While skylines and the more 'glorious' areas of the city might be much more picturesque than the more average areas, there's also a million places you can find those photos. This time I asked myself the question: 'what can't you find on the internet?'. More precisely, what types of pictures are hard to find about Seoul? Finding pictures of Gangnam is easy, finding city-scape shots is easy. The answer seemed both obvious and odd. Daily life in the streets. Or just general street shots. It seems weird that the most common things are the hardest to find pictures of.
So while these pictures might not be the most stunning and colourful of images, they do show something more 'reality'. What most people in Korea see everyday, not Gangnam, and not fantastic city-scapes with amazing sunsets.
Because of this I have decided to dedicate this post to the more common streets of seoul, the streets I walk down everyday, and the locations I visit. More specifically, this post will be these locations in the dark of night! Usually when I go out it is at night (since it is vacation at the moment and I work in evenings) and occasionally I see a scene that I think might make a good photo. These are some of those photos!
Camera: A7Rii 50mm | F/1.8 | ISO 640 | 1/15
Something cool and not usually thought about of Seoul is the multitudes of streams and small rivers that run through it. Before I came to Seoul I didn't know that these little streams existed at all, let alone them being nearly everywhere. Honestly, I didn't even consider the idea of man-made streams that provide nature, a means of fitness, and a means of travel. But after seeing them, you begin to see how cool and integral they really are to the city.
Maybe you have seen some pictures of the most famous of these streams 'Cheonggyecheon'. You might not have even realised they were photos from Seoul! If you haven't had a look, I would recommend clicking this and having a look! I am sure a lot more of you will recognise it than you would think!
But yes, these streams run all over Seoul and they provide a really nice area to walk, bike or ride whatever you prefer. They also often have ducks and other wildlife living inside the area which is pretty cool. It really helps bring some much needed nature to the city.
Camera: A7Rii 50mm | F/3.2 | ISO 2000 |1/100
Corner stores and convenience stores are a necessary part of any city, and Seoul is no exception. Every block will have one. Some (like mine) even have three or four. If one doesn't stock something I want, I can go to another losing only a matter of a few minutes. It's insanely... Convenient.
You will see the common chain stores, GS25, 7/11, and CU, but you will also see all sorts of little local stores. These stores vary a lot in what they sell and how they operate, but they all provide the convenience that many city dwellers seek. Something I noticed about Seoul that really impressed me and is truly beneficial to me is the balance of chain stores and private businesses. Somehow both of these are able to operate right next to each other, both getting business enough to survive. This means that no matter what you want, however obscure, you are bound to find it somewhere close!
Camera: A7Rii 50mm | F/3.2 | ISO 2500 | 1/100
When you think of Seoul, what do you think of? What is the first thing that pops into your head?
Whatever it is, I can nearly promise it isn't convenience or delivery (unless you have lived here of course!). I have never ever visited a more convenient city than Seoul. Best in world public transport? You've got it. Delivery of ANY kind of food to your doorstep for free? Yup! Internet delivery within a day for nearly any product? Without a doubt. Seoul is the capital of convenience. Everything is made to work, efficiently and fast.
You'll notice these little scooters everywhere you go in the city. Delivering whatever kind of food the customer has ordered straight to their doorstep. You'll also realise you can't help but notice them after they nearly hit you a few times! Seoul may not be Vietnam or South-East Asia, but there sure are a lot of scooters.
Camera: A7Rii 50mm | F/1.8 | ISO 640 | 1/10
How do you supply the worlds fastest internet to all of those houses? I think this picture can answer that question! This really surprised me when I came to Korea... For such a world class city (in terms of internet especially), the internet was... Hanging on wires across the street. Not only that, but when I got internet installed in my house, they literally ran wires from the street, though a window, and into my modem.
It seems like a pretty rudimentary job for a country that is known to have the fastest internet in the world. But I guess in the end looks aren't so important as the end result. Form over function after all. I really love these shots, because they show not only the ground level, but also another level of the city you don't often consider. There was a famous saying in a book I really liked as a teenager which went along the lines of 'people never think to look up'. I have realised over time that this really is true. If you're playing hide and go seek, hide somewhere high. It's the last place people will look!
Like any city, there are big main roads. Also like any city there are small roads that link these big roads together. Each of these types of roads has its own unique culture, generally the bigger streets house the chain stores, the big populations of people, and the traffic. On the other hand, the small streets generally are home to smaller and more unique stores, less traffic and crowds, and a more traditional feel.
I love these roads, because unlike the main roads they feel unique to Korea. Every city has big roads with KFC and Pizza Hut on them, but not every city (in fact no other city) has these little streets that provide a truly unique feel to Seoul.
I hope that my pictures of some of the more common streets of Seoul inspired some of you to come and visit this beautiful and unique city. Posts like this take a long time to write and edit, but I will be sure to create more of them in time! I really want to get back into taking city shots as the summer comes and the weather becomes bearable again.
Thank you for reading
