North Korean Coastline Photo

Photographer’s Note

An appropriate upload today, in view of recent events. Taken from the Goseong Unification Observatory, looking north, deep into North Korea along the east coast. The A bomb was detonated 100 miles north of here, this morning at 10.35.27 local time. The Diamond Mountains (Geumgang-san) can be seen in the distance.

Zoom lenses above 160mm are banned at this point. The barbed wire fence in the foreground is the end of the DMZ. The taxi driver kept insisting all cameras were banned, but I went back & got my camera, when I saw South Koreans snapping away.

"Built by an army unit in 1983,Goseong Unification Observatory(height – 700m) was the closest place where you could view the Mt. Geumgangsan before it was opened to South Koreans. The nearest part of the Mt. Geumgangsan is 16km away and the farthest part is about 25km away. From the Observatory, you can see Haegeumgang, and the islands nearby, Manmulsang, and Hyeonjongam. On clear days, you can also various peaks of Mt. Geumgangsan such as Ilchulbong (1,552m), Chaehabong, Jipseonbong, Yukseonbong, Gwaneumbong, and even the greatest peak of Mt. Geumgangsan, the Birobong Peak. Goseong Unification Observatory is the closest spot to the north, and many people who visit are those who had to leave their home and were separated from their families during the Korean War. You can see monuments built in the hope of reunification here.
Tongilanbo Park, which can be considered the entrance of Tongil Jeonmangdae, was built in 1987 to be used as the nation’s security site. You must pass by here to get to Goseong Unification Observatory, making the entry process somewhat inconvenient."

Source: http://english.tour2korea.com

There is even a dispute over what the sea in this image is called. To Koreans, it's the East Sea, & to the Japanese it's the Sea of Japan.

More info here: This is a link to Wikipedia

amstel, PixelTerror, sarhanp, efigesta, papagolf21, jhm, nwoehnl, cessy, kermit350, macondo, noborders has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

stiginthedump (1823) 2006-10-09 4:30

Hey, I was there as well a few days ago, although you had clearer weather than what I had. Isn't the barbed wire fence the beginning of the DMZ? (the Korean side) I thought that the DMZ starts in the middle of the picture - the chain fences.

Are zoom lenses above 160mm really banned at this point. No-one gave me any crap about my large 80-200mm lens, and besides the binoculars have a greater magnification anyway.

sam224 (5851) 2006-10-09 4:48

Good depth for this shot: excellent perspective showing the whole coastline with the foaming water.
Thanks for sharing.,

barrufeto_77 (26141) 2006-10-09 5:01

Hi Chris.

An excellent view again with a great sense of depth.

Nice colours too.

Rgs, Oscar

amstel (2304) 2006-10-09 5:19

Hi Chris (nice name, isn't it:-)? )

Not too often can you see pictures from North Korea nowadays. Good note. It's not very optimistic, is it?

With taking this shot was a heroic activity!

cheers

PixelTerror (88585) 2006-10-09 5:20

Hi Chris,
In view of today's events there's good LATW value in this photo, from the note I understand the infrastructures seen beyond the barbed wire fence are in North Korea, right ?
The view is deep, but on my screen the strong brightness on the top part spoils its end where the mountains are.
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

sarhanp (122) 2006-10-09 5:20

Hello Chris,

fantastic and infinite landscape regarding to a recent horribal event about the nuclear bomb trial.

Many thanks for this.

Sarhan.

efigesta (12181) 2006-10-09 5:28

Hi my friend

Fantastic pov here, great diferent colors and an interesting note

regards
manuel

carper (67302) 2006-10-09 5:43

very actuel job Chris, thank you for that,
good use of the moment, very good point of view, the note is very good, well seen and well done.
gr. jaap

papagolf21 (57785) 2006-10-09 6:01

Bonjour, mon ami Chris,
Tu as su braver les interdits en nous présentant cette très belle prise de vue où la plage s'étend à perte de vue.
Félicitations, mais, mon ami Chris, ne prends pas trop de risque pour nous faire plaisir.
Amitiés.
Philippe

jhm (85052) 2006-10-09 6:05

Hi Chris,

A pity of this recent events in North Korea.
A coast without people this here in Belgium impossible as well as summer as winter! Very nice far view indeed we can see the mountains in background, nice perspective and good colours. Thanks for sharing.

Have a nice day,
John

andante (7092) 2006-10-09 7:30

I think that in order to solve the probem of the name it should be called: 'Sea with blue water and waves'. Excellent composition, Chris.

Cheers,
Enrique

nwoehnl (120) 2006-10-09 7:35

Interesting and obviously topical shot, Chris. A rare view and a photo with a good depth in which all the fences and man-made elements create a slightly uneasy feel as they penetrate what is a peaceful and scenic coastal landscape at first sight. I'm still keeping my flight to Seoul for the time being, but if things get really bad I may end up canceling.

cessy (13647) 2006-10-09 14:30

all the far away, our eyes travel
very nice, Chris
this wonderful beach and so terrible people do on it

kermit350 (8994) 2006-10-09 14:46

Hello Chris, here a beautiful image but for how long the world will be-t`il in a position to propose to us of so pretty landscape before the soldiers does not make jump planet, this milked image of a problem or the topicality is extreme, now that the North Korea hold this high technology the neighbors immediate and the USA will start again to deploy their doors plane, to play this photograph finally well is worthy of largest the reporters, sincerely

ribeiroantonio (22214) 2006-10-10 3:33

So close to the tragedy. What will happen next? We can see several different things but I don’t know what they are. For example, is it a railway and a road on the top left? There a barrier on the foreground but is there another one along the beach?
Nice photo anyway.
Antonio

macondo (13519) 2006-10-10 3:40

Incredibly topical and very interesting. That looks like a railway line on the left. Not without its photographic qualities either, with the well composed shot giving a strong sense of perspective looking down that long beach towards the mountains in the north. Just wondering about the camera: it says Pentax ME on this page, but 'More Photo Info' shows a Fuji. Anyway, thanks for this fascinating shot.
Regards,
Andrew

banyanman (7743) 2006-10-13 9:00

That beach looks like a great site for a holiday resort, Chris, . . . well one day maybe. You've composed this well but there is a lot of haze at the top (did you shoot ths without a UV filter, or was the light just very harsh that day?)
Cheers . . . David

noborders (14201) 2008-10-09 23:37

That country so mysterious and frightening... It seems normal and beautiful from the border, who knows what's really happening inside ?
Found in your "randoms", could not resist...
Best,
Cath.
(funny and pathetic the limit of 160mm for zoom lense !)

Aviller (3208) 2009-01-01 9:42

Very nice picture of an interesting location. The angle that you've chosen with the greenery taking up the lower third of the picture is quite nice. I feel like it could use a bit of added contrast though.