Korean Photography Blog

A quick post here about a cool case for your iPhone. In a weird “Great minds think a like” moment, I picked up a cool case for my iPhone at the same time Griffin Stewart (great photographer and designer) posted about it on facebook.

The company is called SwitchEasy and their line of cases for the iPhone are great. If you are wondering what this has to do with “Korean Photography” then you need to pull your head away from your DSLR and see what the locals are shooting with, their cell phones. Also in the words of Chase Jarvis, the best phone is the one that’s with you.

The thing that prompted this post was the fact that this case is awesome! You get a two-part case that has a sweet “exo-skeleton” that locks everything in place along with a cover for the port on the bottom. The port cover is sweet because that is the one place that will fill up with lint and dirt. Think of your belly button…

The other thing is that it comes with two extra screen guards and a dock adapter. The dock adapter is important because nothing is more annoying than having to take the case off every time you want to dock your iPhone. Over all for the price that I paid, it is a sweet deal, but it doesn’t end there.

Now, I didn’t order this from the site above, I ordered it through Gmarket. This is the sweet part of the deal. This is Korea and man do I love this place! I ordered the case on my lunch break and by the time that I got home, it was already shipped. It arrived at my school the next day at lunch. It also came with a bonus accessory which was a pen for use with the iPhone when you are wearing gloves. Suffice to say now I am addicted to Gmarket and I will be posting some more on how to order and where to find some good deals in the future.

I have been looking for a book on HDR written by someone who actually knows how to do it. This isn’t knocking any of the great photographers out there who have given their 2 cents on the technique, but it would be like me commenting on the world of portrait photography. Yes, I have done some, am I good at it? NO. Do I know the finer points and the ins and outs of a studio? Nope, but I know a little… but not enough to tell you how to do it.

That being said, I am not going to write about how to take portraits. Likewise, I never really got the feeling that the people who were writing about HDR were really into it, until now. This book leaves the others in the dust. Yes, there are now a number of books out that tell you how to make an HDR shot but none tell you the finer points of the programs to make your photos pop like Trey does.

The book at first glance, looks like a picture book of some of the most eye catching photography that I have seen to date and then you read and Trey tells you how to get these shots. This is a great thing because if you know anything about HDR then you know that there are sometimes limitations to what you can photograph. Moving objects for one is a challenge.

Remember, that you are taking multiple exposures to create that dynamic range. So if you have a fast moving object, how can you capture 3 photos of exactly the thing? Trey explains all in the book. I would tell you but I actually want you to buy it and use it. Speaking of which, you can pick it up in Korea here at what the book?

Trey also teaches you a cool double tone mapping technique that gives the photos a more “drawing” like look. Not my most favorite technique but one worth exploring. There is a ton of information here and I hope to show you more photos from the information that I learn from this book. This is a great book and I would really recommend picking it up if you are at all interesting in HDR.

I got this idea from “Digital Pro Talk” an excellent blog by renowned wedding photographer David Ziser. He gave a list of the top mistakes that new wedding photographers make when they first start out. It got me thinking about photographers in Korea and what mistakes we all make when we arrive here.

1. Not knowing how their gear works (This was first on David’s list too)
This one irks me to no end. A lot of people pick up a camera and hope that it will magically make beautiful photos by itself. Well, maybe some do, but mine doesn’t. You have to know your camera inside and out. That means that you have to read the manual a few times, to find out how to adjust all of your settings and what each little knob does. Then maybe do some reading on how to effectively use it.

2. Disrespect of places of worship
A lot of the Buddha statues are made of shiny gold and many of them have devout worshipers praying in front of them. This makes every photographer think “National Geographic!” However, this act is just not appreciated and greatly disrespectful. We don’t like it when groups of people follow us around, why would they like it if we are trying to snap a photo while they are praying? Temples are interesting, but shoot with respect.

3. Lack of Korean
This one is a challenge for most but a necessary one, learn to speak the language. Even if it is just basic phrases like “May I take your picture?” This just shows that you are trying to learn their culture and communicates that you are a friendly person. It also gives them the opportunity to refuse if they don’t want their picture taken. Not everyone wants to end up on your facebook account.

4. Being a Douche
Sometimes a little website or something inflates peoples egos. Sometimes we are really trying hard to get the best shot to send home. Sometimes it may not goes exactly as planned, but that is not a good excuse to use for being a jack-ass. Attitude plays a big part of things here. Sometimes people are going to want to check out what you are doing, sometimes people are going to want to watch you. It is just part of the job, be a nice guy (or gal).

