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This is not a building


This is not a building
Photo Information
Copyright: Daniel Kohanski (Wandering_Dan) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 711 W: 101 N: 801] (2956)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 1989-01
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Olympus OM-1n
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-12-15 7:44
Viewed: 1866
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
As I explained in yesterday's posting, Panmunjom is the truce village on the border (armistice line) between North and South Korea. It is still used today for meetings between the two sides, so it become a permanent camp, and both sides are allowed to arrange day trips to show it off.

The North Koreans built this impressive looking building as their headquarters for their side of the line, and it was designed (to their way of thinking) to overawe the Allies with its evocation of excess. So it is something like 50 meters long, two stories high, marble and manicured grounds. The only thing is, it is barely 2-3 meters deep - it's a fake, a facade. It was laid out so that, from the South Korean side, you can't see behind it, but of course aerial photographs show it for what it is. Or, rather, for what it isn't.

Still, the North Koreans do use it - to spy on the South side of the village. It's a little hard to see, but one of the officers on the balcony was taking pictures of our group the whole time we were watching him.

Technical: Kodachrome slide, digitized. Cropped to fix a slight tilt. Levels to darken the midtones, and Noiseware with minimal sharpening. I converted to Lab Colors and selected the Lightness channel, using Smart Sharpen on that (it cuts down on the chance of halos when you do it that way).
gondox, rjb874, KateinDenmark has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

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  • Gustaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2265 W: 695 N: 182] (18653)
  • [2007-12-15 11:19]

Hi, friend!
photo from North Korea! Very interesting. I like your composition with many windows. Good idea. I never been in North Korea. And I think I never go to this country?
Marek

Good evening Daniel,
The building is not especially beautiful but the story behind it makes it very interesting.
The little trees on the foreground are quite nice and odd
TFS
Estelle

Very interesting subject, it's good to see and read! Very sharp and clean regarding it's scanned, and the details in the darks of the trees are very fine! I was wondering what casted the shadow on the top of the "building", probably there was a "roof" or something... TFS!

Best Regards,
Andor

Truly amazing. Ah, pictures and comments like this make trekearth compete with BBC. Many thanks.

Panmunjom is a cool place to go. I also have 1 photo in the North Korea category of it. Certainly one of the 'must-see' places in Korea for sure. Date taken 1989, that's interesting as not pics from that period. Well done, appreciate seeing it.

I've been reading the book 'Bad Lands' by Tony Wheeler, founder of the Lonely Planet. This picture just exemplifies what he has written about North Korea - Appearance is everything. It just seems quite sad that a country with chronic shortages, can put so much effort into a fake building. Thanks for sharing this picture.

Kate

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