Chinese Lanterns and Contemplations

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/170 sec, ISO200)

This wasn’t my first time in Seoul, Korea but the first time I got the time to visit the Bongeunsa temple.

This is a beautiful temple close to the COEX center in Seoul and its garden is beautiful too. But more regarding the garden in another blog post. This blog post is about the temple or better its lampions.

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (23mm, f/5.6, 1/280 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (23mm, f/5.6, 1/950 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO200)

Finally a really fine day with a cloudless sky. An excellent opportunity for a walk and just perfect to take pictures of all those Chinese lanterns. Who said that everything looks better in black and white?

This temple is in the heart of Seoul. Surrounded by skyscrapers like an oasis from another time. It was early March but you could feel that spring is just around the corner. A perfect day.

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/280 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (23mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/9, 1/180 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/16, 1/160 sec, ISO400)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/350 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/4.5, 1/850 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (50mm, f/9, 1/250 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/320 sec, ISO200)

There was another reason why I focused on the lanterns. Inside the temple prayers took place and you need to know when you can take pictures and when you can not. Of course I would have loved to also take some interior shots but I didn’t have the time to wait for the prayers to end so I moved on.

This trip was the first where I used a different set of lenses for a long time. Usually I just take my three favourite primes from Fuji: the XF 14/2.8 R, the XF 23/2 WR and the XF 35/1.4 R but unfortunately I had dropped the 35/1.4 and it was at the camera store for repair. I bought the XF 50/2 WR because I always wanted to give this rather unusual focal length a try and to my surprise it worked quite well especially for shots from a distance like the one below.

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (50mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO320)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/5, 1/750 sec, ISO200)

But as much as a like the XF 50/2 WR it can’t replace the XF 35/1.4 R for me. Yes it is the more modern lens. It is better built, has WR, a fast and quiet AF and it is sharp wide open but it still can’t create the image the 35/1.4 can. Those old Fuji primes are something special. The XF 23/1.4 R is also one of them. The XF 16/1.4 WR, while technically excellent, is not. So I finally sold the XF 16/1.4 WR because I hardly took it with me on my trips to Asia.

Thanks to Fuji I discovered that less is more but somehow lost it when I finally switched from full frame to Fuji X. I still enjoy most to shoot with nothing but my X-Pro2 and my favourite three primes. On my vacations I prefer the XF 16-55/2.8 WR as a standard lens and the XF 10-24/4 OIS to cover the wide angle part but beside that I have to reconsider if all the other gear is really necessary.

Time to reduce! It’s amazing what a short walk through a temple can do to you.

FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (14mm, f/8, 1/160 sec, ISO400)