Aug 15, 2024

Capturing Korea's Blue July: A Photograpic Journey with Meditations


Meditations on Nature and Humanity in the Heart of Summer

July 30, 2024. In Korea.

Korea's summers are a fiery crucible, a relentless test of endurance. The oppressive heat and humidity transform the landscape into a shimmering mirage. Yet, within this seemingly hostile environment, a world of beauty and wonder awaits discovery.

    Armed with a camera and a sense of curiosity, I embarked on a series of early morning walks, seeking solace and inspiration in the heart of the Korean summer. As the sun cast its golden rays across the dew-kissed landscape, I found myself drawn into a world of extraordinary detail and unexpected beauty.        

    Even early morning walks offered little respite from the relentless heat. Exhaustion set in as I navigated the promenade around my home, the stifling air heavy with humidity. 

    The Korean government has issued repeated warnings about the dangers of heat-related illnesses. Citizens are inundated with safety guidelines via text messages, urging caution and preparedness.

    As I wandered through the promenade, I found myself drawn to capturing fleeting moments. Gradually, photography evolved from a casual pastime to a cherished hobby. Each image became a canvas for my thoughts and emotions, a visual diary of my experiences.      

An Upside-down Spider

    My attention shifted to the vibrant green bushes, a miniature world teeming with life. I spotted a pair of grasshoppers, their antennae twitching with anticipation for autumn's bounty. Hidden among the foliage lurked a menacing figureã…¡a large, hairy black spider!

    Intrigued by its unusual posture, I captured the spider in a close-up shot, its silhouette stark against the bright yellow background. The arachnid hung motionless at all, its eight legs outstretched as if in a delicate dance. It was a patient predator, awaiting its unsuspecting prey.

    A chilling realization struck me as I observed the spider. Humans and spiders, though vastly different, share a common predatory instinct. Our pursuit of sustenance often mirrors the spider's relentless hunt. Yet, unlike the spider, humans possess the capacity for empathy and morality. The spider's world is governed by survival, while ours is complex and morally ambiguous.

    I wondered how long this particular spider had endured hunger, its patience tested by the passage of time. Would today be the day its persistence paid off?...

    I stumbled upon a delicate cluster of daisy fleabane there, their tiny white petals resembling a miniature bridal bouquet. Often used as filler in floral arrangements, these unassuming wildflowers held a quiet beauty of their own. 


 A Cluster of Daisy Fleabane

Close up: Daisy Fleabane

    Along the way, I unexpectedly found this:

Lush Arowroots' Vines

Arowroot, a plant native to Korea, has a complex relationship with its environment. Renowned for its medicinal properties, the plant's root is used to create a bitter extract believed to offer various heath benefits. However, arrowroot's aggressive growth habits have earned it a less desirable reputation. 

Arrowroot Climbs Trees

    With its vine-like structure, arrowroot climbs trees, resembling a serpent encircling its prey. This invasive behavior often harms the host tree.  

    Observing the arrowroot foliage, I was struck by a profound realization: duality exists within all things. The plant's nature embodies this concept perfectly. On one hand, it offers medicinal benefits, a positive attribute. On the other, its invasive behavior presents a challenge, highlighting its negative impact. This inherent contradiction mirrors the complexities of human existence, where light and shadow, creation and destruction, coexist in a perpetual dance.

    In Korea, arrowroot has been traditionally used as a herbal remedy. Its extract, a dark and bitter concoction, is derived from the plant's root. 

A Huge Arrowroot's Root Is Being Used a Herbal Remedy

This tuberous plant exhibits an intriguing duality. While its root offers potential medicinal benefits, its growth habit complicates its reputation. Arrowroot climbs trees like a tenacious vine, hindering the host tree's growth. As a result, the Korean government has implemented measures to control its proliferation by removing its stems annually. Despite these efforts, arrowroot's resilience is evident. Even in the scorching summer heat, remnants of the plant persist.


A Twisted, Barren Stem of Arrowroot

     While a twisted, barren stem stands as a poignant reminder of its struggle for survival. Deprived of essential nutrients from the soil due to its parasitic nature, the arrowroot withers and decays under the relentless sun.

Open Road
Open Space with Two Bike Paths

 

Carp


    Look at that! 👀" A magnificent carp emerged from the depths, its size a stark contrast to the typically diminutive fish inhabiting Korean waters. The unexpected encounter ignited a spark of excitement, igniting a desire to cast a fishing line and engage in this aquatic challenge. Beyond the thrill of the catch, a longing emerged to explore the underwater realm. Scuba diving beckoned, offering a portal to a hidden world teeming with diverse marine life.

Towering Apartment Complexes 

    The opposite riverbank presented a stark contrast to the natural surroundings. Towering apartment complexes formed a dense urban skyline, a testament to Korea's rapid urbanization.

