Panorama (photomerge) of Gwangan Beach and Gwangan Bridge at night (Busan, South Korea)

I spent last weekend in Busan on the southeast coast of South Korea. The sun never came out, and the sky was never blue during the day. However, the “blue hour” still happens even with an overcast sky.

I didn’t have a tripod and there was nothing really easy to set my camera on for a long exposure so I climbed a lifeguard tower and set my camera on the floor of the lifeguard station in order to take the photos that were photomerged together into today’s final pic.

You’ll be able to see a lot more detail in this image if you click on it while viewing it on a large screen.

Posted on August 3rd, 2013 under Korea. Tags: blue hour, bridge, busan, East China Sea, night photography, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, panorama, photomerge. Comments: 1

May 18th National Cemetery

Last week I got on Bus 518, near the front gate of Chonnam National University (where the May 18, 1980 events began in Gwangju), and rode to the final resting place of many of the individuals who took part in the Gwangju Democratization Movement. This tower, to the left of center, is known as the May 18 People’s Uprising Memorial Tower (5·18민중항쟁추모탑).

Posted on July 21st, 2013 under Korea. Tags: clouds, gwangju, May 18 5.18, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, skywatch. Comments Off on May 18th National Cemetery (국립 5.18 민주묘지)

Chonnam National University track

The track near the front gate of Chonnam National University isn’t used much during the day this time of year as the heat and humidity make outdoor exercise more work than fun. However, once the sun goes down, hundreds of people can be seen circling this track in the evenings. When I took this photo the sun was setting. A couple hours later there were probably three times as many people on the track.

Mudeungsan can be seen in the distance of today’s image.

Posted on July 20th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: chonnam national university, gwangju, Mount Mudeung National Park, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on CNU track (전남대학교)

Gwangju Street of Art (광주 예술의 거리)

Gwangju’s Street of Art is one of about five or six things listed in every guidebook as a thing to do while in Gwangju. Some of the reviews I saw on the internet were pretty mediocre. Saturdays are supposed to be the best days, and the second Saturday of the month is supposed to have extra events. So I went on the second Saturday to check it out. Little was happening, less than half the stores and galleries were open, and few people were around. Probably 10-20% of the stores were undergoing construction. Overall, it was disappointing. Maybe once all the construction is done it will be OK. As I headed away from the art area (toward Chungjangno or 충장로) I noticed this alley.

Posted on July 16th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: graffiti, gwangju, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600, street art. Comments Off on Gwangju Art Street

Corona – Gwangju ROK

My second visit to Corona was as pleasant as the first. This time I ordered tacos (mild spiciness) and an Indica IPA from Eureka, California. The owner seems to be ordering his imports based on the ratings they receive on beeradvocate.com. I was chatting with him about this when his latest shipment came in. Included in the shipment were a number of beers from Anderson Valley Brewing Company. He comped me a bottle of their Belk’s ESB. Corona also has something called Red Rock (on tap no less) that is supposed to be made by OB, but I can’t find out anything about this beer, and the owner of Corona says it is hard to find in Korea even though it is about the only decent Korean beer.

Hours now seemed to be fixed at noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. If you are coming from a distance (or with a large group), you may want to call first (062.251.7221) as they do close the place from time to time for private parties. Corona had two different groups reserve the place for different times on Friday evening.

Here is a photo of Corona from the outside:

Corona location near the back gate of CNU down the street with Dunkin Donuts on the corner

Posted on July 13th, 2013 under Korea. Tags: beer, corona, food, gwangju, Nikon 24mm f/2.8 AF-D nikkor lens, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Corona – Mexican Food in Gwangju