snapshots

A New Project

2010-08-26T11:24:00.000+09:00

I've decided to start a new blog. It's going to be a photo blog much like this one and the plan is to try and post at least 1 picture per day. I'll leave this current blog up, but I won't be adding to it anymore.

Here's the new site...
Photo Fragments

No Connection: Old School and the Jump

2010-07-12T12:27:00.005+09:00

On the Banks of the Han

2010-07-10T21:42:00.004+09:00

It's the small things...

2010-06-27T09:00:00.001+09:00

Little Sepia Riding Hood

2010-05-25T15:15:00.000+09:00

Sports Day

2010-05-24T20:43:00.001+09:00

A Photoshoot on the Han

2010-05-17T10:44:00.004+09:00

16 pictures. Out of control.
Props to my model Sarah.

The Fortress and the Pig Man

2010-04-26T09:13:00.003+09:00

A Saturday Afternoon

2010-04-25T09:20:00.002+09:00

60 kph Cherry Blossoms

2010-04-19T09:35:00.001+09:00

A few random shots from this weekend.

How to put on a Korean subway gas mask.

2010-04-12T08:18:00.000+09:00

The Danger of Sleeping on the Subway...

2010-04-10T15:46:00.002+09:00

you might miss your stop... or a strange white guy might secretly take your picture.
(gotta love the amazing stripes)

I found one of my favorite childhood books randomly painted on this subway door. I have no idea why it's there. It's amazing really.

The fountain is near my apartment.

The final pic is a free concert that we stumbled upon.

Zoo, Who are the real animals?

2010-03-29T06:51:00.000+09:00

Ballet Practice

2010-03-28T08:36:00.002+09:00

A friend of mine invited me to photograph a ballet rehearsal. I was able to get some fun shots.

Sweet Album Art by Yours Truly

2010-03-22T21:14:00.002+09:00

I made these fake album covers for a photo club I'm in. I like how they turned out. I even like the fake band names and album titles.

A block of houses set for demolition makes an excellent photography studio

2010-03-21T21:18:00.002+09:00

found: lots of broken glass, old shoes, smashed mirrors, empty cigarette cartons, and one manikin.

Gwangmyeong Street Model

2010-03-20T18:45:00.002+09:00

Now that my brother is visiting, I have a model available at all times to practice photography with.

I also bought a new lens... a beautiful 35mm F1.8. And she focuses so quietly I thought she was broken at first. I think I'll name her Nakita.

Here are a few shots from a walk around town.

I'm Alive and Kicking... I mean Teaching.

2010-03-05T09:40:00.002+09:00

Sorry to those who check here and have found it quite empty of new material. I've been in the process of moving to a new city in Korea and adjusting to a new school. I am now a high school teacher at a public school in Gwangmyeong, Korea. It's quite different from teaching Kindergarten kids and I think I'm going to like it.

Things that are different:
-I have my own desk in the teacher's room
-I have a huge flat screen tv in my classroom to display powerpoints and various multimedia
-I now teach 40 students at a time
-I now have a Korean co-teacher for the entire class period who will translate for me if I ask. (actually I have 4 different co-teachers)
-I don't have to serve and eat lunch with students
-I teach only 3 or 4 classes 50 minutes each per day.
-It's very quiet
-Most of the students wear uniforms
-Teenager love is super funny
-I'm making lots of powerpoints and creative worksheets
-I teach the same thing 14 times a week... which might seem boring, but it allows me to refine my teaching material and skills.
-A lot less stressful, more down time, good for my mental health. I already feel like I have more energy

I've already met many new people and I'm certain I'll meet more.

I hope to have some pics up of my new school soon.

Night Life

2010-02-18T14:36:00.002+09:00

The construction photos are my favorite. I was riding my motorcycle home at night and spotted the giant spool. I pulled over and used my Korean to ask if I could take some pics of them working. The lighting came out great. Most pics were taken with...
Aperture: 11
SS: 4 seconds
ISO: 100

Jo's Wedding and the Wide Angle Lens

2010-02-14T09:52:00.001+09:00

Kaleidoscope

2010-01-31T00:32:00.002+09:00

Coffee, Frozen Stream, Clothes Rack, Cement Wall with Vines, Mirror Me, Splashes of Color, Lamb Soup

Underground

2010-01-29T19:09:00.002+09:00

Took these while waiting for the subway. I don't ride the subway often. Usually I simply ride my motorcycle. But in really bad weather, I brave the underground masses.

