Didn’t do much on New Year’s, but I did snap some photos all the same.
You all know the Bigak in front of the Kyobo Book Store in Gwanghwamun. Built in 1902 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of King Gojong taking the throne, it and its surroundings are a typical example of the stark contrast between old and new that characterizes Seoul. In the first photo in particular, you can see architectural styles from several different eras — the Bigak (Joseon—Daehan Empire), Ilmin Museum of Art (Japanese colonial era), Gwanghwamun Post Office (1970s) and Dong-A Media Center (2000).
The Ilmin Museum of Art, located just across Jongno from the Kyobo Book Store, served as the headquarters of the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper from 1926 to 1992. Built in Renaissance style, the structure has undergone several extensions and renovations. Note the ornate decorations around the door and windows and the beautiful bay window. Overlooking the Ilmin Museum of Art is the Dong-A Media Center, a steel and glass skyscraper completed in 2000. Again, an interesting contrast between old and new.
OK, I missed the last sundown of 2007 and the first sunrise of 2008, but I did get the first sundown of 2008. Taken — as the first photo would suggest — from the north end of the Dongjak Bridge.
12 Comments
When I look at your photos, Robert, I get the feeling that we don’t live in the same Seoul. Mine is much more dreary with a lot more gray tones. How do you take brilliant photos like this?
Well, I used GIMP to brighten the colors up a bit, but yesterday was a pretty brilliant day to start with. At any rate, Seoul is pretty colorful… if you know where to look.
Great pictures! Particularly the one combining the four styles.
But now for some pedantry.
Based on my service several lifetimes ago as a building inspector, at least
one American city makes a distinction between bay windows, which go all
the way to the ground, and oriels, which don’t.
But some dictionaries don’t make the distinction…
Robert, last time we talked, I think I told you how much I love the Kwangwhamun area and how they’ve refurbished it. It’s great to work in the area. That contrast between old and new has always been fascinating to me. (Think: Boston’s Trinity Church). I wish they would do a restoration of the Dong-ah building, though, just to polish it up a bit on the outside.
That is a freakishly unnatural blue hue.
“GIMP” indeed!
You’re no fun, dogbertt.
I say that as someone who enjoys your photography.
But just as I think that Korean women are best when untouched by the plastic surgeon’s knife, so are photographs themselves best when presented au naturel.
A bit better now?
I have to agree with dogbertt on this one, the sky is a little overly fluorescent. Also, since you were all the way in Korea’s Manhattan Gwanghwamoon taking pictures of the main buildings, how could you miss the Gwanghwamoon icon itself, the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin!
Even the prettiest faces are enhanced with subtle make-up. The camera itself can distort an image and make it look unnatural; good retouching undoes camera distortions. I do agree with you that the blue skies in the upward shots are a little too cobalt.
Actually, I replaced the photos with much-less-retouched ones. The sky is pretty much as it was.
I thought the sky was fine too — it was the tint of the windows that was unnerving. In the first two, especially, I thought they overshadowed the Bigak far too much. In the first image, the Bigak is still quite dark in comparison to the background features.
But everyone’s a critic, right? Thanks for taking the time to take those photos and share them.