2019 was definitely a great year full of memorable experiences, interesting people and places, and thousands of images created both for clients and for myself. I already discussed the client side in my Year in Review posts (Part 1, Part 2). Now it’s time to take a look at the more personal side.
My Top 10 Photos focuses on some of my favorite images from the past year. It is a purely subjective collection which can be based on anything from aesthetic qualities to pure emotional attachment to the image. I also share my thoughts and/or the story behind each one, which will not only help me remember on my strolls down memory lane, but hopefully will also contain some helpful notes for myself and others.
Without further ado, here are my top 10 photos of 2019 in chronological order:
Late Winter at Gyeongju World
Gyeongju, South Korea
Fujifilm X-E1 + OM Zuiko 28mm f/2.8
I like this image for a couple of reasons. First is the colors popping off of the pristine white snow and hazy sky for a clean overall look. The second (and more important) reason is the layers of action from foreground to background. I composed with the 2 kids in the foreground and the ferris wheel in mind, then waited for the sleds to come down the slope. The interplay of these elements makes for a playful image that I believe represents the playfulness and constant activity of the amusement park.
Tomb of King Munmu of Silla
Gyeongju, South Korea
Fujifilm X-H1 + Fujinon XF 50-140 f/2.8
This image of the famous underwater tomb was taken on a fairly cloudy winter morning. The clouds actually helped to diffuse the light and keep the tomb from being in silhouette. I chose a longer lens to focus on the textures and lines of the tomb. The compression of the lens also helped make the motion of the waves more dominant in the frame. Since there was not much going on in the sky, I decided to fill that void with the birds flying over the tomb. Dragging the shutter was the icing on the cake to give a little motion blur in the birds and waves. There were a few frames made, but the elements eventually came together to make this final image.
Laiya Mornings
San Juan, Batangas, Philippines
Fujifilm X-T2 + Samyang 12mm f/2.0
Sand, sea, and sky came together for this photo taken at Laiya Beach in the Philippines. This image was actually the tail end of a milky way / star trail shoot earlier that morning. I was able to get some star photos, but I ended up liking the sunrise photo the most due to the textures and reflection in the sand. I wish I had found this location earlier when I was doing the star photos, but the very dark environment made that very challenging. At least that’s something to go back for and try again.
Digging for Clams
Tongyeong, South Korea
Fujifilm X-E1 + OM Zuiko 28mm f/2.8 with tilt adapter
During the first part of 2019, I found myself enjoying tilt adapters quite a bit. I think it was particularly effective in this image of clam diggers near Tongyeong Bridge. The selective focus effect helped bring attention to the diggers, who otherwise would have been a bit lost if everything was in focus. It also helped create a miniature effect that I think suited the scene well. I also like the subtle afternoon light and the texture in the low-tide sea floor.
Monsoon Sunset
Jeju Island, South Korea
Fujifilm X-E1 + Samyang 12mm f/2.0
While most people love good weather, photographers sometimes look forward to bad weather. That’s because the time before and after a storm bring the most picturesque clouds. This image is memorable because the typhoon that brought these beautiful clouds was the same one that almost grounded our flight a couple of days earlier. The flights before and after ours were both cancelled, and we were quite worried. Despite the scare, we made it to Jeju Island and were treated to this beautiful sunset, perhaps as a reward for braving the storm.
Walking Through Manjanggul Cave
Jeju Island, South Korea
Fujifilm X-E1 + Samyang 12mm f/2.0
It’s always fun to find a different take on a much-photographed location. This image, taken in Jeju Island’s Manjanggul Cave, was a collaboration between me and my brother. This LED-lit pathway caught my interest and I wanted to spice up the shot a bit. So I gave my brother my iPhone and turned on the flashlight. At my signal, I started the long exposure and he made his way through the cave, resulting in some light painting action.
Ready for the Storm
Tongyeong, South Korea
DJI Mavic Pro
Living along the Tongyeong Harbor, I sometimes witness the fishing boats gather in the event of a large storm or typhoon. It’s an especially interesting sight when the anchored boats turn on their lights at the end of the day. After several attempts from ground level, I felt like I had never been able to capture the scale of this event. When Typhoon Lingling came to Korea in September, I decided to take a slightly different approach and try to photograph the scene from the air. Despite a couple of high-wind warnings and nervous moments with the drone, I was able to get a frame I was happy with. Visibility was good and I was able to capture the exodus of boats coming into the harbor.
Exploring Her Neighborhood
Seoul, South Korea
Fujifilm X-H1 + Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8
The Mural Village is always an interesting place to visit. Underneath all the street art that made it popular, it is a neighborhood from simpler times, full of character and charm. This image was taken during one of my one-on-one photo workshop tours in Seoul. As we were exploring the neighborhood, I noticed an old lady hobbling up the stairs. The frame was begging to be shot vertically, with the mess of power lines above and the concrete textures below. She must have noticed me, because she glanced over as she was opening her gate, making the perfect moment for this frame.
Uhwajeong at Dawn
Naejangsan, South Korea
Fujifil X-T2 + Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8
In 2019, I went on an autumn road trip with my good friend Dylan Goldby. Our first stop was the famous Uhwajeong Pavilion. This photo was actually taken while setting up and trying to find a composition, but the flashlights from other photographers (quite possibly Dylan’s) ended up light painting the pavilion quite nicely. The light gave the pavillon a really nice pop, putting a slightly different spin on the much-photographed scene. Other nice elements were present to complete the scene, including the morning mist, reflections, and of course the fiery autumn leaves.
Autumn Reflections
Baekyangsa Temple, Seouth Korea
Fujifilm X-T2 + Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8
With its pristine river, traditional architecture, and beautiful mountainous backdrop, Baekyangsa Temple is a popular destination for photographers. However, when my friend Dylan Goldby and I went there during an autumn roadtrip, we decided to stay away from the postcard shot and tried to find our own unique interpretation on the temple. This was mine. I was immediately drawn to the reflections of the autumn leaves on the pristine waters of the river in front of the temple. What really made the shot though, were the rocks that protruded from the water. Using a long exposure, the water smoothed out to a mirror reflection that made the rocks look like they were floating in thin air. I added some of the branches for context and made this final frame.
And there’s one more image I’d like to include as an honorable mention…
Chulleong Bridge
Yeondae-do / Manji-do, Tongyeong, South Korea
iPhone 6S Plus
This is a photo that I took in late 2018, but really didn’t look at or release until 2019. I really love this photo because of all the elements that came together to make it. The picturesque bridge is complemented by some human elements in silhouette. The light hit the scene just right to highlight the textures of the rope and tetrapod in the foreground while keeping other parts of the scene in shadow. My personal favorite element of the scene, however, has to be the haenyo-like free diver under the bridge, which I didn’t even see until I opened the image on the computer. It was a nice surprise and a nice addition to the image, in my opinion. Do I wish I had a “better” camera with me than the iPhone? Yes and no. While I would love to have this image in higher resolution, shooting it solely with the iPhone is a great reminder that you can make strong images with any tool. The best camera really is the one you have with you.
I hope you enjoyed my Top 10 Photos of 2019. It was great to look back at these images and recall the stories and thoughts behind them. I also hope you were able to pick up some useful information in the stories I shared. Seeing my favorite photos of the year makes me excited to pick up my camera and shoot even more in the year to come!
I wish you all the best in 2020, with many wonderful images, memories, and experiences ahead!