Facial Expressions, Oh The Stories They Tell

2010-01-23T18:41:00.002+09:00

Final Roll of Film shot in Japan, Finally Developed

2010-01-22T15:14:00.001+09:00

Paper Towel Extravaganza

2010-01-21T22:01:00.003+09:00

What do a flash, a roll of paper towels, and a dress shirt have in common? Nothing I can think of at the moment. But I did use a flash to take pictures of random objects that were on hand (which happen to be the previously mentioned towels and shirt). Here's what you get...

PS I also used something called a "snoot" which is basically a cardboard tube that focuses the flash like a spotlight. I made it using green duct tape and a coco-chex cereal box.

The Action Sampler

2010-01-19T18:46:00.003+09:00

So my co-worker, Naomi, wanted to buy the "super sampler" lomo camera. And well, there was this other one there as well called the "action sampler"... and it was only $25... and I couldn't resist. After purchasing our new photography equipment, it was necessary to test it out immediately. Here are some of my favorites from my first roll of film. Thanks Naomi for being my action sampler practice model.

Temple Rooftops and Holy Icicles, Batman

2010-01-15T23:52:00.003+09:00

PS I bought a new film camera today. It's called the "action sampler". Similar to my "super sampler" but takes 4 pictures in a square formation instead of a slatted one. I'm getting my first roll developed and should have some action sampler pics up soon.

The Prison Shot

2010-01-13T23:43:00.001+09:00

Angel Revisited - And some Vignette Editting

2010-01-10T20:43:00.002+09:00

Japan Through the Eyes of a Lomo SuperSampler

2010-01-10T17:11:00.002+09:00

Japan

2010-01-08T17:07:00.003+09:00

Angel Wings

2009-12-16T01:42:00.002+09:00

Night Ski/Snowboard

2009-12-13T10:03:00.005+09:00

Went snowboarding for the second time in my life. We went from 1am to 3am. It was great.

We only went on the "difficult" run... at first I was like, "Hey guys, you remember I've only done this once before, right? Are you sure I should be going on this one?"

But it worked out. By the end of the night, I was doing the most difficult slope with no problem... if a bit slower than my friends... but I did have my s-turns down and I was getting up to pretty good speed.

That's how it's always been with me. I pick things up pretty quickly, but never seem to "master" them. Sort of a mediocre Jack-of-all-trades. Also, I've discovered that if I want to learn something, it's best to try doing the most difficult thing first. Without the challenge I don't get better.

Anyway, here are a few grainy pics taken with my little point and shoot at 1600 ISO. Hopefully this is the start of my return to photography.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. I paid basically $35 for the whole trip... gear rental and lift ticket. My friends had the hook-up.

PS it's all man-made snow. So it was icy... and my knees and butt hurt today.

I'm Alive

2009-12-12T16:54:00.003+09:00

Hey everyone. I'm alive and well. I've just been a bit busy. So busy I haven't been able to pursue my favorite hobby... photography. I keep carrying my camera around with me, but never get a chance to take it out and shoot. The weather is cold, so there haven't been any interesting outdoor activities.

I've been busy planning a trip to Japan. I've also been meeting up with a lot of great friends. Some who I haven't seen in years and suddenly they show up in Korea, it's amazing.

I've also taken up learning an instrument. When I was younger I used to play the flute. I love it's sound. I got a lot of teasing in middle school, but I stayed with my instrument. Unfortunately I didn't have a good flute and didn't have the money to buy a new one, so I eventually gave up playing. However, I now possess the financial means to continue my musical pursuit. I've also found an excellent teacher.

Christmas season is here. It's a strange and somewhat sad time. This will be the 3rd Christmas I've missed with the family. I have no real plans as of yet. Maybe a fancy dinner with friends... I'm not sure.

Last week I made "gingerbread" houses with my students. Everything sounded great, until I learned that cake frosting and graham crackers don't exist in Korea. So with some quick thinking and a trip to costco (yes, they have costco here, no, costco didn't have cake frosting or grahams) we used cookies and peanut butter instead. The kids loved it and I have peanut butter hand-prints on my shirt to prove it.

