Photogenic Seoul is the perfect place to get out with your camera

K-campus

Published: 21 Oct. 2022, 08:30 Updated: 03 Mar. 2023, 18:02

Photogenic Seoul is the perfect place to get out with your camera

A view of Seoul seen from Mount Namsan [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Coming from the mountainous city of Malang in East Java, Indonesia, Seoul immediately grabbed my attention on my very first day here.

I moved to Seoul in February 2022 to pursue a master’s degree at the Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University. As I rode from Incheon International Airport to downtown Seoul, I could see how developed the city was and how it still kept its traditional elements. Seoul seemed like a paradise for photography enthusiasts.

Photography has always been a way for me to express myself and preserve even the smallest moments in life. I love looking back at my travel photos and reminiscing on fond memories of my travel experiences. By looking at a photo, I can remember the smell and the scent of a location.

Alland Dharmawan

I’ve been taking lots of photos of Seoul and the surrounding cities. I want to be able to look back on this moment of my life and cherish the memories I have made in Korea.

Based on my 10 years of experience in photography and as a contributing photographer to numerous publications, I want to share some of my go-to photography tips to help you make your Seoul snaps look a little better.

To make this as accessible as possible, all the photos I share in this article were shot with the native camera app on an iPhone 12 using the automatic settings.

Tip No. 1: Photography, as the name suggests, is all about light. Different lighting gives a photo a different mood. I love taking photos in the morning, before 10 a.m., and in the afternoon, from around 3 p.m. until sunset. During these hours, the light is less harsh than in the middle of the day.

The sun sets at Gyeongbok Palace on a cool autumn afternoon. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Tip No. 2: Keep it simple. Having lots of negative space in your photo will highlight your main subject and create a striking photo. Sometimes, your focal point does not need to fill up the whole frame.

Being creative with composition would make your photos look more interesting. Take as many photos as possible with different compositions. You can always choose your favorite later or crop the photo to try different compositions in post-processing.

N-Seoul Tower, the second highest point in Seoul, seen from Bukchon Hanok Village [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Tip No. 3: Play with contrast and colors. Photos with striking contrast are always pleasing to the eye. Pay attention to the surrounding of your point of interest as well and try to isolate it whenever possible to make it stand out.

You can also experiment with colors by converting a photo to black and white. Black and white photos deliver different moods and help make your focal point stand out as the viewers are not distracted by the color of the surroundings. Black and white photos also help make a photo look more interesting when the lighting is flat, such as when it’s cloudy or raining, or when the focal point is not strong enough.

Take a look at these two photos of Cheonggyecheon. Converting the photo to black and white gives it a different feeling.

Cheonggyecheon [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Tip No. 4: Angles make a difference. When you find an interesting object, explore different angles, like the eye-level, high and low angles. These would give a different atmosphere to your photos. You can also explore these variations if your mobile phone camera is equipped with lenses of different focal lengths, such as wide-angle and telephoto. A wide-angle lens combined with a low angle produces interesting photos.

Birds fly above the statue of King Sejong the Great at Gwanghwamun Square. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Tip No. 5: Add depth to your photo. The foreground increases the depth of your photo. You can also incorporate leading lines to help lead the eyes of the viewer.

One rainy afternoon at Jongmyo Shrine [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Seoul is a very photogenic city. There are always interesting things happening in all parts of the city. As you explore it further, you can find unique and exotic spots.

The following are three of my favorite places to photograph in Seoul.

1. Seoul Forest

Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul is the place I’ve visited the most in the city. It’s always mesmerizing to walk around the park and appreciate nature. You can see different kinds of flowers and trees, enjoy a nice walk along the lake and even go for a picnic.

Be sure to visit the tulip garden in April. It’s one of the most beautiful gardens I’ve ever seen!

Seoul Forest’s tulip garden at night [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

Afternoon sun rays shine through trees at Seoul Forest. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

A visitor enjoys a warm afternoon by the lake at Seoul Forest. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

A clear afternoon at Seoul Forest. Including reflections in a photo makes it more interesting. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

2. Gwanghwamun

The Gwanghwamun area in Jongno District, central Seoul includes Gwanghwamun Square, Gwanghwamun itself and the Gyeongbok Palace. It’s the heart of Seoul, where you can see how well the modern high-rise buildings, government offices and traditional elements of Korea blend in. A lot of tourists dress in hanbok and stroll around the area, making it feel like you're traveling back to the Joseon Dynasty era.

Visitors, dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, look up at King Sejong the Great at Gwanghwamun Square. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

A couple dressed in hanbok stroll around Gyeongbokgung Palace. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

A policeman patrols Gwanghwamun Square on a sunny day. [ALLAND DHARMAWAN]

3. Jongmyo Shrine

In the Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo Shrine was used to worship kings and queens. I love strolling around the complex in Jongno District. My friend once took me here when it was raining. The mood was very serene and relaxing. If you want to enjoy a quiet and soothing afternoon in Seoul, you should definitely visit.