Korean Photography Blog

On this past Sunday, I had a lot of free time. So I decided to check out the Photography Festival. The cost was 10,000 won and that got you a ticket in and your choice of photo cards made from the photos at the event. There was a book containing all of the photos also on sale for 10,000 won as well.

The event was held in the very nice art gallery next to the main theatre at the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center. It is a great venue and one that I hopefully will get a chance to hang my stuff in at one point in time. The main floor was for the international photos. The were professionally done but yet lacked inspiration. Don’t get me wrong, they were beautiful photos and far better than I could have ever produced but they also had that coffee table book feel where you want to thumb through it but nothing really grabs you.

As the crowds of Ajeoshis pushed their way passed my I found a couple that caught my eye. They were from the Europe side of things and really had that fantasy “Hogwarts” kind of feel to them. Of course the shots of Africa and the pyramids were spectacular as well. Then there was the local photographers display that would have been actually difficult to find had I not been there last year and asked if there were any more photos on display.

Behind the main building and down the stairs contained 3 galleries of local photographers. At first I wasn’t amused as I received a cold glare from the Ajeoshi that was looking after the first gallery. As for the photos, they were good and to be expected of photos from Ulsan. The 12 scenic sights showed up quite a bit and a few similar shots to the ones that I got showing the Taehwa Park and walking bridge.

I was about ready to call it quits thanks to the grumpy Ajeoshi but when I peeked into the other gallery I was shocked to find daring photos, patterns and awesome composure! Mind you I was followed by a family with a screaming two-year old but I was nonetheless surprised. There were some great shots of the petro-chemical facility and a very cool shot of the underbelly of one of the bridges.

All in all it is worth the 10,000 won if you want to take in some great photos and get inspired by your local city. I would shoot for mid-day or when the families are not there so that you can really stand back and take in the talent of both the international and local photogs. I also like just hanging around the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center as it is a really nice complex and great to sit down and drink some coffee that you brought over from Seattle Coffee that is just across the street.

Over the last few months I have been trying to collect photos of Ulsan for a project that I am doing with Benchwarmers Bar for some souvenirs of Ulsan. It is true, that when you want some souvenirs of the place that you have been living for the last year or longer (in my case, much much longer), there really isn’t much choice.

That is when Troy from Benchwarmers approached me to make up some postcards. Simple enough I thought, there are a ton of online places that I could get them done quite easily and quickly. Over the past few weeks, I tried to find places that would print postcards and more importantly, send them to Korea!

MPIX was first on my list as they are the trusted company by many photographers. Their products are professional and of the highest quality. However, they don’t ship outside the US or Canada. I was heartbroken on this one. MPIX’s interface was easy to use and the postcard I made looked sweet.

SNAPFISH was the next one that I checked out and actually used. Snapfish is not the choice among pro photographers and they are more designed for the every day consumer. However, that being said, they are tied in with FLICKR and they make ordering surprisingly simple. One of the things that I hate is uploading a low-res to the internet and then when you want to print it, having to go back and make a high-res and then upload it again. Snapfish takes the photos that you have already uploaded to Flickr and transfers them directly.

The ordering was simple and very easy. You simply made an album from the photos that you already had on Flickr and then designed your card. The order came to Korea in about a week. Shipping costs were about $15, which is not bad for first class delivery. The problem however was that they made a misprint on the postcards. Where the address field was supposed to be, was a weird pixelated box with some codes. Now, according to their site, it will be no problem to reprint and send out the cards for free. I emailed them and I will update you on their service.

**Update** I just got a letter from Snapfish saying that they will refund and credit my account for everything including the shipping. This is great as I am needing to get this project off the ground***

Kodak Gallery I have used this site since 2007 to print posters and photobooks. Their interface is a lot like other sites, you upload hi-res photos and print them. I find that their products are a little to “family” oriented. Colourful borders that block the beauty of the actual photo. This is something I find people do when the quality of the photo is not worth focussing on. It was impossible to find a postcard or a card for that matter that you could put a full frame photo on. They actually don’t have postcards but a wide selection of “photo cards”

The upside is that they do ship to Korea and shipping costs about $15.99. The order should be here in about 2 weeks. For my order, I went with a multiple photo card with text in the centre. Another problem arose when I tried to increase the font size beyond that of 22 pt. It was not an option. Centering text in the middle of the text box was also not an option. The final product looked okay, but not something that I found particularly easy to design.