Some interesting people I've recently met... a Korean who grew up in Malaysia and who now works in Korea for a logging company, a neurosurgeon from Uzbekistan who is doing medical research, a Korean concert pianist who changed her major and studied in Germany for 9 years to become a doctor and then decided she didn't want to be a doctor, a Korean who grew up in New York and who looks exactly like my friend Ko-Ko from University, the really cool husband of my friend who I haven't seen in 8 years, a fashion magazine writer who I showed one of my favorite secret coffee shops, an artist who makes lovely postcard sized ink drawings, and many many more...

Stay tuned for photos. I'm going through camera withdrawal and won't be able to resist much longer. Even if they are dumb pictures taken in my apartment.

A Mini Photo Club Outing to Samcheong-dong

2009-11-08T18:33:00.002+09:00

Creative Title from my Brain goes Here

2009-11-05T16:47:00.001+09:00

Hanbok Fashion

2009-10-28T22:21:00.003+09:00

I don't know what the deal is... but I've suddenly had the opportunity to shoot all this fashion show stuff. A friend of mine invited me to a Korean Hanbok Fashion show. When I arrived, I discovered there was no seating left and I would have to stand in a very awkward location behind all the camera guys. Well, I called up my friend and she had somehow accidentally met one of the designers, who had then invited her to sit in the front row! The invitation was extended to me... so I met the designer as well... and asked if I could bring a few more friends up front. So in the end, we all got front row seats. It was an amazing hookup. Here are a few pics from the show.

And apparently I sat behind a very famous internationally known fashion designer (who wears the same outfit to every show and paints his head). I took his picture. The funny thing is, I left the show... drove across town... turned down a narrow one way road and who should I see... but the very same designer getting out of his tinted-window van and heading into Baskin Robbins for an ice-cream. Amazing.

And my favorite dress... number 19... what I like to call "the broken buzz lightyear dress".

Seoul Fashion Week - Day 2

2009-10-18T21:47:00.003+09:00

Got a lot of good shots for these shows. Sorry for all the large size photos for those of you with slower connections. But I had to post them big and I couldn't decide which ones to keep.

Seoul Fashion Week - An Amateur Photographer's Adventure

2009-10-17T22:50:00.007+09:00

A friend of mine works for an online fashion journal(360fashion).

She asked if I could take some photos of Seoul Fashion week for her. She got me a press pass and in no time I was photographing my first fashion show ever.

It was cool. I got a front row seat to every show and I never had to wait in line at the door. I would just show my badge and confidently walk in.

I'm not sure yet whether I'd like to be a fashion photographer. It seems like there isn't a whole lot of creativity to it. You just point and shoot. I'm sure a dozen other guys got the same exact pictures I did. Then again, this was my first time.

I took over 1000 pictures... here are a few of my favorites...

PS I think the majority of the models either hated my guts, disliked their job, or found the clothes uncomfortable... or maybe they're just supposed to look like that...

Bike trip out East and a Buddha Statue at Night

2009-10-13T08:17:00.002+09:00

The Shadow Knows

2009-10-04T18:28:00.003+09:00

A Chuseok Day

2009-10-03T18:46:00.002+09:00

Just One More

2009-10-02T09:15:00.002+09:00

Retro Castle Wear

2009-10-01T14:49:00.004+09:00

It's that time of year... the Korean harvest festival known as "Chuseok". Somewhat similar to the American Thanksgiving. The kids came to school wearing their traditional hanbok. They all looked great.

Here's my crew.

Lomo SuperSampler Take 2

2009-09-29T16:31:00.002+09:00

Take two... using some old film from 2004.

The Dancing Flame and the Lonely Girl

2009-09-25T00:01:00.002+09:00

SuperSampler

2009-09-23T14:58:00.002+09:00

I bought another new camera. This one is a film camera. It's a "lomo" camera. Cheap plastic/rubber body with no view finder or control of settings. I just look for good light and click. It takes four pictures and they go onto one negative. Here are a few of my first shots.

Film! What's Film?

2009-09-16T15:57:00.005+09:00

Everyone loves that old scratched film camera look. There are a million tutorials out there about how to create an aged digital photo, so I won't go into how I did mine, unless you're really interested.

But I really like that film photo look. So here's an initial attempt. Two before and after shots.

Are you Bored?

2009-09-07T22:27:00.001+09:00

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing - (Jack Johnson)

2009-08-30T22:11:00.003+09:00

The other day, I was sitting and waiting at a subway station. I spotted a really nice construction wall and thought it would make a great photo backdrop. So I started snapping some pics. Of course I was shooting from the hip and pretending I wasn't (I wanted candids). Some day, I'll probably get punched, but it'll be worth it. I think these pics show the different aspects of Seoul life. Old/Young/and everything in between.

