Technological Charity

<Nikon n90s, Kodak 400 ISO B&W film>

How did we let others know that we are running late before there was a cell phone?
How did we get anywhere before there was a navigation?
How did we present ideas before there was a computer and MS powerpoint?
How did we pay all the bills before there was internet?
How did people call the servers at a crowded restaurant before there was a bell on the table? Wait, this is only in LA or Korea.


Within a span of 35 years, the technological advancement has been extremely drastic and we often forget that in day to day life.


Hey, you can now donate using your credit card even if you don't have any cash.


Picture was taken at Valley Fair a couple years ago during Christmas season.

Companion

<Nikon D80, ISO100, F/3.5, 1/2000sec>

Sometimes in life, you just want someone to sit next to you looking at the same direction, not caring for the fishing, not caring to talk, not caring about the cold weather.


Shot was taken at San Gregorio Beach in January 2011

Focus

<Nikon n90s, Kodak 400 ISO B&W film>

Ever had that experience where you are so fixated on one thing that you can't see or hear anything else? Yeah. That's where this boy was. He stood there for good 5 minutes staring at the tops going around and around and around. His father had to buy him one eventually. Shot taken at In-Sa-Dong in Korea on 2010 summer.

Irony

<Nikon D80, ISO 400, f/2.8, 1/10 sec>

Life is full of irony, sometimes so much that it is cruel. 
In the same hospital, some lives are born while some are ending.
Some part of the world is fighting obesity for life while another is fighting famine for life.
Technological advancement that were thought to enhance the quality of life might be the shortcut to the doom of life.


This picture was taken last year in Japantown in SF. I was browsing at a bulletin board while waiting for a friend. These two ads were posted right next to each other and caught my eyes. I found it ironic and clicked the shutter. I didn't have much feeling when I was taking the photo. But later that day when I was looking at it on my monitor, it then hit me how cruel this could be for the parents who would've posted the ads for the missing babies if they were to come back to see this. I sincerely hope they are reunited by now.

영화같은 순간

<Nikon D50 2008년 5월 광릉 수목원>

그래. 오늘은 한글인거다 ㅋㅋ. 뭐 블로그를 영어로 시작했다고 해서 꼭 영어로만 쓰라는 법있나.

며칠전 참으로 오랜만에 대학교 때 만난 Korean 친구들 하고 소주를 기울였어. 아이 엄마가 된 친구도 있고 파란만장한 20대를 보내고 지금은 평안한 30대를 보내고 있는 친구도 있었어. 그래서 자주 만나기는 쉽지 않아도 만나면 언제나 반가운 녀석들하고 나눈 얘기 중에 이런 이야기가 있었어. 정치, 경제, 종교, 연예등 온갖 이야기가 오고 갔지만 내 기억에 가장 남는 이야기는 인생의 반 정도라고 할 수있는 30년하고도 반 가까이 지나온 이 시점에서 그 누군가와 영화같은 만남을 가져본 적이 있냐...는 얘기였지... 벌써부터 닭살 돋는 사람들은 그만 다른 사이트로 옮겨가길.... 결론적으론 모두 그런 경험이 있더군. 유럽에 배낭여행 갔다가 정말로 우연히 버스 안에서 만났던 ex. 치열하게 아파하면서 만났던 예전 애인 이야기.... 이 정도 나이가 되면 누구나 한 번쯤은 영화같은 순간이 있기 마련인건가...

뭐 나라고 예외겠어. 영화 시나리오를 쓰고 싶을만큼 우연하게 만났다가 신기루처럼 사라져갔던 그런 만남이 있었지. 그 자세한 스토리는 굳이 여기에 옮기고 싶지는 않고... 다만 재미있는건... 친구들이랑 그 얘기를 나누는데 가슴 한켠이 뭔가 뭉클하더라고. 단단해질만큼 단단해졌다고 생각했는데도 그 한구석에 말랑말랑한 부분이 남아 있었나보지....

그래서 뒤적거리다 찾은 사진 한장. 영화같았던 순간들 중에서도 개인적으로 가장 영화 같았던.... ㅋㅋ 한국 광릉 수목원에서 찍은 한컷. 인도네시아에 살던 친구였는데... 덴장. 사진이... 뭐 이리 선명하게 남아있는 거냐. 사진속 그 사람은 앞으로도 영원히 이렇게 젊은채로 아름답게 남겠군. 잘 지내고 있겠지......

여기서 이만 끝!이 좋겠다.

Patience

<Nikon D80, ISO400, F/2.8, 1/10 sec>

One thing I learned since I started playing with camera. Patience is the virtue. I have heard and said that phrase a number of times before photography. But it really became meaningful once I started getting into taking photos. When you are in the darkroom trying to develop that perfect print, sometimes you have to go through several of them just to get one portion of the print right. When you are up in the hills in the middle of the dark night, sometimes you have to wait several hours to get the shot you want. In general, you will go through lots of trial and error. I don't have much experience in studio photography but I imagine it's probably similar. 


And all the waiting isn't that bad. If you get a good result after all that waiting, the sense of achievement is indescribable. However, even if you don't get a good result, you still feel okay because you know you have given enough try and learn from that waiting.


I think it's similar in life. If there is something you really like doing, be patient and hang in there. If you hang around long enough, eventually it will lead the way for you. At least give enough try so you don't end up regretting later.

Chocolate Box

<Nikon FM2, Kodak B&W 400 ISO, 35mm film>

My momma always said, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump