Sokcho doesn't have a lot of things within easy bicycle range that I like to photograph, but the local buses go quite far out of the town centre, even into neighbouring counties. When I moved to Sokcho, I was pleased to learn that Obong-ri bus stop on Route 1 is just a twenty minute walk from Wanggok Village, a place I visited some years ago. Wanggok Village is designated a National Important Folk Material because all the houses are built in the traditional style and some are quite old. There are no coffee shops or other things that most tourists love, so it's quite peaceful during the weekdays, even during the holiday season.
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| Traditional wall with loose support stick |
I attached a wide-angle lens to my camera when I arrived, but a number of Very Poor Photos Indeed reminded me that the Broad View is not my strong point. So the 28mm lens went back into my bag, a 50mm lens went on the camera, and an 85mm lens got put into an outside pocket for easy access. I feel comfortable using standard and telephoto lenses, but it might be worth going to the village some day with just the 28mm lens and force myself to practise with it. The discomfort might open up my mind to new ways of seeing things.
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| Rice Mill Doors |
As well as not being a wide-angle guy, I'm also not great at documentary photography. I don't think I would be able to visit a place and come back with a set of pictures that would explain the location and what happens there. As a result, most of photos tend to be details of buildings or narrow scenes. Again, it would be worth visiting the village someday with a wide-angle lens with the intent to photograph the buildings, people, and scenery as a virtual tour for the benefit of pen friends.
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| Crumbling Wall, Thatched Roof, and Rice Mill |
Summer in Korea is not a good season for photography because of the harsh sunlight, and in late summer the humidity is so bad that I'm constantly sweating on my equipment. And I'm too miserable to concentrate much on making pictures. But there are a couple of months before things get that bad, and I'm hoping to make a few more trips to the village. Every visit to a location reveals something I hadn't noticed before and a new way of looking things I have seen before. It's one of the pleasures of photography.
Are thatched roofs a common thing on older style houses in the country? I always liked the look of that style roof especially from pictures I've seen of of old English styled homes.
ReplyDeleteThatched roofs only exist in places like folk villages and historical sites now. Thatch was replaced by tin roofs in the 60s when the government was trying to modernise the country. People who were well off had clay tiles on the tops of their houses.
DeleteFunny how we have all the gear but revert to a 50mm time and again. It really is hard to beat for a lot of photography. I tend to be a one lens at a time guy - just take one with me and 'get my eye in' for that focal length.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see what you can do with the 28mm in that village - it looks a great place to go. Even better without the coffee shops & people.
I agree with your last sentiment about photography. It's the real deal as far as 'mindfulness' goes.
Love the photographs, btw.
Thanks, Michael. I haven't been back to that village yet with a 28mm lens, but I've been to another village with just a wide angle lens. I will post the ones that survive the editing process . . .
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