Once again, I'm going to leave these small because there are so many. But if you want a larger view simply click on the picture.

Lovin' that Piano

2009-08-27T01:32:00.000+09:00

Behind the Scenes... The Traditional Korean Wedding

2009-08-24T15:58:00.004+09:00

Lots of pictures, so I'm leaving them small. Click on the ones you like for a slightly bigger picture. I finally got a chance to view the traditional Korean wedding ceremony. Usually it takes place after the western style wedding and is reserved for a small group of family and close friends.

My friend Jin was the one getting married, and he invited me in... so I took off my shoes and jumped around taking pictures. It was cool. There was no translation, so I don't know the significance of many of the things they did... but it was still interesting.

In short...They bowed to and poured tea for both sets of parents and some distinguished aunts and uncles. They also caught some chestnuts (thrown by the groom's mom) in a cloth. The fathers introduced various family members. Next they shook hands and the mothers hugged. Then the groom had to carry the bride on his back around the room... and then he had to carry each of the mothers as well, with the bride running behind. Finally they poured tea for each other and the groom put a chestnut or cake or something in the brides mouth and then had to eat it as well.

It was all pretty interesting. The couple actually met in China while working at a Christian school for Korean immigrants. They look like a happy couple.

Me

2009-08-20T20:23:00.002+09:00

I had a tough week of negotiations. I've been asking for several months now to be paid my ending bonus (from my first year), health bonus (didn't take any sick days my first year or this year), and one missing pay check (from this year). They continued to delay and make excuses. Finally I'd had enough (it's been almost 6 months). I'm not really the confrontational type, but I tossed aside my smile and spoke some bold words to the boss. He continued to delay, breaking promises left and right. Finally, I let him know that if the proper amount was not in my bank account by the end of the day, I would not be coming to work.

I was paid this evening. Even the final amount was not exactly as it should have been. "Taxes" were taken out of several separate amounts. I know these taxes are not legit, but one grows weary of the endless pettiness. More delaying would have resulted. I'm just glad it's over for now. I think it's dumb to worry about money, and this thing has just been weighing down my mind.

But why... why did it have to come to that? Why did I have to feel bad about asking for something that was owed to me? Why did I have to have meeting after meeting? Man, it really makes me mad when people make and break promises so easily. I'd rather have the straight truth. Sometimes people need to man up, admit their mistakes, and take responsibility.

Hopefully I won't have to resort to such threat tactics again. Sigh. It's draining.

In other news, I plan to attend a wedding in Busan this weekend. I hope to have some good pics to post.

Here are a few pics I took for a fun photo club. They aren't meant to make any sense.

Hiking a Mountain in Gwacheon and Climbing Seoul Tower and my New Hot Movie Star Girlfriend

2009-08-09T23:42:00.005+09:00

Just used my trusty little canon point and shoot for these.

Too Tired To Title

2009-08-05T22:28:00.001+09:00

Here be pics.

I guess you're supposed to slowly hit people.

Lotte World

2009-07-31T21:40:00.004+09:00

Lotte World is an indoor/outdoor amusement park in Korea. I didn't take many pics as I was busy going on rides, but I did snap a few. I also played around with my camera's multiple exposure setting.

I found a very unappealing snack food and a strange cartoon figure hiding behind a strange door. I also went on the "Gyro" freefall... and placed a coin on my knee to see if Newton's law would hold true. However, I believe the wind resistance effected the experiment, the coin flew off and was never seen again.

African Museum, in Korea? Yep...

2009-07-30T21:13:00.002+09:00

...and some other random pictures taken while traveling to previously mentioned museum... including the amazing book vending machine and a Peter Pan-esque figure.

Universal Mind

2009-07-19T20:58:00.002+09:00

A few photos from a recent concert I went to. The music was loud... just the way music should be when it's live.

Poor Man's Macro Strikes Again

2009-07-14T01:30:00.003+09:00

Pics...

-water drops on a cd
-my fingerprint
-my ipod earbud

Weekend Rain and a Mysterious Final Photo

2009-07-12T21:18:00.002+09:00

A human hair

Poor Man's Macro

2009-07-11T01:36:00.003+09:00

Wow! I created my own macro lens by simply flipping around my 50mm and putting it against my 200mm zoom. Then I used my external flash at a 1/16 power setting. This is crazy awesome. I had to post right away. More to come for sure.

