Untitled No.03

A 6 PM sunset seen inside a train.

   

Untitled No.02

Forty words per minute. Her thumbs are racing from each other heading nowhere. If her nails were metal, her LCD probably were full of scratches by now. She looked out the window. It was cold.

Her coffee began to drop its temperature. The cafe was crowded but at that moment she was the loneliest person on Earth. The coffee's steam began to dissipate, as tears in her eyes started to well-up.

Forty words per minute, but nothing she can do now. And she left like the steam of that cold coffee.

-A practice writing with the help of  a friend Carl

Anna with the Lightman

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO160, -0.7 EV, f/1.8, 1/400 

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO100, -3 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000 

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO100, -3 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000  

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO200, -1.3 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000 

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO160, -0.3 EV, f/1.8, 1/160

Alexandra with a Photographer

I was with FILIPOS (Filipino Photographers in South Korea) last Sunday March 17, 2013, to photoshoot a model named Alexandra.

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea
Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO100, -5 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO160, -4.7 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000 

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO100, -5 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000  

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO160, -0.3 EV, f/1.8, 1/320

Place: Seoul Forest, Seoul, South Korea

Nikon D80, 50 mm, ISO100, -5 EV, f/1.8, 1/4000 

Seoul International Marathon 2013

I got the chance to witness the Seoul International Marathon 2013 which was held this morning March 17, 2013. Here are some of the images I captured.

The number of one of the runners is 72201. He must be the 72,201 participant.

One of the pedestrian trying to cross the street.

One of the runners in doggie outfit.

Foreigners and locals run together.

Bananas for cramps.

Thirst quenchers

An old runner. Hats off.

Untitled No.01

A Korean dude entered a shelter where we stopped by to get warm. My DSLR was in my leg level during that moment but I still clicked.

Stolen Childhood

An internet friend said that she likes this photo because it looks like an stolen childhood. For a dude like me with limited writing and grammar abilities, I understand "stolen childhood" as an adult who din not enjoy the days when he or she was a child due to various and sometimes tragic reasons.



Nowadays, with the absences or unfrequency of Batibot and Sineskwela, patintero, luksong tinik, tumbang preso, langit lupa impyerno and the presence of showbiz talk shows, artista search, reality shows, child labor, too much politics, greedy elites, lazy "Masa", irresponsible parents, unsafe streets, degrading environment, Facebook, Dota, Soap Operas, K-Pop, Hollywood, and too much advertisers of what to do, how to run your life by buying their products, I think many childhoods were being stolen. Haha. Just an opinion.

I really wish television brings back BATIBOT. Pong Pagong is way cooler than Ben 10 (ok Ben 10 is cooler, that is because he has this watch to transform him into cool aliens). Pong Pagong still belongs to the large percentage of unemployed, he was not accepted as the 5th member of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Spring of 2013

Finally, those freezing months are over.

Signs of spring showed up, so I shoot some photos to taste what nature is cooking.

    Residence local and foreign came out from their caves.

    A father and his daughter, swirling round and round.

    Sidewalk vendors of second hand items started to show up.

    Outdoor sports like basketball, skating and biking may now resume.

    And skipping ropes came out from it's closet.

    Winter is "cool" but I prefer this lights.

Photographs and Memories

I really don't have any idea why I bought this DSLR. A friend influenced me, I guess. Or DSLRs were the popular gadget for a person with a decent paying job at that time. One thing I am sure though, I like photos.


An old Japanese guy appreciating the photos in a Photo Exhibit

I like to construct this little drama inside this still framed image. Whether the photo is the work of others or by me, I am entertained at the emotions trapped in stillness. I like observing people. Attitudes, personalities, I like to capture these images in their most relaxed state. No pretensions, no rules. Just the way they are.

And I am happy I bought this DSLR.

Haha. There is so many "I's" in here. Narcissist me.

....and I dont even know how to write, but I like reading. Weird.

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images becomes inadequate, I shall be content with silence."
-Ansel Adams

Scouting the "Garden Of The Morning Calm" (아침고요수목원), Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

A garden by day, a sea of lights by night, with no tripod and having just a 50 mm lens, in February winter, I went.

A friend invited me to join a group of photographers to go to The Garden of the Morning Calm in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Since my wife, daughter and mother-in-law are planning to explore Korea by spring and summer, better go with them and scout this place and learn the commuting process.

Here are the images I took during the day (because a photographer with no tripod in this place during the night is a dead one - prove me wrong please).

    Archway leading to the main attractions.

    Tourists admiring the "browns".

    There is a toilet inside the garden, do not bother to look for tall grasses.

    This place is absolutely calming... and brown.

    Can't wait to see this place by spring or summer.

    A Bonzai.

    A spiritual place. I do not know if it is replica of a catholic church and did not bother to ask.

    There is coffee shop inside named Good Morning Coffee. The price is a more expensive than "tweet tweet" though.

    Tourists, local and "imported", are enjoying the coffee and the sun.

                            There are restaurant and convenience store inside so if you want to 

                             explore this garden with no hand carries, just a camera and money,

                            "dont bring your own baon" (packed lunch).

    or better eat first outside the garden. There are street food vendors outside.

    There is also some kind of a plant nursing house inside the garden. 

    I promise to research the name of this flower, but for now I will call it "Pink Flower".

    and this one I will call it "White Flower".

                            The label was blurred. Use eyeglasses please.

If you want to see this place during the night, please click this link.

Recommended for:

1. Nature loving peeps

2. Couples looking for a dating place

What to bring

1. Camera and Tripod for long exposure shots

2. Smiles

Location

1. Take the subway line from Yongsan Station to Cheongpyeong station (7,000 3400 KRW)

2. Then, walk to the bus station a 3 min walk from the station and take the tour bus going to the the Garden (5,000 KRW)

3. Alternative is ride a cab from Cheongpyeong (16,000 KRW, if you are a group of four it is advisable to take the cab, its comfortable and cheaper.

4. Entrance fee is 7,000 KRW but there are discounts of you are traveling in a group.

Note to my daughter:

Hi baby, you are still a 4 month angel during this time. The cold was a bit harsh for you so daddy scouted it first.

Fatherhood

I screwed up my life in all categories. I just don't want to mess my "being a father and a husband", so I'm giving all my best.

The father in the photo is not me by the way.

Let Go, People In Subway, South Korea

This photo has been blogged.

Happy Samiljeol Koreans!

Samiljeol is Independence Movement Day in South Korea.