The Seoul Photo Club broadens membership

By Aaron Raisey

Photography is an extremely popular hobby in Korea for locals and expats alike. Any walk along popular spots like Insa-dong or Cheonggye Stream in Seoul will illustrate this. As an English speaker in Korea though, it is often difficult to hook up with people who share your interests, and with whom you can discuss issues, engage in the odd activity and obtain information relevant to your pastime. For the many expats in this country keen on photography, the Seoul Photo Club (SPC) provides the ideal source as well as an outlet.

Don’t let the name fool you. Though starting out as a Seoul-based club, the society has evolved to provide a focus for foreign photographers from all over Korea. We have members from as far south as Jeju Island, to as far north as the DMZ, and all points in between.

Location is certainly no barrier to participation.

So what exactly is it all about? The SPC is an online community for anyone who is keen on taking, sharing, thinking and talking about photographs and photography.

The club was set up with the purpose of facilitating discussion and communication between expat photographers here in Korea. We are always looking to improve our photography through giving some considered comments on other members’ photographs, accepting a few constructive thoughts, and discussing anything photo-related.

From how to best use a flash to compositional considerations, post-processing tips or even the best places to buy and develop film. That’s right, it’s not all digital. Many of us shoot 35mm or medium format film.

We have members proficient in many different areas of photography, from macro to landscape, from portrait to street photography. You can get advice from some of the most helpful and knowledgeable expat photographers in the country.

If you are new to the hobby, or have just gotten your first DSLR, then we’re there to help you get to grips with things ― no head-scratching or paying for classes.

If you’re an old hand looking to exercise a different style, or wanting to dip a toe into the wonderfully rewarding realm of film photography, or looking for a few pointers on post-processing, these are all things that the club is designed to be there for. Aside from advice and assistance, the club also runs regular challenges and provides regular exercises to help develop your photography. We have an exhibition coming up and we’re also involved in organizing expat focused offline competitions.

You can find us online at www.flickr.com/groups/seoulphotoclub, so get along and take part. It is important to emphasize that your current ability doesn’t matter; within the club, skills runs the gamut from absolute beginner to published pro. But regardless of how good (we think) we are, we’re all looking to grow and develop our skills, and to help others do the same. You must be in Korea to join though ― we keep things firmly focused on the issues in, and the enjoyment of expat photography, in Korea. So stay tuned to this column for a few photographic hints and tips, as well as any upcoming club events.

Any questions you can email me at aaron.raisey@gmail.com

Aaron Raisley is a contributing writer for The Korea Times.