The ironic part is finding something small enough to photograph.

Photo 1: the flint wheel on my zippo lighter
Photo 2: some grains of rice that I placed on my couch (you can actually see the threads on the couch)
Photo 3: a very tiny screw

I'm Still Alive and Now my Computer is Too

2009-07-10T16:55:00.004+09:00

My computer decided to die on me. The DELL place here took 2 weeks to get the replacement parts shipped in. Thankfully, it didn't cost me a penny. They replaced the main fan and the CPU.

In the mean time, I've been taking photos like crazy. However, I'll just post a few for starters. Here are a couple from a fun photo shoot I did last weekend. She's 9 months pregnant.

A Fiery Fountain, some Bricks, and stuff

2009-06-29T22:35:00.003+09:00

Window Plant, Crayon Craze, Bit of a Blur, and the Giant

2009-06-26T16:34:00.001+09:00

A Hiking Adventure... and the Lensbaby

2009-06-21T23:00:00.003+09:00

If today was a movie...
-Fence Break
-Attack of the Green and White Flowers
-Alien Dome 2

Also starring the toxic waste barrel floating in a mysterious pond.

10,000 km And a Shave

2009-06-17T17:28:00.003+09:00

I recently joined a fun facebook photography club. This week's theme was "old school". I had lots of ideas, it was just tricky getting them to work. I wanted to do an old school basketball picture with converse and short shorts. I wanted to have a young dude reading a newspaper with an old dude in the back surfing the net on a computer. I wanted to take a picture of a guy dressed like he was from the movie "Grease" smoking a cigarette. Most of these would have taken some help. I'm still trying to find a good friend here who lives close to me and loves cameras as much as I do.

I finally went with "Old School Shaving".

And on a side note... I just put 10,000 kilometers on my motorcycle.

Motorcycle Trip to Tae-on

2009-06-14T21:42:00.004+09:00

Oh how I missed the ocean. It was good to visit.

Today I went on a quick motorcycle trip to Korea's west coast. 3 hours there and 3 hours back. Here are a few pics I took while there. I found some awesome old rusty anchors... I liked them, so I took a lot of pictures of them.

Oh yeah, I also had some great eel soup for lunch.

And I captured a fun family beach activity.

"Yey, I'm hunting for bamboo clams!"

"First I've got to dig and dig until I find the bamboo clam's tunnel."
(Note: ketchup bottle is not really ketchup... it's salt... see next photo)
(Note 2: blue shovel really is just a blue shovel)

"Next I pour salt down the tunnel's opening.
(This was the freaky part folks. The clam would dart its little head? tongue? whatever it is... in and out... The little girl had to be quick or it would escape back down its tunnel.)

"I got it! I got it!"
(Note: technically I believe her grandma was faster and got it, but she let the girl hold it.)

"Now I'm bored. Can we get some ice-cream? Hey, why is that white guy taking pictures of anchors? That's pretty dumb if you ask me."

Baseball

2009-06-13T18:18:00.002+09:00

Just a few pics from the baseball game.
Cool things...
-Super hyper cheerleader man
-Super carry everything snack and drink selling lady
-Super awesome old man who snags a fly ball from the hands of another man, but doesn't keep it and gives it to the other guy's son
-Super awesome burrito that I carried in with me, and I didn't even have to smuggle it in since it was okay to bring your own food
-Super awesome ride home on the motorcycle because I didn't have to ride the subway with the stampede of people that left the stadium at the end of the game

And the Final Set of Ballet Black and Whites

2009-06-11T16:15:00.002+09:00

A Few More Ballet

2009-06-10T14:35:00.006+09:00

Ballet in Korea

2009-06-08T13:15:00.003+09:00

Two amazing friends. One writes music. The other choreographs ballet.

"Just Do Eat!"

2009-06-06T18:33:00.003+09:00

A few random pics from my day. My favorite is the last one. I quickly snapped the pic in a dark stairway while the mother and daughter (?) were posing for another picture.

The photo of the Korean flag is an interesting one. The flag is on the side of a skyscraper and it's made from thousands and thousands of hand prints. Each one from a different person. They got into the Guinness book of world records with it.