In the next coming weeks I plan to find printing services in Korea. My friends at PIX-DIX tell that it is possible to get them done. I will update you on that very soon. The weather is hot today and I am going to burn some fat of my body…

As you probably already know Gregory Curley sits pretty high on my books here in Korea. I usually read his blog as much as I can and I think that you should too. The other day he posted a little note from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) about an exclusive tour of Changdeokgung at night. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD SIGN UP FOR.

Few sites in Korea will let you stay past dark. Bulguksa staff have often kicked me out and numerous other places. Here, you are getting a tour through the grounds and some special performances. Check out Gregory’s post here (it gives you all of the information)

Make a note that most of the tours occur on Thursdays and Fridays, so if you are from out of town, sign up like I did for the October 23rd tour which is on a Saturday.

Also, pick up this month’s 10 magazine and read Gregory’s article, very well done.

I have been following Chase Jarvis since I saw an interview with him on Photoshop User TV. His App for the iPhone is great and his blog is really good. Not to mention he has one of those names that just resonates “I am cool” Every time I read his blog it sort of puts me back in touch with the creative community, rather than just reading about more gear that I can’t afford. Recently he wrote about “For the Love of Photography” and it set my brain on fire, thus prompting a sweating climb to the top of one of Ulsan’s higher mountain in the city. here is what Chase brought up:

But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?

Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?

I have often thought about what it takes to call yourself “a Photographer” and many of the things that Chase brings up hit home. In these days, as I walk around Ulsan, Busan and Seoul, I often see people with some very expensive gear around their necks and I am generally happy for them, but are they photographers? Many of us love to record life’s moments but like in my last post, can we find the beauty and inspiration?

I like the idea of “hunting for a photo” because I find myself doing that these days and it has spurred the love for photography again. Think about how many times you have got home from work, skipped dinner, grabbed your gear and raced madly through traffic to get a shot of the city where you live all because they sky was a wonderful colour?

How many times have you saw someone else’s work and thought “This is a challenge!” and set off to photograph the images that appeared in your head? All from that one moment of clarity or perhaps all from one inspiring photograph? I think that is what separates a photographer from some one who simply takes photos.

For moron Chase Jarvis check out his blog and his App.

Also, stay inspired and tell me what inspires you.

It is almost 12 am and I really should hit the hay… or in this case the Bunk above my desk here at the UNIST English camp just outside of Ulsan. However, I came across this quote that I felt I should share with you all. It comes from Scott Kelby’s Photoshop Insider Blog by a guest blogger named Ben Van Hook.

“That self-realization, combined with an incredible work ethic, is a recipe for success in this business. It’s not about the camera, digital vs. film, strobe or natural light, or how much gear it takes…

It’s about how you see the world. It takes time, passion, and perseverance to learn to really look at the world and not just see it, the dance between light and human emotion. It’s a very interesting dynamic, spending all that time looking thru a viewfinder. It can be a lonely pursuit sometimes, but provides for a life rich with experiences. It certainly has for me, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

This really struck a chord with me. I have always thought about how photography really makes you step back and look at the world differently. Most people try to photograph just what they see and that is fine, but I think finding the beauty that exists in each moment is what makes great photographs as well as memories that last a life time.

During the photo walk I noticed a lot of people doing exactly that, taking a second look at life and finding the beauty in it. I heard someone say “I’ve been to this park a few times and I’ve never noticed how nice it was” I think that is the true power of photography. That is why people hang photos of cityscapes on their walls. It reminds them that there is beauty everywhere, like a city it is always around us. Sometimes we just have to step back and look at it through our viewfinder.

I encourage you the read Ben’s blog entry. His photos will definitely make you want to get out there more and his words will get you thinking. Here is another good quote:

“I would encourage you to chase your dreams, never forget where you come from, and shoot the photography from the heart. Inject your personality into your pictures. Shoot, shoot, shoot photographs. Then shoot some more. Really look at the world and look inside yourself. It’s a wonderful gift we’ve been given.”

