been restored by removing the road. On a warm day it was very popular with people relaxing. It might have little aesthetic value but took this shot with a view to converting to Black and white. While I endeavour to get things right, decided to experiment with triangular shapes in a high contrast area:

f/5.6 24mm 1/40 ISO 800

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888686772/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/7888686772_02eb4e876c_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888686772/]Seoul-bridge-abstract[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

A different bridge (both converted in Silver efex)

f/11 25mm 1/30 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888688980/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/7888688980_40459ab131_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888688980/]Seoul-city-river-bridge[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

On our way back to our hotel, the sky gave some colour as sunset approached:

f/11 58mm 1/250 ISO 400

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888687796/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/7888687796_103debb094_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7888687796/]sunset-over-Seoul[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Another shot of the modern 'old' bridge:

Canon 5D mk III EF 24 - 70L at 34mm and f/11 1/125 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7892130546/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7892130546_878526ba14_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7892130546/]Seoul-modern-old-bridge[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Some night shots from the Gangnam area of Seoul. Was hoping to make use of the wet weather to capture reflections in the road, but as things turned out after a wet day with another typhoon due to blow through tomorrow, it stopped raining and on a warm evening the road dried up with 30 minutes.

I have done a shot here before with the Canon and a macro lens. This time I have used both my cameras with wider lenses.

Pentax 645D FA 45 - 85 at f/16 at 60mm

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895576592/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8035/7895576592_3becae96f8_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895576592/]Gangnam-traffic-trails-in-Seoul2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr


[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895579488/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/7895579488_382ded04be_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895579488/]Gangnam-traffic-trails-in-Seoul[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Pentax 645D FA 45 - 85 at 45mm f/16

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895621036/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8456/7895621036_8ac25f2683_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895621036/]Gangnam night shot[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

There is a large exhibition centre and one of the largest shopping malls in Asia called Coex and this is on the corner

Pentax 645D FA 35 f/11

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895577756/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8037/7895577756_7a0118d4c7_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7895577756/]coex-sign[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Really nice architecture and street shots. I like the Song-Do skycrapers very much. The night shots are very dynamic and I really like the black and white bridge shots which lead the eye towards another bridge in the distance with people.

Karen

[QUOTE=karenoliver;82168]Really nice architecture and street shots. I like the Song-Do skycrapers very much. The night shots are very dynamic and I really like the black and white bridge shots which lead the eye towards another bridge in the distance with people.

Karen[/QUOTE]

Thanks Karen, congratulations again for your win in the magazine in last month's issue.

Spent some time in Young-Wo in the Eastern part of the Republc of Korea (South) and took a trip to the top of a mountain at night to see the view of the stars from the observatory. No chance of star trails as the full moon is fully out, so decided to use the light of the moon to make the best of the magnificent scenery in front of me.

This one is when the observatory roof was opened for us to see the sky and after a short talk we were allowed to take photos. I brought my tripod with me and balanced it a little precariously on the edge of a metal wall.

Canon 5D Mk III Carl Zeiss 35mm f/5 30 secs ISO 320

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7913818772/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8444/7913818772_510b21ca52_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7913818772/]A-View-from-the-top-of-Dang-Gang-observatory[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr


A Panoramic from a balcony at the entrance to the observatory

Pentax 645D FA35 f/5.6 91 secs (4 shots) ISO 160

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7913819628/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7913819628_fe4e7d44d0_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/7913819628/]Moonlit Panorama from **** Gang Observatory[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

That image from the observatory roof is stunning , the lights in the valleys and the clouds hugging the hill tops are great but it's the way you have captured the whole atmosphere of the scene that makes this a real cracking shot .

Mark

Thanks :-) It was a nice surprise, and I had 7 days not five which was even better! I must have had a lucky month because a week after winning that I won a 2 day break somewhere else as well! :-)
These panoramic shots are in my opinion your best shots to date! The first one especially so! You should do more of these.

Karen

Not all of these are landscapes, but all are from Korea

Out and about around Pohang in South Korea and took the 300mm f/4 for a good workout. A lot of shots got deleted for missing focus as I was panning, and one lesson learned is to push the ISO up a little more- Jetski's are hard to capture below 1/500th.

A lot of fhishing boats were out and some were heading in

(All with Nikon D800 and Nikkor AF-S 300 f/4)

f/8 1/640 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876229/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8319/8058876229_44bde4d7e0_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876229/]Fishing-Boat-bringing-its-catch-in_[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

converted in silver efex 2:

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875945/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/8058875945_0a0cd3b73b_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875945/]Fishing-Boat-bringing-its-catch-in-bw[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

A couple of boats dragging their nets in

f/11 1/640 ISO 400

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875198/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8058875198_7127bdc91c_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875198/]Pohang-fishing-boats-pulling-nets-in[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

A young couple walking along the beach

f/11 1/400 ISO 400

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876359/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8058876359_3dddbde66c_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876359/]Korean-couple-at-Pohang[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Some jetskis and their riders

f/8 1/640 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875846/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8058875846_75a7323bbd_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875846/]Jetski-at-Pohang[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/8 1/1000 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875742/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8058875742_ccb1bb517d_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058875742/]Jetski-at-Pohang-1[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

f/8 1/800 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876953/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8455/8058876953_c23fc918f8_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8058876953/]Jetski-at-Pohang-2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Today in fine weather we went to Seokguram Grotto and the nearby temples in the mountains above the town of Gwanju in South Korea.

The view over the valley:

Nikon D800 Nikkor 14 - 24 at f/8 and 14mm 1/125 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845388/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8174/8062845388_ae9f20926d_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845388/]looking-across-gwangju-valley[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

Looking from next to the grotto itself (we weren't allowed to take photos of the buddha - some temples allow it but these specifically ask you to refrain.)

nikkor 24 - 70 at f/8 and 38 mm 1/200 ISO 100

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845588/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8462/8062845588_1580b3b9cc_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845588/]looking-from-the-top-of-the-temple-over-gwangju[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

The large bell at the lower temple - the higher one you could pay 1000 Korean Won (about $1) to strike the bell with the hammer - this meant there were too many people around it to photograph it.

Nikkor 24 - 70 at f/8 and 29mm 1/60 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845764/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8062845764_a36fe3fc29_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845764/]The-bell[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr

The bridge over the small lake

Nikkor 24 - 70 at f/8 56mm, 1/125 ISO 200

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845571/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8172/8062845571_edd5a55a3e_b.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/singingsnapper/8062845571/]bridge[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/singingsnapper/]singingsnapper[/url], on Flickr