18 COMMUNITY
Seoul
Expat Living is a section dedicated to the daily
living of expatriates.
It is printed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
To share stories about your life abroad, send stories
Capturing
Korea
or story ideas to Matthew Lamers at
mattlamers@heraldm.com
Submissions may be edited for length or clarity.
By Matthew Lamers
Josh Leeker
The images are a striking collection cap-
tured by photographers from all corners of
the country.
They depict a Korea as it is seen from a
non-Korean’s eyes: Some are beautiful
countryside landscapes, like Mario
Taradan’s image of Hallasan, Jeju Island.
Then there is a melancholic image of a
homeless man slurping soup in a Seoul al-
leyway from Peter Schurmann. A particu-
larly arresting image is Eric Reichbaum’s
decrepit-looking capture of old dancers.
Tomasz Roszkowski is one of 25 photog-
raphers whose images will be on display on
Sept. 26 at Gallery Ohoo, in Hongdae,
Seoul. All have been Photo Challenge win-
ners over the last year.
Roszkowski came to Korea two years ago
and said he was inspired by The Korea
Herald’s Photo Challenge. He went to the
City Hall ice rink, camera and tripod in tow,
in search of a winning image for the
“Christmas in Korea” competition. When he
noticed an old figure-skating ajoshi dressed
as Santa Claus, he thought he had found a
winner. He shot from a distance, then
moved in closer for the kill.
“Moments later, he approached me, still
on his skates and still dressed like Santa,
and demanded that I delete the photo. I said
no, and he pulled a knife out and grabbed
my arm. I broke free and ran away, with him
chasing me on skates and me screaming.
“As terrified as I was and yelling for help,
nobody could understand me, and all they
saw was a lanky foreigner running away be-
ing chased by an ajoshi Santa on skates,”
Peter Schurmann said Roszkowski.
The lesson the photographer learned is
an important one. Even though it’s more
difficult to approach your subject confident-
ly, in the end, that confidence and openness
leads to better photographs — and fewer
knife fights. And sometimes it doesn’t hurt
to ask permission, especially when your
subject is an armed Santa.
The Photo Challenge is a weekly competi-
tion. The concept is simple: If you think
you’ve captured a good image, then upload it
on the Seoul Photo Club’s Flickr website.
Every week the group’s leader, Aaron Raisey,
selects a winner. The winning photographer
is given a 50,000 won gift certificate for
Hyosung Camera, a t-shirt from Babo Shirts
(the competition’s three sponsors, along with
Expat Living) and the image is printed in the
Herald’s Expat Living section.
The Seoul Photo Club plays an important
role in community building among expats
and Koreans, say its members. But more
than that, it’s a group that allows photogra-
phers to share their work and receive con-
structive criticism.
“The Seoul Photo Club is an opportunity
for a wide variety of Koreans and expats to
work together to improve their photography
skills and explore Korea,” Roszkowski said.
“Definitely more of a photography club than
a social club, the Flickr group focuses on
constructive and useful critique of photos
and thematic challenges that give members
the opportunity to really think about and
redefine the way they view Korea.”
Aaron Brown
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2009
versus
British
Invasion
By John Redmond
The Korean chapter of the
American Steel Motorcycle
Club will host a gig in Seoul to
reach out to local motorcycle
clubs and host a pig roast on
Sept. 26.
Following the success of last
year’s Poker Run from Seoul to
Dungducheon, followed by live
performances featuring some of
Seoul’s hottest bands, the
American Steel Motorcycle Club
decided to stage an event closer
to the capital.
Popular live venue Ole
Stompers in Itaewon will stage
four of Korea’s hottest tribute
bands, headlined by Led
Zeppelin cover band Over The
Hill and Far Away.
Over The Hill and Far Away
formed in 2008 and is based in
Seoul.
Taking their name from the
Led Zeppelin song “Over the
Hills and Far Away,” the third
Mario Taradan track from their 1973 album
Houses of the Holy, OHFA offer
one of the purest reconstruc-
tions of raw Zeppelin power,
paying close attention to detail,
Where’s your favorite especially some of those very
subtle Led Zeppelin tempo and
key changes.
place to shoot? The gig will also feature the
Jimi Hendrix band Are You
Experienced (named after the
classic debut album of the late
— My favorite areas to shoot have evolved as my understanding of Korea has. legendary trio, Jimi Hendrix,
Initially, I enjoyed shooting in markets like Namdaemun, then Insadong/Jongno, and Noel Redding and Mitch
most recently, areas like Guro-gu where the Korea as a nation in transition, eager to
shed its past, is most evident. —Tomasz Roszkowski
American Steel
— I’m not too concerned about where I shoot; I will still find things to take photos of.
