Korea + Jeju Island seek photo tips

[pchengws]

Hello CS fellows,

I am going with my wife to Korea + Jeju trip. After 30 years of marriage this is our second time travel together. This is a 8 day (actually 6 days) in Korea.

Any must go places for photo taking specially on JeJu Island. Your tips are highly appreciated to make my trip a memorable one.

Thanks.

By the way I will bring along my Oly EP-1, Pana 20mm, Pana 45-200 and am thinking to add Pana 7-14mm or Oly 9-14 mm new Wide lens plus FL-36R.

 

[tomcat]

Are you going on a free-and-easy tour or packaged tour? If packaged, all the itineraries are already pre-planned for Jeju Island.

 

[pchengws]

Hi Tomcat, you are right. It is a package tour. Just that if there is a die die must go place and not normally in the package then we shall die die must get the shoot there for memory. I am the one told her so beatiful there but I myself never been there to take her round on Jeju.

 

[tomcat]

If it's a packaged tour, then you won't have time to 'die die' go to places not in the itinerary. Jeju Island is very big and not easy to travel on your own.

My only recommendation is that you don't go with Hong Thai. My experience with their Korean tour is not very good.

 

[alcohollywood]

I went to Jeju and Korea with friends in May this year. We hired a taxi driver-cum-guide for two days. The tourist spots were nice but because it was quite misty, I had very few keepers from the shots I took. However, ironic as it may be (and I attribute this to us being Singaporeans), I find that some of the nicer photos taken were of random flower fields that were chanced upon between destinations. You will probably find these in abundance when you get there, given the season.

This doesn't mean that none of the tourist spots are scenic, and I'm also not implying that there aren't any must-see places in Jeju. I guess you may want to factor into consideration the fact that my friends and I just graduated from university, so what appeals to us may be rather different.

I hope you have a good time with your wife, and if you'd like any information just feel free to drop me a PM. Cheers!

 

[pchengws]

Thank you guys. Old couple just to appreciate her long term work put in the family. So long she feels is worth it, it is all worth it for me.

May be you guys can help me one more thing. I want to buy a wide angle lens. M43 7-14 or the 9-18mm is good enough. They are S$400 difference. If Jeju do not have tight spot that needs a 7-14 mm I would like to do with 9 - 18mm and wait for new spec or new lens to release next year.

If you have good experience that S$400 is not worth saving and get the 7-14mm directly will be great help for me also.

 

[wmayeo]

I enjoyed Jeju more than Seoul.
It is a beautiful island, nice authentic korean food, their ginseng chicken is real good, and especially recommended for summer.
Not sure what flower matches the summer season. Do remember try their oranges, sweet & juicy.

there are one window period to catch sunrise at the west coast, do hiking up to the place many steps, not sure will the tour group bring you there.

 

[pchengws]

My wife enrol us with Five Stars tour. I need to search more on hotel arrangement whether it is on the West. We will have two days on the Island. Not much say on the tour spot. What I really hate is to waste time visiting shopping tour spot.

 

[wmayeo]

My wife enrol us with Five Stars tour. I need to search more on hotel arrangement whether it is on the West. We will have two days on the Island. Not much say on the tour spot. What I really hate is to waste time visiting shopping tour spot.

sorry should be Sunrise Peak (at East side).

more info of the places I visited in Jeju.

http://www.tripadvisor.com
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/1091_Destination.jsp


Seogiwipo-si (South side)

Jusangjeolli Cliff
Location: Seogiwipo-si International Convention Center
Admission Fee: 2000W/person

Teddy Bear Musuem
Location: at the gate of Chungmoon Travel Complex
Admission Fee: 6000W/person

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls (near to teddy Bear Musuem)
Location: Seogwipo-si, 3381-1 Saekdal-dong
Operating Hours: March – October > 08:00-18:30
Admission Fee: 2500W/person

 

[pchengws]

Thank you wmayeo,

Very good detail info on Jeju. I checked my trip.
First is to Mysterious Road - uphill off vehicle engine.
second Teddy Bear Museum.
World Automobile Jeju Museum
O'sulloc Green Tea Museum
Yongduam Rock
Jet Boat
Jeju Glass Castle
Seongsan Sunrise Peak
Tangerine Orchard (seasonal)
then go to seoul.

Looks like I will at least cover half of what you have listed. I did not on Jeju has so many Museum. So many indoor shoots, so I guess Wide angle lens is a must to buy.

 

[tomcat]

I think most of the Korean tour itineraries cover almost the same tourist attractions. Here are some of the photos taken during my trip to Jeju and South Korea to give you an idea of what to expect at those places if they are in your itinerary.
http://www.pbase.com/pschia/korea_holiday

Another thing you should prepare for is to keep aside some cash for those photographs taken by the 'official' photographer who would most likely be accompanying your tour group. This seems to be a common practice in all Korean tours. They are very good at making you feel too paiseh to refuse to buy those photos that they took of you during the trip. They can beat the Mainland Chinese any time at this game... just be prepared to set aside anything between S$50 to S$200 for those photos that you may not even like which would be forced down your throat on the last day of the trip. Unless you got extremely thick skin and can outright reject buying any photos from them, the only thing you can do is to minimise the damage by not letting the 'official' photographer take too many photos of you and your wife during your trip.

 

[pchengws]

I think most of the Korean tour itineraries cover almost the same tourist attractions. Here are some of the photos taken during my trip to Jeju and South Korea to give you an idea of what to expect at those places if they are in your itinerary.
http://www.pbase.com/pschia/korea_holiday

Another thing you should prepare for is to keep aside some cash for those photographs taken by the 'official' photographer who would most likely be accompanying your tour group. This seems to be a common practice in all Korean tours. They are very good at making you feel too paiseh to refuse to buy those photos that they took of you during the trip. They can beat the Mainland Chinese any time at this game... just be prepared to set aside anything between S$50 to S$200 for those photos that you may not even like which would be forced down your throat on the last day of the trip. Unless you got extremely thick skin and can outright reject buying any photos from them, the only thing you can do is to minimise the damage by not letting the 'official' photographer take too many photos of you and your wife during your trip.

