Lovely skies over Seoul this evening, and I was fortunate to have my camera with me. For the full write-up about Gwanghwamun Gate and its many ups and downs, check out my post written after the gate was restored to its original condition in 2010.
Hangang River from Yongbongjeong Park
September 8, 2012 by 11 Comments
One of the better photo points along the Hangang River is Yongbongjeong Park in Heukseok-dong. Heukseok-dong is an older neiborhood built on a hillside on the south bank of the Hangang River, and if you’ve got time, it’s worth walking about. At the top of the hill is a small park with a wood observation [...]
Guess I won’t be living in Bukchon anytime soon…
September 7, 2012 by 10 Comments
According to the Chosun Ilbo, the heads of major Korean corporations and their relatives have been purchasing Korean traditional homes, or hanok, in the Bukchon neighborhood, driving up real estate prices. One long-time resident told the paper if you don’t have 1 billion won, you can’t buy a home here. As many of the corporate [...]
Mt. Daemosan
September 6, 2012 by 3 Comments
In late July, a friend and I went to Mt. Daemosan (293), a prominent hill in Gangnam, to take a couple of evening shots. In the old days, Mt. Daemosan was called Mt. Halmisan (“Grandmother Mountain”) as it was said to resemble an old grandmother. The name was changed to Daemosan on royal order after [...]
Seoul Museum and historic Seokpajeong Villa
September 3, 2012 by 7 Comments
If you’ve driven to Buam-dong from downtown Seoul via the Jahamun Tunnel, you may have noticed a small compound of Korean traditional buildings atop the hill on your left just as you come out of the tunnel. Or perhaps not—they were really easy to miss. It didn’t help that the area just in front of [...]
Mt. Inwangsan
August 19, 2012 by 2 Comments
In the old days, Mt. Inwangsan used to mark Seoul’s western limits. The fortress walls that once ringed the city still snake along the mountain’s ridges—to hike the wall, sections of which are still manned by soldiers and police, gives you an extraordinary sense of historical continuity. In addition to its strategic and feng shui [...]
Myeong-dong Intersection
July 31, 2012 by 1 Comment
The good weather just keeps on keeping on. After some rain showers yesterday afternoon, the sky really opened up nicely. If I’d had more time, I’d have gone up a mountain as I had the previous two evenings (posts coming soon), but by the time I left the office, there wasn’t much sunlight left, so [...]
Fluffy Clouds over Gahoe-dong
July 25, 2012 by 7 Comments
We’ve had some nice, fluffy white clouds in the skies since yesterday. I’m guessing this is due to the heat wave, but I’m sure the more meteorologically savvy among you will give me the specifics. Somebody, remind me this month to pick up a graduated ND filter.
Heunginjimun Gate revisited
July 25, 2012 by 7 Comments
I had a bit of time Sunday evening, so I went down to Dongdaemun to shoot the landmark (and newly restored) Heunginjimun Gate, Seoul’s old eastern entrance. I’d originally wanted to photograph it from the other side, but the buildings I wanted to climb were locked. Alas. I also left my hat on the roof [...]
Fire in the Sky
July 8, 2012 by 16 Comments
After the rain Friday afternoon, the skies above Seoul opened up in a truly spectacular way. I was lucky enough to have my camera and tripod at the office, so after work, I ran over to the officetel roof near the Cheonggyecheon where I took these photos hoping to get lucky. And lucky I got. [...]