My favorite places though — well I like Gyeongju a lot, I think it’s a fascinating place w as originally es-
to visit. I like the big urban centers of Busan and Seoul a lot as well, and particular- tablished on the
ly enjoy taking photos of these places at night. I think last year one of my favorite
shoots was the Lotus lantern festival, for which I’m grateful to The Korea Herald who island of
arranged a press pass for me that day. —Simon Bond Okinow a, Japan,
— Back alleys. A good example would be the alleys and side streets around Insadong. in 1983, with a
Insadong is very popular of course, but few people step off that beaten track and en- K orean chapter
ter the little byways and alleys just a stones-throw from the tourist bustle. One of the
very best images to come out of the Seoul Photo Club this year was taken in exactly being formed in
that area — within sight of the main street. Back alleys are always interesting. You 1989. Based on a
can often encounter interesting characters and see stuff that most foreigners don’t.
—Aaron Raisey love of riding
— I love shooting around the food markets of Shinnae-dong and the base of
Harley Davidson
Boramsan. There is a secluded and serene Buddhist temple at the base of Boramsan motorcycles,the
that has some incredibly well maintained gardens as well as a couple hundred some-
what creepy statues of Buddha. —Dave Heidloff
group bonded
under a standard
— For traditional architecture, I enjoy Gyeongbukgong and the Temple of Heaven
near the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul. However, pictures around the small village
principle:
of Anjung-eup, where I’ve lived for the past year, is ripe with photo opportunities. ‘Family-Job-
—Nicolette Oliver
Steel.’
The group consists of about 400 expat and Another aspect the photographers talk
Korean photographers. about is Korea’s uniqueness — more so from Mitchell), Beatles devotees
Raisey took over the group about a year the perspective of non-Koreans, which adds Rubber Seoul and The Bicycle
ago after founder David Smeaton left Korea. another element to their prints. Thieves, a Rolling Stones in-
He said a reason the group has become so Nicolette Oliver said it’s easy to take ad- spired band. Why they chose to
popular is the transportability of photogra- vantage of the beauty of everyday subjects, name themselves after the clas-
phy as a hobby. “Unlike many hobbies, it is but as a foreigner, the Korean way of life is sic 1948 Italian neorealist film
one that doesn’t suffer from being trans- so different that seemingly simple items are remains a mystery to this
planted from one country to the next — you new and interesting from their of point of writer.
can do it almost wherever you are, and can view. “Food, flowers, insects, transporta- The event will kick off at 7
also be participated in fully online given the tion, weddings, clothing, dance ... you name p.m. with a pig roast.
right community.” it, it’s done differently in Korea than any- From 7 till 9 p.m. admission
These combine to enable people from where else in the world, and foreigners can will cost 10,000 won and in-
every cultural background and in any re- appreciate the uniqueness,” she said. cludes one drink, two raffle
mote location in Korea to easily pursue pho- There are several advantages to being a tickets and all the food you can
tography, share ideas and offer critiques, he photographer in a foreign land. eat.
added. “The Seoul Photo Club acts like a Raisey said he sees things without the The bands will start at 9 p.m.
bridge between photography enthusiasts blinkers of culture and habit. Things that For 20,000 won people will be
wherever they are in Korea.” seem mundane to a local seem very unusu- entitled to free selected drinks
The photographers, whose professions al or interesting to him. till midnight.
span from language instructors to engi- Asked how he as a foreigner can see The raffle ticket prizes will in-
neers and designers said they loved shoot- Korea in a unique way, Roszkowski said: “I clude airfare discounts, meal
ing in Korea for different reasons. don’t work 18 hours a day, so I can actually vouchers from international
Another of the photographers in the exhi- see it.” restaurants, jewelry and
bition is Dave Heidloff. “I really appreciate The opening for the exhibition, “This is leatherwear.
the juxtapositions that exist throughout the Korea,” will be held on Sept. 26 from 5-7 American Steel was originally
country. Everyday in Seoul we walk by mod- p.m. To Get to Gallery Ohoo, go to Hongik established on the island of
ern urban elements while on the sidewalk Station (Line 2, Exit 4); go straight until Okinowa, Japan, in 1983, with a
in front of us, an ajuma is preparing and you get to Family Mart; take a left; hang a Korean chapter being formed in
selling garlic the same way it was done cen- right at the street across from Bar Bentley 1989. Based on a love of riding
turies ago,” he said. then go straight until you see Ohoo on your Harley Davidson motorcycles,
“Korea has so much character compared left. The exhibition will be on until mid- the group bonded under a stan-
to other countries that I often find myself October. Seoul Photo Club’s website is dard principle: “Family-Job-
trying so many different techniques to best www.flickr.com/groups/seoulphotoclub Steel.”
capture that character.” (mattlamers@heraldm.com) The American Steel
Motorcycle Club also conducts
a ceremony to honor the
Xu Xiaoqing
Korean and U.S. casualties of
the Korean War on Veterans
Day.
For more information, contact
Paul Peenut Bell by calling 010-
8742-7271, or for Korean, call
Myung-sun at 010-7271-9069.
Also try e-mailing asmc_paul-
@yahoo.com
To get to Ole Stompers Rock
Spot from Itaewon subway sta-
tion, Exit 3 walk straight and
take the first right at the
Dunkin’ Donuts. Take the first
left at Cancun. Stompers is at
the top of the hill, the last bar
Tomasz Roszkowski on the left.
(johnredmond@heraldm.com)