Thank you tomcat, This is an important tips. Normally I know there could be one group tour photo that you expect to buy. I did not know they have so many "official" photo taking. On the other hand I do not want to spoil my wife mood if she in the high spirit to enjoy her 30 years earned holidays.

 

[Six-GHz]

Hi, I visited Korea last Dec through Five Stars too. I find they provide good service (no lapse in tour guides and attentive to all passengers). My itinerary was about identical with yours too, except the Automobile and Green Tea museums. Of these, the Seongsan and Tangerine Orchard are the best places to fill up your memory cards. For Yongduam you'd need some zoom lens (like more than 5x), cos the rock is pretty far away. For Jet Boat ride, forget about taking any shots cos you'll be hanging on for your dear life! And a word of caution - if you wear glasses, do have a spec-string, as the whiplash is tremendous... mine almost flew off my face!

For Seoul, everything is more commercialised and hectic. The traveling time also x2 due to the heavy traffic. Of note, if the tour guide brought you to some Korean Ginseng shop, be wary unless you have the intention to buy. It's a "closed-door" and quite a strong-arm tactic used.

Another thing you should prepare for is to keep aside some cash for those photographs taken by the 'official' photographer who would most likely be accompanying your tour group.

Agree. These photographers will take pictures of you in groups and/or while you're too busy and sell them at your last day... when you're actually running out of cash. But it's ok to patronise them a bit cos they really helped us out throughout the tour - carry bags, fill your rice bowls etc. But the entire album can cost S$400 and above, so select only your favourites.

 

[Bathtub81]

I think most of the Korean tour itineraries cover almost the same tourist attractions. Here are some of the photos taken during my trip to Jeju and South Korea to give you an idea of what to expect at those places if they are in your itinerary.
http://www.pbase.com/pschia/korea_holiday

wow wow wow. ur pic is so nice! How come I didnt see that dragon peak at yongpyong resort? I think I missed out alot. Went with HongThai 2 years back but the trip turned out to be not so exciting. Its just a touch & go to almost all the destinations. Tour guide really plays a part. Hopefully I can F&E next year after getting bonus

 

[wmayeo]

I recommend visiting Jeju island during Spring time to catch cherry blossom, they have a festival going on for the whole period of cherry blossom, it's a short window 1-2 weeks.
I hope to visit the place again in autumn season and free n easy, booked day trip is good enough. that's one of my ideal holiday location.

 

[tomcat]

wow wow wow. ur pic is so nice! How come I didnt see that dragon peak at yongpyong resort? I think I missed out alot. Went with HongThai 2 years back but the trip turned out to be not so exciting. Its just a touch & go to almost all the destinations. Tour guide really plays a part. Hopefully I can F&E next year after getting bonus

Dragon Peak is much higher up and is reached by cable car from the hotels at Yong Pyong. Did you remember taking cable car at Yong Pyong? That is supposed to be one of the shooting locations for the Korean series Winter Sonata.

The itinerary of Hong Thai's tour is actually supposed to cover shooting locations of popular Korean TV series... that was why we went to Dragon Peak, Nami Island, Windmill Lounge at Lotte Hotel, Songup Folk Village, etc.

 

[ed9119]

just bring the 7-14 zoom

AND....... this is the 2nd holiday overseas in 30 years........... please make the photography secondary or LOW on your list of pirorities ..... photos with your wife and/or you in it are more important .......... time with wife is more important in this case

enjoy yourselves......... lovely place

 

[pchengws]

wow wow wow. ur pic is so nice! How come I didnt see that dragon peak at yongpyong resort? I think I missed out alot. Went with HongThai 2 years back but the trip turned out to be not so exciting. Its just a touch & go to almost all the destinations. Tour guide really plays a part. Hopefully I can F&E next year after getting bonus

Fantastic photos. Now I have a problem to show my wife these photos. It is because I may not be able to get the same results even I copy the same angle to shoot. I am suppose to be the best photographer in the family now I am put to the test.

Pen EP-1 with 45-200mm f3.5 -5.6, Pana 20mm f1.7 and most likely Oly 9-18mm f 4 - 5.6 lenses plus FL-36R and monopod technically can I get decent shoots?

 

[arctos]

just bring the 7-14 zoom

AND....... this is the 2nd holiday overseas in 30 years........... please make the photography secondary or LOW on your list of pirorities ..... photos with your wife and/or you in it are more important .......... time with wife is more important in this case

enjoy yourselves......... lovely place

Was about to say something similar. Fully agree with ed. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Make that special someone (i.e. your wife) feel special, by spending more time and attention on her than photography, especially for this special trip.

 

[tomcat]

Fantastic photos. Now I have a problem to show my wife these photos. It is because I may not be able to get the same results even I copy the same angle to shoot. I am suppose to be the best photographer in the family now I am put to the test.

Pen EP-1 with 45-200mm f3.5 -5.6, Pana 20mm f1.7 and most likely Oly 9-18mm f 4 - 5.6 lenses plus FL-36R and monopod technically can I get decent shoots?

Thanks. They were just snap shots only. We were lucky to have good weather and sunny and clear skies for most of the trip.

Your setup should be sufficient. You should bring along a circular polariser as well as it is especially useful for sunny conditions for enhancing the blueness of the sky, saturating the colours and minimising reflection and glare from glass and water. Most of my shots were taken through a circular polariser.