12/29/2009

B&W Snow in Seoul














Here are some pictures I took with my newly purchased, used Leica AF-C1. The forecast called for another 10cm of snow, but we only got about 3 more. We were all hoping for a thick ground cover. Well, it's supposed to get pretty cold, so I'm hoping that will bring more snow. JJang!!

12/26/2009

Christmas Day in Seoul 2009


























I spent Christmas morning with my Korean family. We went shopping in Dongdaemun Market and then ate awesome food. Then I met up with some friends in Hongdae and we drank our homesickness away. These pictures were taken with one of my Christmas presents -- a roll of Lomo high-saturation film, and a roll of 3200 iso Ilford b&w. JJang!!

12/22/2009

Christmas Party in Su Yu




















On Sunday a bunch of us went to Hyungsu's older sister's restaurant for a Christmas party. Then we went to a makgoli house afterwards. It was merry.

12/20/2009

Konkuk Daehak, Again




















My favorite language-exchange friends go to Konkuk Daehak. It is my new usual Saturday night hangout. Great friends!!

Mozart Cafe, Seoul






I found a great little shop located in an area of many great little photo stores and shops in Chungmuro. It is called Mozart Cafe. It is owned by camera collector, nude photographer, and poet Michael Choi. Mr. Choi lived in Chicago for 30 years before returning to Seoul to open his awesome little camera museum/shop/coffee shop/beer HOF.
The first time I walked into his store, last week, he said, "Can I help you?" I said, "No, I'm just looking." "Get out then!," he said. "Can't you read the sign? It says coffee shop and HOF. You want coffee?" "Sure," I said. I couldn't keep myself from laughing.
Now I go there just to stop and say hello to him and his wife. He doesn't even charge me to look anymore. Yesterday I was looking for a strap for one of my point-and-shoot cameras. He pointed me to a bin of small straps, he handed me one and said, "This one is good." I tried it and it didn't fit. I continued searching. He came back over and said, "That one was good!" "It didn't fit," I told him. He tried to make it fit anyway, it didn't.
I kept looking through the bin. He said, "I don't have one that fits, that's all." About two seconds later I found a perfect strap!
I bought a copy of his book of poems title "Winter Wanderer III." I don't think "Winter Wanderer" or "Winter Wanderer II" ever existed. Please come and visit me in Seoul and we will take a trip to see Mr. Choi at Mozart Cafe. It is so great!

A Typical Week at GoMaGoon
















These are random pictures from GoMaGoon this week. It is the choe bab (sushi) restaurant in our building in Janghandong. It is like our kitchen, and the owners are definitely our family.