Transitioning to yet another Winter

While crowded with tourists, a reason I enjoy shooting around Myeongdong and Insadong is that there are so many unique characters around. I have yet to bump into the same random person that I have photographed before (excluding pojangmacha ahjummas). While the neon lit buildings, the stone covered walls, and those long stretched roads stay the same, the subjects do not. Maybe that's why I don't mind walking around the same places in Seoul over and over again. It's becoming kind of a routine an adventure, but and something I look forward to doing during the weekends.

On another note, while the colors are fantastic during the spring, summer, and fall, it does get a bit dreary here during the winter. A sea of black and charcoal emotions. The intrepid Seoulite breathing out his warmth. Condensation fogging windows, and the occasional colorful beanie lighting up the melancholy streets.

Alas, winter is here.
enjoi

Camera: Leica M6
Roll: Fuji Superia 400, Kodak Tmax 400

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New school vs. Old school




Jjangu!


And yet not a single drop of rain, or snow was present that day.

Functionality vs. Aesthetics


Touristas.






I wish I had gotten her contact, maybe she'll come across my blog one day.


Over the course of two+ years here, I have always been fascinated with Latin/South Americans who have made it out to Seoul to perform in the streets here. We spoke briefly in Spanish, then I gave him a 천원 for taking the photo.

Just one of those perspective days.

Is it Christmas already?






Maybe I'll make a photo-book of Free Huggers around Seoul.


I want to grow old and stylish holding my wife's hand as we walk down that road.






It wasn't raining, nor was it sunny.


Not a single F was given that day.


Looks like he's kind of levitating.




I think this is my favorite shot of the entire post.

B/W FTW!


pax

Good Company

Kelly, James, Andrew, and I made our way from Chungmuro to Dongdaemun. We walked around Gwangjang Market, which is supposedly one of the oldest markets in the Korea. Inside, ahjummas/halmunis (auntie/grandma's) are working hard behind rows of pojangmacha's (street food vendors) serving up octopus legs, intestines, and pig feet. Of course, there are the ddeokbokki/odeng (spicy rice cake/fish cake) stalls brewing in between the sizzling bindaeduks (korean pancake) frying over the flat top grill, and the delicious bori-bibimbap (vegetables over multigrain rice) urging us to sit down and eat. Afterwards, we walked over to Hyehwa to find a new place to photograph. There was a crowd gathered in front of an outdoor stage and the light was nice, so we peeked around a bit, snapped some shots, and did a big loop around the area before heading out to Itaewon for the night.

There's always so much to see when you're walking around.
While you can easily cover more ground riding a bike,
you definitely miss out on the subtleties of everyday life.

I went through another expired Fuji Superia 400 film last saturday. I'm not sure why I bought so much in the first place, but I like the grain that accompanies it. As for the M6, I feel like we're starting to understand each other. While shooting completely manual is challenging, it is also insanely enjoyable, and has brought street photography to a whole nother level for me. Nonetheless, while I am far from perfecting the use of this beautiful German machine, I look forward to every chance with her.

enjoi

Camera: Leica M6
Roll: expired Fuji Superia 400

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I remember this alley being darker in real life.



I prefer the grittiness of the old Seoul,

compared to the modern westernized one.

The only picture of the vendors I took while inside Gwangjang Market.


"Gate of Rising Benevolence."


On the way to Hyehwa.






Don't smoke kids.


He waited 5 hours to get his turn to jam on the guitar,


Only to make fun of the crowd while banging on his snare.







I think I'm in love with my M6.
Now that winter is approaching,
time to throw in some B&W!



pax

Leica M6

Staring down this rabbit hole, I would have never guessed that I would have been so taken away by cameras. Living in Seoul didn't help either. I visit a certain area of central Seoul called Chungmuro, no bigger than a half square kilometer, at least three to four times a month. In this tiny half square kilometer, there are about 15 or so stores that are stocked with a plethora of film cameras. Every time I walk by one of these windows, I can't help but to look at one particular camera that has been entrancing me with it's elegance. The Leica M6, a fully manual camera built by the predecessors to Ernst Leitz GmbH in the mid-80's. Once I played with one I knew I had to have it some day. Though I didn't know that that day would arrive so quickly. So when a friend was selling hers, I decided that I would make that jump. Unfortunately, I had to part ways with the Voigtlander Bessa R3A (a fun 35mm Range Finder to test) to help fund the cost of the M6, and due to a small problem with the rewind lever I had to wait a week before I could actually run some test rolls. Also, manually setting everything from the shutter speed to f/stop and the focus ring has slowed me down considerably. Shooting all manual is definitely challenging coming from cameras that had an aperture priority setting that allows the shooter to simply set the f/stop while the camera picks the shutter speed automatically to create the correct exposure. Nonetheless, shooting a Leica M6 is INSANELY fun - I've been secretly giggling inside every time I hear the shutter go off. It really takes street photography to a whole other level! That being said, I've got a lot of work to do!

enjoi

Camera: Leica M6
Rolls: Expired Fuji Superia 400

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The evolution of two-wheeled vehicles.


Not sure how I feel about this.


The oranjana man.






The 50mm certainly gives me more distance between the subject.


lol, click here.


Amarisse




Her oversized crewneck.


o.0


Lance, bike shop owner and guitar enthusiast.


Can melt your face with his Chavel.




Jorge, magazine photographer and fixie meister.




Can outrun you on his Cinelli Vigorelli.


My after work cool down for the past week (they were on sale).
I can't wait to throw in some black and white film once the weather gets gloomy.


color for now



pax