A Picturesque Sky

     The Summer sky transformed into a living canvas, as fluffy clouds drifted and morphed with the wind's gentle caress. A stark contrast emerged between the serene beauty above and the frenetic pace of life below. In our pursuit of material success, we often neglect to appreciate these simple yet breathtaking moments. 

A Cluster of Foxtails

    A cluster of resilient foxtails clung to life in an unlikely locationã…¡a narrow crevice on the bridge. Their presence sparked a contemplation on the nature of existence. These unassuming plants, forced to endure harsh conditions, embodied a spirit of perseverance against adversity. A fleeting moment of connection with their struggle left a profound impression.

An Extensive River

    The once-mighty river now resembled a shrunken, lifeless channel, a stark contrast to its swollen state after the recent rainfall. A cyclical pattern emerges: abundance, followed by scarcity, only to be replaced by abundance once more. The rhythm of life and death, played out on a grand scale.

Another Miniature Forest Beneath the Bridge

    Beneath the bridge, another miniature  world unfolded. Sunlight filtering through the foliage created a dappled, ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of a fantastical realm. And fish scales, shimmering like liquid silver, danced in the shallows. The scene evoked images of 'Alice's Wonderland', with its peculiar inhabitants and surreal landscapes.

    A solitary walk offers a sanctuary from the world's chaos. It invites introspection, allowing thoughts to unwind and clarity to emerge.



Quotation By Albert Einstein











Jul 6, 2024

Rustic Charm : White Marguerites Oil Painting ( Print Only)

Capture The Warmth of Affection With This Floral Artwork

White Marguerites 
Oil on Canvas 
Print Only



A vibrant oil painting featuring a bouquet of white Marguerites. I expressed a warm and affectionate vibe through the simple beauty of these round flowers.

     You can see round shapes of each blossom which is carefully highlighted to exude a sense of charm and innocence, while the red vase adds a touch of vibrancy.

Products:

White Marguerites Tote Bag ã…¡Carry a touch of rustic charm.

White Marguerites IPhone Caseã…¡Protect your phone with floral elegance. 





















Tranquil Escape: Capturing The Majesty of Crystal-clear Lakes

Tranquil Artwork: A Serene Escape


The Lake 2024
Oil on Canvas 
53cm × 40.3cm
Unframed
Original 


        Once in a while, we people want to look around a vast, pristine, and crystalline lake in the nature, like a world-famous Lake Baikal in Russia or The Great Lakes of North America. 

         I expressed such a pristine lake with the way of an image in the mind.  

















Jun 30, 2024

Finding Freedom: An Abstract Exploration in Cool Blues and Greens (Print Only)

An Unusual of Color to Liberate Your Mind and Soothe Your Soul.


Abstract Compositon 
Oil on Canvas
Available in a variety of sizes
Print Only

          

Description:


         I used cool blues and greens to create a sense of liberty under the subdued background and muted tones on the canvas which is freed from the constraints of form. Escape the confines with cool blues and refreshing greens evoke a sense of calming a busy mind.

         That said, the absence of defined shapes invites personal interpretation, allowing the viewer to discover their own unique meaning within the artwork. Some veiwers might imagine that the subdued background and muted tones on the canvas is blanketing liberty feeling reversely, and some viewers might immerse themselves in the calming; prussian blues and light greens dance across the canvas, creating a sense of reliving stress and promoting a sense of sedation, and some viewers might visualize  that refreshing blues and light greens are cracking the subdued background and muted tones, fastening their eyes the craks, and some might envision that the upper white area might be a sole way out from the subdued background aura.

     

      Bring a touch of modern art to your home with : 

                      

 Products:


Pillow
Shower Curtain






















May 22, 2024

West Coast Korea Beaches Wonder: My Unfiltered Review of Padori Beach


Padori Beach 


1. Padori Beach

         Every time a blazing summer heat arrives, many of us crave a refreshing escape from the daily grind at least once. If you live in Korea,as forigners, and if you are looking for beaches on the west coast of Korea, then I highly propose "Padori Beach", an eye-catching, unruffled, serene, secluded,and pristine beach.

Image Google
        

2. Real Reviews About Padori Beach

       Recently, in May 2024, I set off to Padori Beach with my family and spent single night there. In my book, Padori Beach was quieter, more pristine than other west coast destinations I have been to in the past. At that time, we arrived at two places on the west coast, including ‘Kkotji Beach’, ‘Mageompo Beach’, and I also went to 'Eoeundol Beach' in May, 2024.  If you choose to set off for Padori Beach like me, you also get the benefit of being able to visit Eoeundol Beach at the same time since Eundeul Beach is very close to Padori Beach!
      