Take a look at his website too. There is some great work there. Ben Van Hook Phototography

Now I am off to bed.

Living in Korea or elsewhere as a photographer, you will no doubt get a few photo gigs here and there. While the attraction of earning a little money from your hobby (at this point) may be enticing, you must be careful while you are working here. Here are a few tips (made from the mistakes that I have made over the years)

1. Keep Your Business a Business and Your Job a Job
Too often we photographers in Korea blur the line on what violates our visas. Be careful because if you are a working photographer (making an income from your photography) you could get nabbed by immigration. While the likelihood of this is rare, all it takes is a phone call from a jealous co-worker to put you into hot water.

Awhile ago, I was doing a charity gallery for a group that helps orphans and one of my co-workers blatantly asked me if this violated my contract and visa. I looked dumbfounded for a second, I never even considered that this would interfere with my job, but looking around, the place was filled with my co-workers and bosses, the photos were also hanging with price tags and sold stickers. Nothing was made of it and I told my curious co-worker that I was making no profit off the sales as it was going to charity. I dodged a bullet there, but for the rest of you, be careful.

This also goes for self-promotion too. If you brand yourself as a photographer, you may get into trouble as immigration may see you as “self employed” and thus violating your visa. I would suggest keeping all promotional material out of the office.

2. Set your prices up front
One of the things that I still have a problem with is setting a price for my work. It seems everyone has a different price and I find that each job has a different one too (depending on travel and whatnot). One of the biggest problems that I have had is not being clear on the price because I was not confident of my own work.

What I recommend is that you have a sit down with your clients and the first thing that you discuss is the price and what they get for that price. Then state the time frame for payment, which should be before the shoot. Why I say this is that many times clients that I have had and did not pay before the shoot will use that as leverage to get a bargain from you or extra editing/reshoots or what not. You’ve done your work, your are giving them the quality and photos that you agreed on, it should be a done deal.

3. Be Firm with Pricing and Packages
There is that old saying about “give an inch and they take a mile” and it is true in the photography biz as well. When I first started I had no confidence in my work. This worked to the advantage of the clients and many times as they got a lot more from me than they would have normally received because I was afraid of upsetting them.

To give an example, one time I did a photo shoot and threw in a short slideshow of the work as an added “freebee” Well it soon became extra work for no extra money. I had to re-edit the photos and rework the entire slide show. When I was finished, the clients ask for “a deal” because the work took so long. I was annoyed but because I knew them, I reluctantly accepted. I was a huge mistake. Make sure your clients get what they pay for and nothing more.

4. Be wary of Friends asking for your services
If you have a nice camera and take decent photos, many of your friends and family will ask you to do some work for them. It is a simple thing that when people see that you have passion for your hobby or work, they well want to utilize your services. I would stay away from these jobs unless you are very clear about the above topics.

I have been burnt by this a few times where I would do a portrait shoot or engagement photos for some friends and then have them gouge me on the price because you find out that they were not coming to you to give you some work, they were coming to you to knock of $500 from the regular photographers price. While this may be fine for good close friends, often it is friends on the periphery that will do this to you.

An example of this was a few years ago I did a wedding shoot for a friend of mine. I gave him a discount because I knew that he was strapped for cash and couldn’t afford my usual rate. However, I neglected to talk to his would-be wife about it and soon received numerous emails later about styles and poses and locations. It was a slap in the face. She was asking for stylish shots like the ones she saw from websites that were charging $3000 and they were paying a lot less, only a few hundred actually. The reason was that they knew I could pull off the shots and I was eager to please because they were “friends”. Set your prices and set your packages, EVEN WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

5. Be Confident
Some people can just smell weakness and will use it to their advantage. Many times I have felt that I wasn’t worth the price that I was charging because I was just starting out. Be very clear in your initial meetings and be confident in your ability. If your clients feel that you are confident and professional, they well see that in your photos later. However, if they get a sense that you are nervous, weak and not confident in your own work, they will use that to their advantage.