Seoul Arts Center

2009-06-06T02:03:00.002+09:00

Had some great lighting. I took some more artsy photos today.

Planting Plants (aka lots of sun, not enough water, and tired kids, oh yeah, and a "free" plant they get to take home)

2009-06-02T21:12:00.004+09:00

Ahhh field trips. So fun. So tiring. I'm just glad nobody threw up in my group and we all made it back to school in one piece.

PS I'm about 95 percent certain I teach the cutest group of kids in all Korea.

The Theft of feeling Secure

2009-06-01T19:00:00.003+09:00

Somebody has tried to steal my motorcycle twice now. I'm not sure if it is the same person. I sort of don't think so, but I'm not certain. The first time was at my work. I came out after school and my motorcycle was on the ground. At first I thought it was the wind, but on closer inspection, I discovered that the kickstand was up and the bike was in neutral (I always leave it in 1st gear). Whoever tried to steal it got scared, or realized the steering was locked and so they just dropped it. It snapped my clutch handle and smashed in my front blinker.

The second time happened a week later at my apartment around midnight. The motion sensor lights came on and then I heard a motorcycle speed off. In the morning, I discovered somebody had jammed a screwdriver into my ignition in an attempt to break the steering lock or start the bike.

I was glad they hadn't stolen it, but they did a lot of damage. I have to replace the main ignition key now and that also means a new gas tank lock and seat lock. Plus the clutch handle.

It's an awful feeling. You feel helpless. And you can't even put a face to your attacker. I started thinking a lot about what I would do if I caught them in the act... would I try and tackle them? Take their picture? What?

Even if I call the cops, chances are the cops won't speak enough English for me to quickly give my location.

Once I get my bike back from the shop, I think I might start parking it inside my apartment. I've also started to put a chain lock on my back wheel. While it won't prevent someone from physically carrying the bike away and tossing it into a truck, it will prevent them from simply rolling it away. And it provides a "look" that will hopefully discourage a casual thief.

Locks of Love

2009-05-24T23:48:00.003+09:00

Here, my friends, I present an interesting Korean lock phenomenon. You bring a lock to the namsan tower... you write a message on the lock... you lock it to the fence... you throw away the key... symbolizing your eternal love for one another.

oh yeah, you should bring your lover with you... i guess it would be pointless if you didn't.

I was at this tower about 2 years ago and I don't remember seeing any locks... now there are literally millions.

PS: night photos are fun.
PSS: notice how the benches appear to be especially made for couples... I think it's brilliant... they have the dip in the middle that helps you sit closer together and you can really only fit two people comfortably. You don't have to worry that some pushy old lady will crowd your romantic bench space.

I call this final photo "Locks of Awesome Love Hair Man".

Photo Shoot and the Bug Garden

2009-05-19T17:03:00.003+09:00

This is a quick post of some photos i took recently. They're a bit mixed up... some are from a class field trip and some are from a family photo shoot I did. I left them small because there are so many... but if you want to see it a little bigger simply click on the image.

Back From the Break

2009-05-11T05:03:00.004+09:00

So I just spent two weeks in the USA. It was interesting. However, as seems to happen with most vacations... I feel I will now need a vacation from my vacation.

The highlight was seeing family. I got to play with my little sister and talk with my brothers and parents. My grandfather's birthday party was fun and a bit stressful. I was a little overwhelmed.

A few bits of reverse culture shock that I experienced...
-I could understand conversations around me... and I decided that sometimes, it's a good thing to not be able to understand.
-It seemed so empty... I had gotten used to the crowds and large numbers of people in Korea.
-Clothing styles were different.
-Body types were different.
-Going to movies was different.
-I had to remember to give tips.
-The money was different.
-Driving my dad's truck... the roads are so big and not crowded.
-Everything was so beautifully green and wonderful.
-My sleeping schedule was all messed up because of the time change and staying up late reading books or visiting friends.

Well, here are a few pics.

Oh yeah, I'm really excited about a new sport I'm trying out. It's called slack lining. I did my research and purchased the correct gear and even set up a line. Now I'll simply need to find a good place to set it up in Korea.

A Perfect Lensbaby Day

2009-04-18T23:29:00.004+09:00

Here are a few shots with my lensbaby lens. No photoshop or post-editing.

