With everything from laughing Buddhas statues to meditating, emaciated and menacing ones, Golgulsa Temple in Gyeongju, South Korea, is the place to be.

 

A row of sacred status at the Golgulsa Temple in South Korea
A row of sacred status at the Golgulsa Temple in South Korea

Photography Fun With Wide Angle Filters

If you notice a certain distorted, blurry and curved look in the photographs on this page, that’s because I was experimenting with a new set of close-up lens filters.

Unlike regular filters, which are flat, these are rounded like a magnifying glass. When used with my 12-24mm wide angle lens, it creates a faux-macro effect and allows me to get my camera amazingly close to an object.

So far, I’m incredibly happy with the results. It might distort reality a bit, but I love the effect it produces.

 

I love the way this statue is facing me, yet his eyes are looking at his friends to the right

 

A single Buddha statue outside the Wha-Jaeng-Ryo temple at Golgulsa
A single Buddha statue outside the Wha-Jaeng-Ryo temple at Golgulsa

Filming at Golgulsa Temple in Gyeongju

Today, filming of my National Geographic Channel TV show moved to Golgulsa Temple in South Korea.

After attending a demonstration of traditional martial arts meditation (Sunmodo), I had time to wander around the temple grounds and snap these shots.

Tomorrow, Jessie and I will return to the temple for more demonstrations and to learn a bit of Sunmodo ourselves. Can’t wait!

 

This is a very traditional Buddha statue, which reminds me of my home in Thailand

 

A row of Buddha statues inside the Wha-Jaeng-Ryo temple at Golgulsa

What do you think about the distorted effect?

Does it work for you?

Would you rather see something else in my photography from South Korea?

 

GET LOST IN KOREA

In 2013, I was hired by National Geographic to film a TV show in South Korea … following my adventures as a travel blogger and photographic storyteller.

The single-episode show offered a mix of humor, tradition, adventure and stunning imagery; as I teamed up with Jesse Day: a Canadian entertainer who lives in Seoul and raps in Korean.

Here are the highlights from filming Get Lost in Korea …