credit all to: https://www.smartphotography.asia/nxtraveller/story/81

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Wind and rain can't dampen the NX Traveller Korean adventure

On Day 2 of Samsung’s NX Traveller 2015 both teams were tasked with focusing their lenses with the theme of colour and detail in mind. Despite temperatures plummeting and torrential rain lashing down across the country both teams showed grit and dedication to ride out the storms. Here’s what transpired...

TEAM A LOCATIONS: Nami Island - Chuncheon City - Gimuyujeong Station - Pyeongcheang City

Team A braved the wind and rain aboard the cycle trains with the NX500 for company at Gimuyujeong Station. Photo by Fraser Morton

With Seoul in their rearview mirror and rain pelting the windshield, Team A's bus driver headed east to the picturesque Nami Island in Chuncheon.
Tourist numbers have skyrocketed after the Asian mega-hit series "Winter Sonata" was shot on location amid the verdant landscape on Nami Island. With the rain unrelenting the team did their best to use their Samsung NX cameras creatively, compensating for the torrid conditions.
Mentor Marrysa Tunjung Sari (instagram@poeticpicture) from Indonesia said the good thing about taking photos in wet conditions is that textures become more potent.
“It’s ideal conditions for capturing detail - leaves, flowers, trees, dirt. It’s not so much about the photo it’s about coping with the conditions. You don’t avoid nature. And the team showed their determination by not worrying about being cold and wet,” she said.
After the photo contest winners captured some incredible shots of drenched dirt paths, macro shots of wet tree bark and all manner of big and small wildlife, including squirrels and ostriches, it was time to head for a traditional luncheon 25-minutes' bus ride away in Chuncheon City.
Photographing the food instead of eating was first on the menu for the team as they captured the colourful steaming hotpots of dakgalbi, a dish synonymous with Chuncheon and consisting of a grilled steaming hotplate of chicken, rice, cabbage, sweet potato, rice cake, onion, garlic and red pepper paste.
Then came the big decision of the day. To call off a scheduled trip to the Rail Park ride between Gimuyujeong and Kamgchon stations due to the deluge, or go ahead. Team A’s response was a resounding “let’s go for it."

Keeping warm at Gimuyujeong Station. Photo by Fraser Morton

It was on the hour-long cycle trains, which roll along a disused railway line, where professional Thai blogger Chutima “Mai” Treearayapong (instagram@w.d.w.g) got one of her shots of the day. And proved that perseverance with photography in the rain can pay off.
“Rain droplets were on my lens when we entered a tunnel that had flashing neon lights, and also music playing Gangnam Style,” she said through laughter.
“It was a complete accident the droplets were there but with the light in the tunnel it meant I was able to get some really cool abstract shots.”

The rain didn't stop Team A's mission to ride the cycle trains at Gimuyujeong Station. Photo by Fraser Morton

As nightfall descended the team’s bus rolled into Pyeongcheang City, flanked by snow-capped mountains en route to an eatery specialising in all manner of traditional tasty morsels, chiefly pollack dried fish.
What had started as a rumour earlier in the day turned out to be a reality. Snow blanketed the peaks of Pyeongcheang, and with temperatures scheduled to plummet overnight the team may be in for a snow shoot on Day 3. Winter is coming to quote a certain popular TV show. And the winter Olympics is also coming to this region too in 2018. Take note sport photographers.
And early morning on Day 3 that’s where Team A will venture. Two days into the adventure and the photo standards show no signs of slipping with moral high this side of the country.

TEAM B LOCATIONS: Yonglin Village - Everland theme park

Team B seemed quite happy to be at Yonglin Folk Village. Photo by Michael Sainsbury

As cold and rain swept across South Korea on Day 2 Team B was faced with an unexpected set of challenges. How to shoot the setting of the traditional folk village - and a visit to seasonal tulip displays - in the rain?
The painstakingly reconstructed Yonglin Folk Village on the outskirts of Suwon was awash with cherry blossoms, magnolias and weeping willows. There were meticulous re-constructions of thatched roof houses – with traditional rooms - shops and temples.
But while the weather and temperature below 10 degrees celsius proved daunting, a few tips from the experts helped the rest of the team.
"Some people can be overprotective of their equipment but most cameras are not so bad that they can’t shoot in the rain,” Wilson Wong (instagram@wilswong), Team B mentor and Singapore Photography Group founder, said.

Eric Ooi battles the rain. Photo by Michael Sainsbury

Photo by Michael Sainsbury

Photo by Michael Sainsbury

“Today it was wet but not the point where you couldn’t shoot. If they are weather resistant like the Samsung NX1 it's okay. On the other hand the Samsung NX500 can shoot in the wet pretty well, but take extra care,” he added. “Sometimes it gets darker, so a fast lens is essential."
Didi Kasim, from National Geographic Indonesia, explained that when the skies are not offering up natural light then "you should focus on the details, the flowers and drops of rain."
Wong said: "I focused on fried chilies and dried flowers in doorways and people can also make full use of the reflection on the water to enhance colour."
At the village was an unexpected treat in the performance of a Korean "Chang-u" drum band, which attracted a fair crowd including dozens of excited school children. And then a traditional and hearty lunch of Bibmbap – which means "mixed rice”. It’s a dish served with white rice and seasonal sauté-ed vegetables, and, in today’s case, grilled beef, served in a cast iron bowl and seasoned with Korean chili paste.
While the rain lifted for an afternoon trip to Everland, the world’s fourth largest theme park, the grey skies remained, but that didn’t stop Team B photographing the impressive gardens of tulips and enjoying an amphibious “African" safari after which some of the more adventurous folks braved the rollercoaster. Roll on Day 3!
Don’t forget to check in for tomorrow’s report and find out what happened on Day 3 of Samsung’s NX Traveller Korea. Meanwhile, here’s a selection of just a few of the shots our photographers caught on Day 2 in the theme of Colour & Detail.