Weather was beautiful today.
Camera settings...
aperture: 2,
shutter speed: 1/1500-1/2000,
ISO: 100

I have a confession to make... I'm addicted to my motorcycle. It's dangerous, I know, that's what everybody tells me, but there is something about it that draws me. About two weeks ago, around midnight, my neighbor backed his van over my bike... my baby. The sound woke me up (I park just outside my door). I threw on some pants and my glasses and ran outside. I was afraid of a hit and run. There was a guy picking my bike up off the ground. He gave me a sheepish grin and handed me his business card. Thankfully, his insurance paid for the repairs... but I was without a bike for about 4 days. Four agonizing days... and that's when I realized how much I had come to rely on my bike. I was forced to walk... to ride the subway... to take buses and taxis. So uncomfortable... so expensive... so slow.

And now, as I'm about to go back to the states, for an all too brief visit, all I can think about is how it might be possible for me to rent or borrow a motorcycle for the duration of my stay. Should I bring my helmet as a carry-on? Do I know anyone who might have a spare bike sitting around?

Now that I've been driving in Korea for about a year, I feel like a seasoned veteran. Compared to Korea, driving in America will be like a college student doing ABCs. Okay, that's a weird comparison... but I've got kindergarten on the brain.

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved speed. I remember a snow trip I went on when I was about 13. Everyone else was going down the slopes in tubes... bouncing over the hills. And there I was... on a bobsled with metal runners... just taking the straight shot down the hill... trying to go as fast as possible. As I recall, my friend's mom thought it looked fun and asked if she could ride passenger... I agreed, but the added weight threw off the handling and we wiped out at the bottom and broke the sled.

Anyway, don't really know why I rambled on like that... no relation whatsoever to the pics.

An Outing with the Kids

2009-04-11T23:45:00.004+09:00

Had a field trip to the local science museum. It wasn't bad. Though I think the best part was the outdoor playground.

I've got some cute kids in my class. Whenever I take a picture of Ethan, he always gives me the scrunched face smile... it's awesome.

You'll also see a few of the Korean teachers hiding from the dreaded sun. White skin is considered beautiful... so they hide from the hated sunlight as much as possible.

Also, the little girl with blue fingernail polish... upon questioning, it was revealed that her grandpa painted her fingernails for her... is that weird or cute?

And yes, I need a haircut.

The Window, The Plant, The Five

2009-04-06T21:22:00.003+09:00

Cabin fever photos. I'm still not feeling 100 percent. So I took the evening to relax. I didn't feel like leaving the apartment... but at the same time, I found myself feeling a bit bored. So here are some pics...

A Korean Fashion Designer

2009-04-05T10:19:00.003+09:00

A friend of mine interviewed a local fashion designer and asked me if I could take a few shots to go along with the article.

I could see that my model was tired from a long day of work. She was worried she wouldn't look good in the picture... hadn't prepared her makeup or hair. So I quickly turned my camera's black and white setting on (everyone looks good in black and white, no matter what). I snapped a quick picture of her and then showed her the results. She liked it and quickly posed for a few more. I took a few pictures of her fashion shop as well.

I've begun to analyze people again... mostly for fun. But it can also be useful, like my fashion photo experience.

The other day I was with a friend and we saw a college age guy who appeared to be blind. However, I pointed out to my friend several indicators that seemed to say otherwise. One: he was wearing a digital watch... now I know there are watches out there that will "speak" the time at the press of a button, but I'm fairly certain this was not one of them. Two: He was sweeping his cane in an awkward pattern and was moving very fast. Three: His clothing was "stylish" (not to say blind people aren't stylish, but usually they are more practical. This guy was wearing shoes and clothing that could easily get snagged on corners. Four: Two giggling girls ran up to him and dragged him off. In my opinion, he needs to work on his blindman act.

Snap Happy

2009-04-04T17:38:00.004+09:00

Whenever I saw an interesting person, or thing, I just started snapping from the hip... looking the opposite direction to throw the victim off. I even got a picture of an artist and one of his apple paintings. I also went for some weird artsy fartsy stuff. This blog entry is like a "Where's Waldo?"

Can you find the twin babys? The perfectly matching couple? The strangely colored hair? The "you can't do anything" sign?

Warning, lots of large pictures, so the page will probably take some time to load.

Time Flys/Flies?

2009-04-02T16:05:00.005+09:00

Wow, the little ones take it out of you. Differences between teaching 7 year olds and six year olds.

