Buddha Watching Over Child Monks

Out behind the main worship hall of Bo-gwang Temple are a few statuettes and figurines of Buddhas and monks. Was it an intentional decision by one of the temple monks to arrange some of the figures so it looks as though Buddha is watching over these child monks through the pine branches? Or is it my own interpretation? 
 

Unfinished Building

Unfinished Building, Sokcho.

 Two German-speakers passed me as I was photographing this building and crowded utility pole in the wasteland between Expo Park and the downtown hotels. I don't know what they were saying, but they kept looking up, perhaps trying to figure out what I found interesting.

Side Street

 

I think it was the long line of parked cars stretching into the distance that made me stop and take this picture. Balanced by the tree in the middle distance - a little bit of nature in a valley of concrete, metal, and asphalt.

Sesame

 

Yongchon Village

Some farmers have full fields of sesame plants and others plant a row along the edge of a rice field or a road. One of the nicest things about riding bicycle in Yongchon in the autumn is the scent of sesame everywhere I go. When the farmers cut the plants, dry them out, and then flail them to get the seeds, the smell is very strong and so wonderful. In the photo above, a farmer has covered the plants to protect them from the rain while waiting for the stalks to dry out enough to beat the seeds out.

I once helped a friend's mother take in the rice and sesame harvest by hand. We cut the rice stalks with scythes and laid the plants on the field for collection later. So many spiders in a dry rice paddy. My friend's mother had already cut the sesame and dried it. My friend and I laid the plants on tarps and used flails to get the seeds out. It was exhausting work. Luckily, my friend's mother was an excellent cook and we were fed massive meals of rice, soup, and side dishes. A great experience.

Photography Notes: Nikon F6 and Kentmere Pan 400 film. I did quite a bit of dodging and burning to get the look I wanted from the scan. A possible portfolio photo?

Looking Out to Sea

 

Chair Next to Lighthouse, Jangsa Harbour

Life Preserver Box, Sokcho

Yesterday I received a packet of 4x6 prints from the lab in Seoul. Browsing photos on a computer is fine, but nothing beats holding a picture in your hand. It's like the process of creating a photograph isn't complete until you can see it on a piece of paper.

Photo Notes: Both photos were made on my Nikon F6 and are from the same roll of Kentmere 400.

Beaches

 

Off-Season, Baekdo Beach

Beach Grass

I like beaches when they are chilly and deserted. Especially the small beaches of the Goseong County coast. It's like being at the end of the world. 

Yongchon CU Convenience Store

 

When I want to take a bicycle ride but don't want to go far, this is where I usually end up. The Yongchon branch of CU convenience stores. When the weather is nice, I sit at one of the picnic tables next to the building. When the weather is un-nice, I sit at one of the tables inside and have a tin of coffee while writing in my journal or reading. 

I'm too lazy to look it up, but judging by the 5:4 aspect ratio, I would say this photo was made using my Nikon D850. I straightened up the lines a bit before posting it here.