South Korea
One more shot of a chestnut-flanked white eye. This time, we see him resting on a collection of berries. I watched him try to eat a few of them, but he was never quite successful, as he either dropped them, or never was completely able to remove them from the bush. Judging by the size of the berries, this might have been a good thing – it sure looks like he'd choke on one if he were able to actually get it in his beak. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16.
A sleepy blue-and-yellow macaw. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x24, 24x30, 30x40.
One of my best insect shots. Check out the flecks of pollen on the fly's body, and the compound eyes. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16.
Hallim Park is a great place to see flowers, trees, and pretty much any other kind of vegetation that grows naturally (or not) on South Korea's Jeju island. When I visited in mid-March, there were fields of tulips planted, but probably only something like 10% of them had yet opened up. Here's one that had. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Not many cherry blossoms had yet bloomed on Jeju island by mid-March, 2015. But there sere several trees that seemed to have lofty ambitions of turning pink and white ahead of schedule, and I got this shot on one such tree, found outside Gengnaksa Temple. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24.
A motorcycle ride with friends in mid-March, 2015, took us to Geungnaksa Temple on South Korea's island of Jeju. The monks that reside at the temple take wonderful care of the grounds, and the gardens there are quite nice. In addition to flowers, there were numerous potted cabbages growing here. Some were white, some were this more otherworldly shade of pink. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20, 30x24.
A fairly large praying mantis I found on a pot of yellow flowers right outside my apartment in Jeju, South Korea. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x24, 24x30.
A maple tree letting us know that winter is rapidly approaching. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36.
Cheonjiyeon Falls is an incredibly popular tourist hotspot on the Korean island of Jeju. At night, the falls are illuminated by an orange light, which explains the otherwise inexplicable glow of the falling water. Available in the following sizes (Panorama A): 20x10, 24x12, 32x16, 40x20, 48x24, 60x30, 60x30 Triptych (3 x 20x30), 72x36, 72x36 Triptych (3 x 24x36), 80x40, 80x40 Triptych (3 x 27x40).
Udo is a small islet off the northeast coast of South Korea's Jeju Island. Although it occupies only 5.9 square kilometers (2.3 square miles), it is one of Jeju's most-visited spots, getting roughly one million visitors a year. Here we see the first rays of morning sun glancing off the volcanic rocks and cliffs that make up a great deal of the island. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x24, 24x30, 30x40.
Daylilies are native to China, Korea, and Japan, and are commonly found growing along country roads on the Korean island of Jeju. A given flower will only bloom for only a single day, but a given stem typically has the capability to produce several flowers over subsequent days. I shot these daylilies, which were two among hundreds, along side a country road as I took a summer drive. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24.
The interior of Geungnaksa Temple, on South Korea's Jeju Island. This temple is much like any other Buddhist temple in the area. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Buddha's Birthday 2014 at Geungnaksa Temple
The entire courtyard of Geungnaksa Temple, on the South Korean island of Jeju, was decorated with a huge number of paper lanterns that were illuminated after dark in order to celebrate Buddha's birthday. Available in the following sizes (Panorama C): 30x10, 36x12, 48x16, 60x20, 72x24, 90x30, 90x30 Triptych (3 x 30x30), 108x36, 108x36 Triptych (3 x 36x36), 120x40, 120x40 Triptych Triptych (3 x 40x40), 144x48 Triptych (3 x 48x48).
Buddha's Birthday 2014 at Yakcheonsa Temple
A corridor made of paper lanterns leading to Yakcheonsa Temple, illuminated to celebrate Buddha's birthday. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Buddha's Birthday was always one of my favorite holidays while I lived in South Korea. I was an English teacher, so any excuse for a day off was always welcome, but I also loved to visit the Buddhist temples in the region, which would go all out decorating for this occasion. Traditional lanterns, like those shown here, would be put up and lit up at night. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
Some mandarin ducks, like the one here, migrate to the South Korean island of Jeju each winter. Mandarin ducks are quite rare, and among the most beautiful and recognizable ducks on the planet. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20.
There is a relatively small tulip festival held each spring at Halim Park, on the island of Jeju, South Korea. Here we see a number of beautiful orange and yellow tulips illuminated by the setting sun. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 12x8, 18x12, 24x16, 30x20, 36x24, 45x30.
A chestnut-flanked white eye enjoying the spring weather and getting his fill of nectar from a cherry blossom in Jeju, South Korea. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 8x10, 11x14, 16x20, 20x24.
The cherry blossoms bloom from late March to early April each year in Korea. Here we see a brown-eared bulbul eating its fill of nectar on a beautiful, spring day. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle B): 8x12, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30.
Spring in South Korea, as with many places, is a time of rebirth. After months of cold and snow, new life finally begins to reappear. Here, a dew-covered camellia spreads its petals, filling the air with the scent of a new season. Available in the following sizes (Rectangle A): 10x8, 14x11, 20x16, 24x20, 30x24.
