First Impressions

My first impression of Gyeongbokgung Palace was nothing short of jaw-dropping. I remember it as if it were yesterday.

In March 2008, I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul for the first time, despite having lived in the same district for nine months. Blame it on the busy student life, the beginning of the financial crisis, or any other reason you can think of, but I hadn’t found the time to visit this marvelous architectural wonder.

Be Careful What You Wish For

As I wandered through the palace grounds, I was struck by how well everything was preserved—or, rebuilt. Guards were dressed as if the Joseon Dynasty was in power. It was amazing. At that moment, I wished I could visit this place repeatedly.

Fast forward to today: I travel to Seoul at least twice a year, and each time, I make sure to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, Samcheong-dong, and Bukchon Hanok Village. My wish had come true—I could visit this historic site as often as I wanted.

Leica Austria and the Power of Wishes

Just recently, in my last blog post, I expressed a wish to have a 50mm lens to shoot with my analog and digital Leica cameras. Surprisingly, Leica Austria responded to my request and will lend me a 50mm Summicron lens for my project.

This made me realize the power of wishes. Sometimes, maybe just sometimes, words have a magical spell, and things happen for real.

Upcoming Projects

In about two weeks, I am planning to be back in Seoul. Among other things, I will be working on a street photography project in this part of the city. I’ll have the perfect lens for the job thanks to Leica Austria.

NOTE TO SELF: So, be careful what you wish for. You never know when your words might turn into reality.