my apologies, I was traveling for a while and neglected to follow up on your comments.
@CW100 It's fairly okay. surprisingly banal actually. I struggle to find new things to show in Pyongyang in particular given that I cannot go to places by myself.
@TANG0F0XTR0T I am admitted and declared, this is not a place I would ever want to break the law in. My images have run in a ton of places like NKnews, which aims to report on the country and is run by a former Wapo journalist, The Guardian, Vice, CNN and god-knows-how-many-others. I initially went because I got offered to go and thought it would be an interesting trip (I am german and missed out on experiencing East Germany before the wall fell) but ended up being fascinated by the lives of normal people in such a unique place. As you've already seen it can be widely different from what we commonly suspect life there must be like.
@anthonysemone dealing with North Koreans is like dealing with a 15 year-old girl. Post a picture they don't like and there is drama. In my case that would mean I would not get another visa.
@DocsPics You are not kidding. I actually have a Canadian friend who is currently in a Chinese jail. It's quite scary.
" In my case that would mean I would not get another visa."
And that, Sir, would be the mildest of outcomes, as DocsPics has indicated. FWIW, I spent almost 3 weeks at Camp Casey, ROK, Home of the USA 2nd (Second to None) Division. Roughly 15 clicks from the DMZ. What an incredible group of young men and women, US, KATUSA, and ROK soldiers as well.
I hope we get to see more of your pictures, OP, and hope as well that you don't inadvertently piss off your "guide."
TANG0F0XTR0T wrote:
You say you take pictures often. I took a look at your website as well.
I must ask, do you need permission to take pics in NK?
Also, what is the purpose of the site and who is the intended audience? It seems to me both the pictures and site would not be looked at favourably by the NK government.
I had similar thoughts, however, if you read some of the NK News articles and particularly the 'opinions' section, they appear to be rather more balanced that almost any news outlet I can think of in the US.
So I don't know if it is very different in what NK sees or what is written in Korean (actually I will admit I don't know anything).
Personally I thought the images themselves were quite complimentary to NK (I mean they are good photos, streets are clean, people are clean etc...). Perhaps some of the wording would be adjusted for local consumption.
ejenner wrote:
I had similar thoughts, however, if you read some of the NK News articles and particularly the 'opinions' section, they appear to be rather more balanced that almost any news outlet I can think of in the US.
So I don't know if it is very different in what NK sees or what is written in Korean (actually I will admit I don't know anything).
Personally I thought the images themselves were quite complimentary to NK (I mean they are good photos, streets are clean, people are clean etc...). Perhaps some of the wording would be adjusted for local consumption.
I like the pictures a lot. I'm mainly curious how comments and captions on the pictures are seen by the NK government. I have to admit I am getting my news from the media but they seem to not like the slightest hint of criticism, even if that is reality.
The pics are great though and it is why I'm following this thread.
I must ask, do you need permission to take pics in NK?
oh yes. this is not a place where I would ever want to break the law. I can however tell you that as a tourist you may bring camera equipment and take photos as well. There are a small number of tour providers and if you want a specific recommendation I am happy to supply one via PM.
NKnews is independent, which is why their journos aren't very welcome in the DPRK. I like their work a lot because there aren't a lot of other people who seriously, full-time try to report on the country as opposed to reading up for an hour and writing some half-mistaken article and then moving on to another story.
[Personally I thought the images themselves were quite complimentary to NK (I mean they are good photos, streets are clean, people are clean etc...). Perhaps some of the wording would be adjusted for local consumption.
not everything is clean in the DPRK and life in the countryside can be really quite harsh. I shall furnish a few images next to that extend. but totalitarian regimes tend to be law&order places (you know, at least for the average joe) and you generally feel safe on their streets.
I like the pictures a lot. I'm mainly curious how comments and captions on the pictures are seen by the NK government.
I don't know. I do know what kind of images cause trouble and that posts to instagram is something they search for, which is why this stuff isn't there.
I have to admit I am getting my news from the media but they seem to not like the slightest hint of criticism, even if that is reality.
you are absolutely correct. think of how a 15 year-old girl handles criticism and you have it pretty much right.
dalite wrote:
You're lucky you didn't get arrested for taking some photographs. By the way, have you met fellow FMer Frogfish who also lives in Shanghai?