Here is something to think about. The people that hire you, hire you because they have seen your work, heard of you (good stuff usually) or both. They would not have hired you if they felt that you were a horrible photographer and are hoping for the best. So with that in mind, when you show the final work, make sure that it is the best work that you can do and make no excuses about it. Do not say “well, this is the best that I could do because the lighting was bad” or “The pictures are a little off because of the conditions at the shoot” stuff like that will always take the power out of your hands no matter how good the photos are.

People have a strange way of acquiring a new skill set when it comes to saving money. Clients who have no idea about photography suddenly become more critical than the editors of National Geographic or GQ magazine. Just like the parents of the children you may teach some how become very knowledgeable about English education and the latest teaching styles (without actually speaking the language) when they think that they can save a few chon-wons on the newbie teacher.

Be confident and tell your clients that these are the best photos from the shoot and that it fulfills the agreement that you’ve made. After that, there should be no more arguing (unless the shots are sh*t). Stand up for your work and don’t make any excuses.

6. Don’t Take Jobs If You Don’t Have the Time
I have often overbooked myself and paid for it in the end. You think that if you can squeak out for a bit and get some shots that you are done. However, many of us here, are juggling our primary job, a blog or something, and then the photography business. You have to realize that you need a certain about of time for each job. So even though you may think that stacking jobs is cool, often times it affects your creativity and post processing as well.

Remember, the pro’s usually have an assistant or two working for them. They handle a lot of the editing and whatnot. Most of us here in Korea, it is a one-man (or woman) show. Keep the jobs simple and finish them in a timely manner.

7. Get Credit for YOUR Work
In this age of digital files, people email and/or post everything to facebook. Make sure that if you take photos for your clients that they give you credit for your work. I have seen a number of my shots pop on facebook with no mention of who took the shot. People assume that if it is in one person’s profile, that they possibly took it. It also takes something away from the professionalism when the shots get mixed up with party shots or “lesser” portraits. By Lesser, I mean shots that maybe don’t have the same quality or time that you put into your work and then people will just naturally assume that it is less professional.

Another thing that you must make your clients aware of is that while they are the models and perhaps purchase the photos, you still own the rights to those photos. If they have a problem with that, they may ask to purchase the rights to the photos. I include this here, because often times especially when making photo slideshows for my clients, I have had the request to include some of their shots in the video. While this may seem innocent, it does take something away from the body of work. If you have the rights to the photos, you maintain the rights to use the photos as you see fit. The video also represents you and your work.

You may wonder about this, but people usually do this when they want to pass the video off in emails as something “they did”. With a few shots of their own, people will pay no attention to who took the rest of the photos. You need to make sure that the photos you give to your clients are a representation of you and your business, not just a reflection of the people in the photo. With this being said, you may want to write up some release form or wavers for your clients.

That is it for today. Have a great weekend and get out there and shoot!

That is right! 4 days to go before the Photo Walk! Please make sure that you have all of your gear ready and prepped. Scott Kelby has a lot of great tips for “surviving” the photo walk. Please remember that it this week is any indication of what the weekend is going to be like, then sunscreen and water are a must!

If you haven’t already told your friends and family, please do! The more we have out to this event, the stronger our community will be. I am hoping that we can build a sort of “Photo Club” here in Ulsan with the people that come out to this event. If not, well it will be a great day anyway.

In other news, Pohang is having an international fireworks demonstration. Thanks to a friend of mine who “graciously” planned an event the same weekend, I found out about this event… not bitter… not… at… all… At any rate, if you are feeling adventurous and want to head out of the city, Pohang is a great place to go. Just know that I hope it rains… just in Pohang.

I have been a little busy this days so I must apologize for the lack of posts and information. With that compounded by the fact that I missed mentioning a few photo contests around Korea with some pretty large payouts, I am truly sorry.

Yesterday, concluded the entry period for the Korean Tourism Photo Contest. This sneaky little contest was buried deep in their site and I just managed to get a few shots in yesterday before the deadline. For future consideration please keep an eye on their website for future events.

