By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Esraa Elzeny from Egypt
Photos = Carlos Delfin

"My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport."
- Steve McCurry

Photography is an art that loves freedom and starts at the corners of the universe, in search of surprising and dazzling industry and embodies the search for sources to feed the aesthetic stock in the mind and imagination. Photography is a constantly evolving process in the mental lenses of every imaginative photographer, with a creative imagination and eager self, to reach beyond the artistic spaces of those before him.

Who does not love photography nor documenting one's own moments? The art of photography has been loved by humanity since ancient times. Photography has many forms and it is an interesting art, but for the traveler or the tourist, they want to capture the most beautiful scenes. Especially if the traveler wants to visit Korea, which is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Anyone can take the most beautiful pictures during their trip to Korea.

Nature intertwined with Korean architecture and skyscrapers also makes the scenery wonderful and unbelievable, as well as the different seasons which are evident in Korea. Each season is distinct and separate from each other. In winter, Korea turns white, which offers a wonderful scene of cafes and restaurants decorated with Christmas colors and decorations similar to such scenes from beautiful movies. This is followed by spring, which covers Korea in colorful flowers and makes Korea into a big garden. And then comes the summer, which looks beautiful in Korea. There are dancing fountains everywhere along with very beautiful Korean beaches. Finally the autumn comes, which is really unique. The first time I visited Korea in the fall, I took so many pictures that even one of my friends, who is a professional photographer, said to me," You've made me want to visit Korea because of the beauty seen in the pictures you took."

Today, I want to share with you the experience of one of my Korea.net fellows, Carlos Delfin from Mexico. Carlos is a professional photographer and he won the Talk Talk Korea 2016 contest for photography. We talked about filming, everything related to photography and places to shoot in Korea, and how to capture the most beautiful shots. Here you can find our interview:



- In the beginning, how did you come to know about the Talk Talk Korea contest and how did you come to win this competition?
I really don't remember when I first heard about the Talk Talk Korea contest. I may have seen it posted on one or two of the Facebook pages I follow that are about Korean heritage and tradition. Once I became aware of the contest, I followed the official Talk Talk Korea fan page, and that's where I entered the competition. Before winning first place, I had already participated in two previous years, that is in 2014 and 2015. In those contests, I entered videos and I was among the winners, but I didn't win first place. In 2016, I participated in the photography category and that was when I won first place. The subject was "Korea in your eyes," so I took a picture of a Mexican girl doing a taekwondo kick. Fortunately, it suited the jury and they gave it the grand prize.

- What was your vision for your participation in Talk Talk Korea this year?
I wanted to represent something that Koreans really like and that somehow united Korea with Mexico. So taekwondo was the perfect decision, since Mexico always has very important taekwondo athletes competing worldwide. Being Korea's national sport, I knew they might like to see that picture, too. I wanted it to be a girl because it's important to demonstrate that women achieve and deserve more and more recognition. I wanted the atmosphere in general to reflect strength and mystery, but in a warm and comfortable manner for the viewer.

- What caught your attention about photography in Korea?
All the photos I took were made in Mexico. However, thanks to this contest, I was finally able to visit Korea and to take pictures there. The first and most obvious is the contrast between the traditional and the modern. Seoul is full of such contrasts and it's exciting to be able to photograph these urban landscapes.

- What are some places that you can recommend for visitors here, to help them take some of the most beautiful photos possible?
Sadly, I haven't been able to go to many places in Korea. Only to Seoul, Sokcho and Jinju. I loved Gyeongbokgung Palace, where you can see many people wearing traditional Hanbok attire and frame them within the majesty of the palace. Also, the neighborhood of Bukchon, with its traditional Hanok houses, has beautiful streets. It's advisable to go very early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The Cheonggyecheon Stream also allows you to take beautiful pictures. It's essential to go through Gwanghwamun Gate to photograph the monuments to King Sejong and to Admiral Yi Sun-sin. The N Seoul Tower is spectacular, especially at night. Sokcho is also beautiful. You can get great shots of the lighthouses and life by the sea. Also, the famous lantern festival is celebrated in Jinju and it's an authentic delicacy of memorable images.

- What kind of pictures do you like to take the most?
I really like to take pictures of local people going about their daily lives. That seemed a bit difficult for me, because I like photography to be spontaneous. However, if I were to ask permission first, spontaneity would be lost. If I take the photograph without their permission, I feel that people can get upset and that makes me feel disrespectful. Every time I go, I'm constantly in that dilemma.

-Tell us about your latest project in Korea?
It's a documentary series about the lives of Mexicans living in Korea. In it, they are the protagonists and tell what their daily lives are like, how they came to Korea, what were their difficulties to adapt, and what life was like here.





- What did you use for lighting?
I usually work with natural light when I do urban photography. In the case of the Talk Talk Korea photograph, it's also mainly the light that enters through the windows. I only used a reflector to light the model and a little smoke to enhance the light from the windows.

- What equipment do you prefer to use?
I always bring with me a Canon 7D camera with a battery grip, a 18-200 mm lens, another 50 mm 1.8 and an 8 mm fish eye. Sometimes a tripod, too.

- How did you develop an interest in photography?
I have always liked art in all its manifestations. I used to draw, paint, write poetry and short stories. When I was in college, they gave me a photography class and I fell in love with that art. Subsequently, I also fell in love with cinema.

- We notice your attraction to Asian culture in general, but from your point of view what is distinctive in Korean culture from your opinion as a photographer?
My first impression is that Korea has an aura of cleanliness and order that I have not seen elsewhere. My second impression is that the city looks gray and has desaturated colors. However, as you begin to explore it, you discover colorful corners full of life. Then, when night comes, the city is transformed completely and everything is neon and saturated, with movement everywhere. Korea is like a thousand-year-old tree with strong roots that begins to sprout.

- How do you prepare for the pictures. Do you improvise at the moment or is there a preview of the picture?
It depends on the project. When I do urban photography, I like everything to be natural and spontaneous, only sometimes I ask people if they can help me pose a little. However, I also like to take more elaborate pictures. For them, I like to plan everything in detail so that they are as I imagined them. I also like doing long exposure urban photography.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.