I have not meet him. I do live in Beijing now but I am frequently in Shanghai and would love to hang out with fellow photography nutters :-)
A young boy is waving to passengers on the daily train departing Pyongyang railway station for Beijing. This and all other images in this post are originals taken by myself over the course of many trips to the country.
https://i.imgur.com/uWEDBRD.jpg
An elderly man is solving a crossword puzzle in a park in Pyongyang along the Taedong river.
https://i.imgur.com/QXbpB21.jpg
A mural on the Pyongyang subway. I liked the contrast between idealized propaganda and drab reality.
https://i.imgur.com/zSO2YrA.jpg
While Pyongyang is cleaner and wealthier than many of us in the West may think there is still a strong economic divide to the countryside. This is a backstreet on the outskirts of Wonsan. I don't know if the kid is pushing rubber hoses or cables in that cart.
https://i.imgur.com/4Wr94Ua.jpg
Old people during harvest somewhere far away in the countryside. This particular road was quite good in comparison with many others. Potholes the size of bathtubs were common and cars rarely mov anywhere faster than 30km/h because they need to avoid them. The roads in North Korea are worse than in Somalia.
https://i.imgur.com/ZROjkZn.jpg
This picture sometimes catches people off guard but it really is rural North Korea. While -30C winters are a harsh reality the spring and summer can be quite nice.
https://i.imgur.com/IuyZlUF.jpg
One of the huge stone statues in Pyongyang with some people just chilling out.
https://i.imgur.com/GAwwZUq.jpg
College students with smartphone, checking out a selfie. North Koreans have no Internet access but do have an Intranet that is completely-sealed off from other countries. Apps, films, games are bought in physical stores and installed onto the phones. Libraries have book collections online.
https://i.imgur.com/sf4jevA.jpg
Taking this type of image that can get you in real trouble in North Korea. Or, to be precise, it can get your tour guides into trouble because they are responsible for you. After I took this image pretty much any North Korean official within sight wanted to see the image I took to make sure it wasn't a bad exposure, cropped or anything else that might cause offense. They didn't have the power to compel me to show them the image but it's pretty difficult to resist when someone with real worry and fear in their eyes keeps pleading to please let them see.
https://i.imgur.com/IPCjUcs.jpg
You might think there are no private businesses in a communist state. You'd be wrong. These small businesses are all over the country. The reason is that the government is broke and anyone making money on their own doesn't need to be fed and on top will have to pay taxes. And, you know, "taxes," the kind government officials and cops like to receive.
https://i.imgur.com/IBNCjtW.jpg
Again I wanted to photograph the contrast between reality and propaganda poster. Later I learned that this was the North Korean boy scout greeting. So there's that. North Koreans in general immediately sit up straight or try to look away when they see someone taking their photo.
sdemi442001 wrote:
This is a highly interesting thread to me. Have always wondered what life is like in North Korea. What a quirky trend: those mini binoculars.
Demi, maybe not such a quirky trend. Those people must be the rich ones because unless those binoculars are cheap knockoffs, and they very well may be, those are super expensive Leica Trinovid binoculars and almost $500 here in the states!!
They just might be the new status symbol in NK!!!
John
Krautland, I agree with others, these photos are very good.
The shot of the little boy and the train and the girl on the bicycle are outstanding!!!
Thanks for posting these unusual narrations of life in NK!
John
JohnSil wrote:
Demi, maybe not such a quirky trend. Those people must be the rich ones because unless those binoculars are cheap knockoffs, and they very well may be, those are super expensive Leica Trinovid binoculars and almost $500 here in the states!!
They just might be the new status symbol in NK!!!
John
Those are just using the same design but some chinese brand name. North Koreans in the capital have about as much money as people in smaller Tier 3 cities in China and these binoculars were sold at a trade fare booth, not something that cost more than a handheld vacuum. I am pretty certain it was below USD 50.
A status symbol would be an Audi or Benz or, on a smaller scale, a good android smartphone, most likely a higher-end Oppo or Huawei or LG.
anthonysemone wrote:
You can bet if they had been "given a hard time," you wouldn't be hearing from them about it
While it's easy to snipe in comments I'm going to provide a sincere answer to this.
Yes, North Korea is an ultra-authoritarian state that works by giving pressure from the top to each level below, which passes it on in similar fashion and fears the outcome if they aren't at least being seen at making an effort. Everyone official constantly worries. It is a place where recording to two camera chips, having the highest-frame rates and fastest autofocus are absolutely crucial because even if it's just a person on the street you want to photograph you will have on chance only. It's a bit like wildlife photography in that regard, albeit with different consequences than just wet feet.
Snipe all you care to do, krautland. Giving pressure at the muzzle of AK-74's (not a transposition of #'s btw) certainly clarifies the kind of pressure to which that the ultra-authoritarian regime will resort. I admire your courage, and regard your photos as exceptionally well captured. My hope for you in the course of doing that is that you do not end up "exceptionally well captured." Good luck
well, my canadian friend who is always going to north korea got 'captured' in china. it can happen anywhere and everywhere.
I have some good pictures of the AK74's (the silver, shiny ones even) as well as the 47's. unlike in some 'free' countries they haven't thus far been pointed at me.