This also goes for the semi-but-not-quite-pro-wanna-be’s too. I have seen a few people yell at Koreans during high time at Bulguksa for getting in the way of their shot. That just goes with the territory at a popular cultural/tourist site. Just be patient and calm. Nothing is worse that those who are trying to be the “premiere arteest” as Ziser calls them, and just being a douche. Then well all get that label and it makes it harder to get good shots.

5. Not knowing When or How to Shoot
I have often said that there is a difference between photographers and people who simply take photos. Photographers are the guys (or gals) who get up at 5 am to catch a sunrise or plan their day around their shooting schedule, so that they are in the right place at the right time. I remember shooting the cherry blossoms at Bulguksa with a few photographers. I also remember getting up at 4 am to get to Gyeongju before the crowds arrived.

Often times I see two very common mistakes from new photographers. The first is shots taken at high noon, with harsh light and flat colours. Sometimes this is hard to avoid, especially if you are on a tour. Other times it just means getting up earlier or staying out later. The second is shooting in the black of night. Often the best shots of a city come when the sun has just gone down. This means that it is dark but there is still colour in the sky. Scott Kelby at Kelbytraining.com has some great tutorials and an awesome series of books to teaching you everything on how to get the best shots.

6. Shooting Without a Tripod
I know that it is a pain in the ass to set up and get ready when you see a great shot and you just want to capture it right away. Just calm down. Most conditions, you may get away without it, but why take that chance? With the wide range of tripods out there, pick up a light one that is easy to carry around with you. Crisp sharp shots are always better than blurry ones.

If you are worried about “size” I carry around a Manfroto 482 wherever I go. It is about the size of an external hard-drive (in its pouch) and can hold my 30D with a 12-24 wide angle lens and battery pack. It also has a decent ball-head. It can extend up about 30cm and it works great for those restaurant shots where you still can’t believe you meal is still alive.

7. Paying More Attention to their Camera and Not their Lens
Some people buy the best camera they can find. They spend thousands of dollars of the latest and greatest DSLR on the market and then stick on the cheapest lens they can buy with little money that they have left over. What a waste. More often than not, a good mid-range camera and good glass (lens) with get you amazing shots. With the market the way it is, the bottom to mid-range DSLRs are 10x what they were, even a few years ago. The constant is the glass attached to them. If you invest in a set of good lenses, then you will see an improvement in the quality of you images.

Not convinced? Many times I see sporting events where the “team photographer” or the “premier arteest” has a 300mm f/5 lens or something. Not a dedicated sports lens(a fast lens around f/2.8 and a minimum of 200mm). Or I will see someone trying to take portraits with a standard wide angle lens. While you may get some alright shots, you won’t get nearly the quality that you would buying the proper lens for the job.

I know that having a “big lens” means your friends with their iPhones or point-and-shoots will take their shots at you for “compensating” and what not, but if you are serious about it, once they see your photos they will probably shut up. Also note, that I was once that dude with the 300mm f/5… big mistake.

I will have more on this topic tomorrow.

*** I will also be out on the 28th of February shooting the Ji-bul-nori festival along the Taehwa River in Ulsan. If you want to meet up, leave your details in the comment section below or shoot me an email at jt@jasonteale.com

There was a time when there were few places around Ulsan to get camera gear that was affordable and useful for anyone beyond that of a first-time purchaser. For many years you had a few options; the internet, Nampo-Dong in Busan, or the Electronics Market in Seoul. Everyone had their favorite. Mine was alway Nampo-dong because it was close and the guys at Ilkwang Camera always gave me a fair price. Plus, the Canon dealer and office was just a block down from Ilkwang.

However, these days laziness has got the better of me and I find myself looking for places closer to home. In the past, I was alway skeptical of places like Pix-Dix as I considered them a camera store with department store prices. However, these days, they are not so bad. Here is why I would check them out if you don’t want to travel or brave the internet:

1. Good Staff – The Ulsan store has always treated me well and most of the other photographers that I have talked to. They are experienced and know what they are talking about.

2. Knowledge – This goes beyond just cameras too. The other day I enquired about getting an iPhone. I again, was skeptical because I had heard that there was a 2 year contract which is normally off limits to expats on the belief that we will leave after 1 year. The staff knew exactly what I was talking about and gave me the correct information.

