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Focus shifts to the art of storytelling

On Day 3 of Samsung’s NX Traveller 2015 Lost and Found was the inspirational theme our photographers explored while travelling across the country. This was also the day when the sunshine finally decided to burst through the storms of the previous two days. Here’s what transpired…

TEAM A LOCATIONS: Pyeongchang Ski Resort - Woljeongsa Buddhist Temple - Jeong Dong Jin Station - Haslla Art Museum - Seon Gyo Jang – Gyeong Po Dae

Professional photographer and Team A mentor Xander Angeles at Jeong Dong Jin Station. Photo by Fraser Morton

The colour was back in a big way on Day 3 with brilliant sunshine bathing much of the country and temperatures rocketing from almost freezing to a balmy 20 degrees celsius. That meant colour contrast was back - on a day when the art of storytelling came to the forefront in Gangwon Province.

Mentor Marrysa Tunjung Sari (instagram@poeticpicture) from Indonesia said she was impressed to see Team A photographers developing and learning from each other’s unique style.

“Photographers learn from one another. They learn from the stories they are tying to tell with their lens and everyone is unique. Even when the group are taking photos of the same subject you can see their own individual style in the end result. It’s very inspiring to see,” she said.

With the group forming a close bond over the first few days and comparing their shots from the day on the tour bus, everyone seems to be picking up inspiration from each other.

After a morning visit to the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics at Pyeongchang Ski Resort the team’s storytelling abilities were tested at their next destination, Woljeongsa Buddhist Temple. Here the team marvelled at the vibrancy of the pine tree forest that surround the temple, which provided an ideal setting for the day’s theme of Lost & Found.

The historic temple is also home to a monastery for men wishing to enter the monkhood. These men shave their heads bald and bury their hair in the woods because they believe long hair represents superficiality and also attracts to the opposite sex.

Next it was onto the beachfront Jeong Dong Jin Railway Station, where the team hit the sand to capture the iconic Sun Cruise Resort, which is shaped like a boat and located on a cliffside overlooking the bay.

Team A learned how to make and serve tea Korean style at Seon Gyo Jang. Photo by Fraser Morton

A tea-making ceremony at Seon Gyo Jang and a visit to the lakeside Gyeong Po Dae temple capped of the day’s activities before the team checked into the mind-bendingly cool Haslla Art Museum Hotel. The hotel is a unique gem in the region and owned by a couple of artists. If ever in the area it’s a must-visit.

Team A checking into Haslla Art Museum and Hotel, which overlooks the East Sea in Gangwon province. Photo by Fraser Morton

TEAM B LOCATIONS: Muju Taekwondowon - Jeonju

Group lovin' on the Park Observatory, Muju Taekwondowon. Photo by Michael Sainsbury

William attempting Taekwondo. Photo by Michael Sainsbury

The group practicing Taekwondo. Photo by Michael Sainsbury

Paper making class Photo by Michael Sainsbury

As morning dawned on Team B in their cosy rooms in the Muju Taekwondowon martial arts centre high in the mountains of Jeollabuk-do it became clear the torrid weather of the past few days was a thing of the past.

As the group made the arduous trek up to the Park Observatory it became apparent that while the sun was now shining, it would pose a different set of challenges.

Mark Marcelino (instagram@mark.marcelino), an architect from the Philippines, said that the “light was very harsh and this created a challenge.”

He was using a Samsung NX500 with a 16-50mm S lens, certainly the professional’s choice on Day 3. The team took their time to relax and soak up the sun on top of the observatory and indulge in a series of increasingly fun group selfies using their lightweight cameras.

After climbing down the hill it was time for a demonstration of Taekwondo, the Korean national martial art that everyone had been eagerly anticipating.

“There were a few challenges. The low light was tough and you need to shoot at a fast shutter speed to freeze the action because the fighters are moving so fast,” Will Patino (instagram@william_patino), a professional photographer from Australia, said.

"With the NX1 camera you are able to shoot at 15 frames per second whereas the NX500 accommodates 9 frames per second, so both are really good for such events."

“I was using the S50-150mm OIS lens (pro level lens) on the NX1 which allowed me to zoom in and get a tighter crop on the action. The camera worked really well, the auto-focus in the low light was great and having the 15 frames per second is just off video’s 24 frames a second.”

Driving down from the mountain for a quick demonstration of Hanji, or Korean paper-making, and then onto the historic town of Jeonju, the theme of “found” light continued with the tiled rooftops of the old town bathed in gorgeous twilight.

“I love shooting at this time of day, it gives everything in a halo of light, “ Karn Samanvorawong, a photo editor from Thailand said. Let’s hope the light does not get lost again for Day 4.

Don’t forget to check in for tomorrow’s report and find out what happened on Day 4 of Samsung’s NX Traveller Korea adventure. Meanwhile, here’s a selection of just a few of the shots our photographers caught on Day 3 in the theme of Lost & Found.