Six year olds...
-grab anything within their reach. This means anything you don't want them to play with must be in a high, or locked place.
-call for help wiping after they've gone poop. "Teacher, I did it!"
-move very, very, very slowly. it takes 10-15 minutes just to put their shoes and backpacks on when it is time for them to go home. And it takes 50 minutes to eat lunch.
-constantly take off their shoes and socks
-like to climb on the teacher
-say really funny things
-try to help but end up making things messier

My three boys are angels... the girls... are cute and moody. They cause me the most trouble. If they don't want to do something, they pout and flop on the ground. Sometimes they don't even want to play during gym time. And if one girl doesn't play, the others follow. This takes so much more energy.

I think I still enjoy it. It is a new teaching challenge for sure.
My Korean co-teacher says that last year I was a baby teacher, now my class is turning me into a boy teacher, and I suppose that means one more year and I'll finally be a man. :)

I've also been really sick lately and that hasn't helped. I finally went to a doctor here. I got x-rays, talked with the doc, and picked up my meds for bronchitis all in about 20 minutes and for about $30 bucks. The doc makes his money because he only prescribes 2 days of meds. Then you have to come back in. Get checked again. And get another few days of meds. So they make their cash in the repeat visits.

This weekend looks to be a fun and busy one filled with picture taking. I'll be heading to the cultural district again, just for fun. And then I've been invited to shoot some designer clothes pictures for a friend. We'll see how it goes.

Here are a few pics of my new "team". Some of the pictures actually contain kids from another class. We had a joint outing to the stream. See if you can spot my number one pouter.

And what would a Friday be without Spaghetti art?

Thoughts that fly out the window

2009-03-22T16:46:00.002+09:00

The weather is getting warmer. The sun is out. And the window light was just too good to be wasted.

I've been thinking a lot (that's what happens when you live alone). Thoughts big and small. Like... "I wonder if I should do laundry today"... or ... "I can't teach like this forever, can I? What's next?"

I used to have plans. Now, it's year by year. Wherever the wind blows me. Is that bad? I can always go back to school... but I hate the idea of taking out loans. I've been thinking a lot about trying to get a scholarship here. To attend a Korean university to study Korean. And then I could get some kind of sweet photography/translator job. I'm still not done with Korea. It's got its hooks into me I think.

And at the same time... for the first time... I actually feel a bit homesick. Even though I don't technically have a home in the states to return to. Of course, I can always stay with my parents... but that means getting a local low level job and sinking into mediocrity. Into the mundane life. Don't get me wrong, the hometown life isn't a bad one... it's just not for me. I'm too... too... I don't know. Perhaps I've seen too much. Done too much. Learned too much. And so I can never go back to what I was before.

Am I losing or finding myself?

And just like the lyrics from one of Jack Johnson's songs... I often wonder... "Where have all the good people gone?" I would like to see someone do something selfless... something to help someone else. And I also want the opportunity to do something selfless myself... could I/would I, if the situation presented itself? I'd like to think so.

I think I'm suffering from Solomon's malady. Everything seems meaningless... a chasing after the wind. I meet people that just want to make money. They work for hours and hours. They seek power, recognition, and pleasure. But it's all been done before. And when we die, what will we have accomplished... what will I have accomplished? What am I doing that will leave a legacy? I think everyone must have these thoughts. I suppose the point is... so what? What now? Solomon's answer was to respect God, eat, drink, and be merry. Actually, Solomon's words are kind of a downer... he concludes with "Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"

I suppose the fact that he knew or felt that everything was meaningless means the opposite exists... there must be some meaning... somewhere. And that is what everyone is looking for. And if I get really philosophical, the search for meaning itself, could be the meaning (which is something I don't actually believe). I know these ideas are not new; they've been out there forever. But it's fun to throw them around sometimes.

I think, in the end, Solomon's point was that nothing is permanent except God. Wealth comes and goes. Power comes and goes. Beauty comes and goes. And even love can fade away. Only God seems to be constant. And for me, that means, if I want to find meaning, I need to know and understand God as best I can.

I've been told I think too much. Perhaps it's true. Perhaps I've been cursed with an ever questioning mind. Doomed to never know peace and child-like bliss.

Oh well, I guess I can just follow Solomon's advice and take joy in the time of my youth, while I still have it. But of course I'll remember... I must remember... any consequences good or bad will reach far into the future.

So here's to taking joy in life and thinking by windows...