3. Service – When you are an idiot and you get excited about a photo that you just took and accidentally dump a cup of coffee on top of your wacom tablet **cough cough** like me… You can sleep well know that the guys at Pix-Dix will take care of you and also not make fun of you either. The service that I have received has always been great.

4. Apple Products – Those of you that have made the switch over to Apple, especially for editing, have probably found items hard to find in Korea. In areas other than the major cities, like Ulsan, Apple products are rare. Pix-Dix carries a wide variety of Apple products and that makes me happy.

5. Gear – While most dedicated camera shops will carry more bags, tripods, filters, cards, accessories, lenses, etc. These guys carry a bit of everything and when **cough cough** you drop your lens while cleaning it and break the Canon Protector Filter… they have stock to replace it, even if it isn’t the actual Canon Brand (which are more expensive, by the way).

While most photographers will have their have their favorite shops, I pop into Pix-Dix from time to time to pick up a few things. However, for major things like lens repair and sensor cleaning, I am yet to see what they can do. For the most part, it is usually because they deal with A/S service on products that have been purchased from them. As I have a lens that is malfunctioning and a dirty sensor, I am looking at trying to find the easiest way to fix these problems. This is also older equipment that has not been purchased from them. If they can help or point me in the right direction, I will definitely tell you about it.

I’ve never done a serious product “recommendation” on here but on the weekend I found one of those few products that really solves my current problem. Since the gallery, I have about 10 framed prints laying around my apartment. Now, because they were from the gallery, they have no hardware for me to hang them on the walls with. I have spent the last couple of months trying to come up with a “Non-destructive” way to show them off.

I have never been one of those people that displays his work effectively at home. Typically what happens is that I get a bunch of really amazing prints made up and then I end up giving them away before I even get a chance to put them up on my walls. Since the gallery prints came out so nice, I really want to have them on my walls. Here’s the thing, I live in Korea.

I know that isn’t the most shocking news but it also means that my walls are made out of solid concrete. No, I don’t live in prison. Most Korean apartment blocks go up blindingly fast. Essentially, they pour a foundation, then set up the walls, put some molds up, pour the walls, Then the next floor, then the walls and so on. It is insane how fast a simple 3 story walk-up style apartment goes up. At any rate, it also makes really hard to hang a picture when you can’t put a screw or a nail into the wall without causing some serious damage.

Most people buy these little metal hooks with a bit of glue on the back. Essentially, what you do is you heat up the glue with a lighter and stick it to the wall. Not bad if you were sticking it to a solid substance like wood or concrete, but you are not. You are sticking it to wallpaper. So basically the glue goes in a few millimeters and dries. This holds long enough for you lose your guard and either sleep under it or put something valuable under the picture. Then the glue waits until the middle of the night, breaks loose and tries to kill you while you are sleeping. No More I Say!!

I found the most amazing product: 3M command tape! Now these guys have been making a killing in Korea because you stick their hooks to the walls interchange the hooks and they never fall off the wall! They also produce a wide range of clever devices to hid cables, hang swords, bath towels, etc. In a place where 90% of the walls are solid concrete this is good. Also the fact that you can remove the sticky stuff without damaging the walls is a great bonus.

So the product I found was the command tape line of velcro-like stuff that is designed to hole up to 5 kg or possibly more. The best part is that because it is velcro, if you don’t get it completely level you can peel it off and adjust it! It goes on easily, just like stickers and holds amazingly well. Because the weight is distributed over a wider area, the chances of it falling off in the middle of the night are slim. This seriously is great great stuff. Now, I just hope I can more of this product around town.

Buddhas Birthday 2009

Originally uploaded by JTeale

It has been a while since I have been back to this temple, Jung-gwang-sa. I feel in Ulsan, it is one of the better temples for photos during Buddha’s Birthday. The go all out here with Fire-breathing Dragons, markets, and parade floats.

I have come here for years to take photos. It is hard to navigate the crowds that seem to surround the lone foreigner. The best thing to do is just smile and accept the fact that amidst the bright lanterns and dragons, you are the strange one.

Also, you are at a temple on a particularly happy/religious day. Just smile, and people will embrace the fact that you are enjoying their culture. Last night was great. After taking some photos, I had families of on-lookers checking out my shots and every move. This isn’t anything different, but I gave myself a refreshing new perspective on it. The people really like the fact that I was there. Enjoy the photos.