Scenery of Padori Beach:





Glittering water scale



Marine Life:

         Do you want to see marine life at beaches?
At Padori Beach, you can discover marine life such as small and colorful starfishã…¡I saw a lot of themã…¡ seaweed, tiny conches, marine marsh snails, hard-shelled mussels, too-small crabs, tiny fishes, and ugly, squashy, and lumpy trepangs. It looks like a gigantic leech whose mouth sucks blood!
Images Google: Trepangs

I never knew starfish could be so smelly despite thier pretty appearance.
 
          I also caught a small balloon fish that day! You might wonder how I got my hands on it! Haha! When I arrived at the puddle on the beach, I unexpectedly discoved it. I went to the beach to look for marine life very early in the morning, when the low tide of the sea had already ended, and besides, it was very cloudy due to the rain. The beach hills seemed mystic with misty rain pouring here and there!  

        While I was looking for marine life in the puddle,  luckily, a little swellfish was just swimming there! Oddly, the swellfish seemed sluggish and slow moving, like nothing happened around despite I went into the water!😯 Aa as soon as I saw 👀 it, my heart was racing to catch the sluggish balloonfish! Thus it was so easy to grab! Have you ever caught a balloonfish in this way? Haha! Look at the balloonfish I caught! :)


When it breathes inside a narrow jar

        However, the ballonfish was dead in the end struggling to only survive... Yes...I killed it in that way... The eyes of the fish was getting lost a pep...

The dead pufferfish with starfishes and conches 

⚫ Seagulls:

          Around that time, I also saw the sound of the wave crying. Sea mews seem to frequently reside there because marine life thrives there and provides abundant feeds for them. As I was watching seagulls on the sea rocks, I was reminded of the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach.


        “The bird that flies high sees farthest,” Jonathan Livingston Segull told his readers. This means that we humans must live longing for metaphysical philosophy, just as Jonathan Livingston Seagull searches for a way to fly the farthest, but Jonathan Livingston Seagull was just another mundane seagull that first used its wings to find feeds in the sea. The other seagulls were busy hunting for feeds, chasing hylic things, of all things. In that sense, Jonathan Livingston seagull, as a bird whose wings to soar, would have sensed  who he was, the origin; when most people think of birds, they probably think of their wings, which may be where birds originated. Jonathan Livingston Seagull yearned for something more. Jonathan was not just interested in finding feeds; his wings craved 'the freedom of soaring flight.' Freedom... Jonathan must have felt a deep sense of purpose, a connetion to somthing greater, the very essence of what it meant to be a seagull who could truly fly.
For this reason, Jonathan Livingston Seagull has flown as far and high as wings can take a seagull.

       ... So what kind of invisible wings would you like to have? Is it a metaphysical philosophy or hylic things? Well... I think it's too drastic, like dualism. Both will be necessary to keep us alive... Even so, in my eyes, we humans should seek a metaphysical phiosopy rather than hylic things in this world,  as if Jonathan Livingston seagull seeking first flight in the sea.  

Image: Google


Primeval Sea Caves:




 








Beautiful Pebbles:


3. Tour Guide

⚫ Sandy Beach Size: 30,000 square meter
⚫ Sandy Beach Langth: 1,000 meter
⚫ Width: 30 meter
⚫ Safety Distance: 150 meter
⚫ Degree of slope: 6
Pension Cost:
       When I used one of pensions there, the charge of using pension a nigit was about $118(₩160,000) in April, but the charge of using pensions are changeble based on a peak season like summer or a low-season like winter. When you depart to beaches in peak season in Korea, the charge of using pensions is more expensive. I spent one night this nearby pension as below:


Camping site under the pine trees:


Restaurants:
       The beach lacked a variety of restarnts nearby.
⚫ Enterance fee : free
⚫ Parking : available
        But I am not sure if you stay at a pension, but if you are, parking is surely available for it is included with your stay. The beach is not very commercialized, so there's limited parking. It does not have big, developed parking like some urban beaches.  been developing to assure wide and urban parking lots. 
Times of high and low tides: 
     Visitors are allowed to stay on the seashore for up to 4 hours, for example, when the low tide starts at a.m. 10:00, then you could go into the seashore as early as a.m.  8:00 and would need to exit by a.m.12:00 based on the standard of the low tide time.


4. Things To Keep In Mind
        You should beware of eating marine life such as various conches, although it looks edible for they tend to have poisons called 'tetramine' so it brings up 'food poisoning'. The pufferfish that I caught also has a deadly neurotoxin called 'tetrodotoxin' which can be fatal to  humans. Since it is NOT SAFE to eat, after comming home, I discarded all the marine life I had caught. 


My silhouette on the glassy surface of water 







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