My Seoul-Called Life

[aaronbrown]

I've been in South Korea for over a year now and I thought I'd share the one photo I've taken that, for me, embodies life near Seoul:


http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/428652075_sUtVg-M-3.jpg
(http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#428652075_sUtVg)

Dynamic doesn't quite describe how different Seoul is from day to day -- almost hour to hour. Things tend to get a bit crowded here with all the construction going on. It's a wonder how many businesses can fit, let alone survive.

If you like the shot, help me out and vote for it (http://www.worldinfocuscontest.com/bin/Rate?image_id=1006803773) at the National Geographic Traveler and Photo District News "World in Focus" photo contest.

Here's a small glimpse of my daily grind in South Korea -- living near Seoul specifically:

- Capitalism towers as high over this country as it does in the U.S -

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/428657086_j7Wb8-M-6.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#428657086_j7Wb8)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500434780_74jYL-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500434780_74jYL)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500440101_KN5VD-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#P-3-12)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500773187_8mVdP-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500773187_8mVdP)

- There are a lot of buildings in such a small place. A lot. -

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500431969_FECc2-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500431969_FECc2)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500434236_K63Jo-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500434236_K63Jo)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500441044_AcBA8-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500441044_AcBA8)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/460603305_Tob54-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#460603305_Tob54)

- There are plenty of breathtaking sites balanced by quirky oddities. -

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500437392_kmdYH-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500437392_kmdYH)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/428958478_DumVf-M-6.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#428958478_DumVf)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/569593928_GEXvW-M-3.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#569593928_GEXvW)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500435192_UDskX-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500435192_UDskX)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500438061_M3qVg-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500438061_M3qVg)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/428952011_WvHLn-M-6.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#428952011_WvHLn)

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/460602704_2KJGK-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#460602704_2KJGK)

- And two universal truths are apparent: -

1: Gods are gods, no matter what, no matter where.

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/428960722_9KAk5-M-6.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#428960722_9KAk5)

2: Big Brother is always watching...

http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/photos/500442100_2am5c-M-5.jpg (http://www.aaronbrownphotos.com/gallery/6702558_FqYjE#500442100_2am5c)

Thanks for checking this out!

[dlplumer]

These are teriffic Aaron. Many of these are HDR, yes? I love the effect you are getting. :clap

Dan

[kdog]

I agree, these are great. I wish you would allow viewing larger than 'L' size in your gallery though. They look pretty small to those of us with hi-res monitors and are hard to see details. I think these picture deserve to be seen big.

Cheers,
-joel

[mayassa]

Are you based in Seoul?

[aaronbrown]

These are teriffic Aaron. Many of these are HDR, yes? I love the effect you are getting. :clap

Dan

Thanks, Dan. About hald of these are HDR processed through Photomatix: 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18. Glad you like 'em, your landscapes are great -- particularly Toroweap, Tucsan, and the Canadian Rockies.

Cheers!

[aaronbrown]

I agree, these are great. I wish you would allow viewing larger than 'L' size in your gallery though. They look pretty small to those of us with hi-res monitors and are hard to see details. I think these picture deserve to be seen big.

Cheers,
-joel

Beefed 'em up to XXL for now. Hope that helps. Thanks for your words!

[aaronbrown]

Are you based in Seoul?

Yes. Actually, I just started my second year living here in Ilsan (it's very close to Seoul). My girlfriend and I both teach English here -- she's at a private high school and I'm at a private academy. It's been such an awesome experience for us so far! We'll be returning home next June-ish... that is as long as the North doesn't start a war first. :(