I am not sure why they haven’t put the word out on this one. This year they also dropped the top prize down to 5 million won. In previous years, it was as high as 10 million won, which is a fine chunk of change to get from your hard work. However, I am not sure why it is so hard to find. The uploading and everything was written in superb English and everything went very smoothly and quickly.

After reading this month’s issue of Groove Magazine I came across a photo contest that ends well… tomorrow. The photo contest is for Cheongshim and the theme this year is “Family”. Again, the top prize is fairly substantial, 5 million won will be given out for the top prize and another 10 million won will be handed out for other prizes. Here is the event link for that Unfortunately, the site is in Korean and I haven’t had time to pick through it and see what the requirements are.

While reading I came across the blog of another awesome photographer in Korea. Welkinlight Photography is responsible for the great cover shot on this month’s Groove Magazine and for writing an excellent (and very informative) blog.

If you read blogs like Welkinlight, Flash Parker, and Hermit Hideaways you will see the dedication that they have to the craft and also realize that there is a great photographic community here in Korea. I hope some day to learn from them all to improve my own skills.

Speaking of learning, please pop by and check out The Seoul Photo Club on Flickr. Their group regularly has contests running with Groove Magazine and also has a lively community on Flickr. I like the fact that you get some honest appreciation and tips on your photos rather than the ubiquitous comments of “nice shots” or those flashy things that pop up every now and then.

Have a great week and get out and enjoy the rainy weather!!

Go here to get your gear for the photo walk. I just ordered mine and it should be here in a few weeks. I am in the process of setting up the official blog on the worldwide photo walk website and I will send a post once that is finished. The blog will be where you will sign up for the walk and get updates as well.

Until then the important date to remember is July 24th!

I am sure that most of you now are entering into some sort of martial art, now that you are in Korea. I am sure that you have more than once, wanted to show your buddies back home your sweet moves and your spiffy do-bok. However, when you get the shots, they all some how have a green tint to them and they just don’t look as cool as you thought they did.

Being a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Kuk Sool Won, I have spent a lot of time in the Do-jeong, training and photographing my Kuk Sool family. Until recently that is, when knee injuries prevented me from training. However, I still love martial arts and will return soon to proceed on to my next challenge; staying in Kuk Sool shape!

At any rate, how do we get good shots? Well, it is tricky because of the lighting. In most of the do-jeongs in Korea, they usually have florescent lighting that makes things look like crap (in the best of conditions) plus, the padding used on the floors is usually green too, and to top it off most adult classes are held at night, taking the natural light away and forcing you to deal with the green tinted nastiness.

There are some ways around it. I can only advise you because a little experiment will go a long way. Here are a few tips to help you get some better shots:

When in doubt, shoot in black and white. There I have said it. I have never really been happy with the shots that I get in the dojeong, so I tend to convert them to black and white. This gives a sort of classic contrast to the shots. It also takes that nasty green tint away. For Kuk Sool Won, we have awesome black doboks, that this makes a great contrast to the white walls of our dojeong.

Avoid goofy posed shots and go for the action. If you have fast glass, F2.8 is choice, you can freeze the action and get some great “poses” or get creative and slow down a bit getting some blur to show speed and power. The key to getting great shots is to make sure you get some faces in the shots. If you pick up any magazine on any sport, very rarely do you see a shot of the action without a face to convey the emotion and the passion for the sport. In the dojeong it is no different.

Details are always great to shoot too. get up close and shoot your dobok or your sword. Get low and get creative. Remember, the more creative you are the more interesting and appealing your shots will be to other people who may not share the same passion for the martial art like you do.

Another good tip is to get your master in the action. We all learn from some of the best people in the world, why not show your friends back home who you train with every night? Get some nice shots (not the goofy posed kind) and let your friends and family get a feeling for the class that you take.

Lastly, take in a few tournaments and snap away at some of the higher end guys. Not only will you get to see the best of the best but if may help you with your training as well. Ask your master when the next region or national tournament is.

At any rate, how you cover your martial art depends on you. What makes you come to class every day. What drives you to train hard when you could just sit at home and watch TV? Put that into the digital realm and you will have your friends back home drooling.