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Find the city view of Soul taken with T/S Lens.

Robert Koehler

Photographer from USA

Robert Koehler writes and takes photograph for Seoul-based publishing company Seoul Selection,
where he is the editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine SEOUL.
A native of Long Island, New York, he has lived in Korea since 1997.

You can find his work on Instagram at @rjkoehler74 and on Tumblr at rjkoehler.tumblr.com.

FIND THE CITY VIEW OF SOUL TAKEN WITH T/S LENS.
Written by Robert Koehler

zoom
MODE Night-scape
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 1 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual

Few objects made by human hand fascinate, awe and terrify like the skyscraper.
The moment you step foot outside of Manhattan’s Penn Station, for example, your gaze is drawn upward, toward the heavens,
towards the tops of man-made valleys lined by towering cliffs of concrete, glass and steel.
In that instance, existence breaks its bond to the terrestrial plane. Life becomes vertical. To view a skyline is like gazing upon a flying city.

zoom

Though the United States birthed the skyscraper, it is in the great cities of Asia where high-rise towers are truly flourishing.

China alone completed 705 skyscrapers over 200 meters tall in 2017, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Korea, too, completed seven such towers last year, the third most behind China and the United States.

Home to many of Korea’s tallest buildings, including the recently completed Lotte World Tower, the fifth tallest building in the world at 555 meters, Seoul presents plenty of opportunities to photograph high-rises, both from above and below. For me, skyscrapers are strong, imposing subjects, the figures they cut against the horizon symbolizing the heights of ambition and human achievement. They are excellent platforms from which to shoot, too, vantage points with unparalleled views of the city below.

A sprawling city akin to Los Angeles, Seoul isn’t quite as vertical as New York, and its skyscrapers aren’t nearly as old – the Big Apple’s distinctive skyline goes back to at least the early 20th century. What Seoul’s cityscape has, though, is a youthful energy. If New York is a city of Gothic spires and Art Deco facades, Seoul is a city of soaring glass and steel, of digital light reflected in towering curtain walls, a city that offers a glimpse of the future.

MODE Night-scape
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 25 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual

a New Yorker, I feel an affinity for the Yeouido district, where the dense cluster of skyscrapers, many the headquarters of securities firms and other financial institutions, recalls the awesome verticality of Manhattan.

The observation deck of the 249 meter high 63 Building offers some of the best views in Seoul, not to mention some opportunities to have fun with the Samyang TS 24mm, using its tilt function to create diorama illusions of the city below. Open roof tops also provide vantage points to take in Yeouido’s glass and steel forest.

From below, the reflecting ponds of Yeouido Park and Yeouido Hangang Park beckon the cityscape photographer. The Samyang TS 24mm’s shift function comes in really handy here – it not only keeps my vertical lines straight, but also makes makes wonderful panoramas without the distortion that occurs when using non-TS lenses.

One of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, the Lotte World Tower naturally draws plenty of photographers. I enjoy shooting from the top of the tower and photographing the tower itself from the neighborhoods below. Seokchon Lake is an obvious spot from which to shoot, especially at night, when water reflects the tower’s colorful lights. The Lotte World Tower is big, it goes without saying, but again, the Samyang TS 24mm makes shooting panoramas easy.

MODE Night-scape
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 15 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual
zoom
zoom
MODE Landscapes
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 0.0167 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual
zoom
MODE Night-scape
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 15 sec
ISO 50
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual
zoom
MODE Landscapes
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 0.05 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual

Though the newer, posher neighborhoods south of the Hangang River host many of Seoul’s skyscrapers, the older, grittier districts north of the river boast many skyscrapers, too. In the historical Jongno, Myeong-dong and Eulijiro districts, the old commercial center of the city, soaring glass towers loom over webs of alleyways illuminated with the glow of neon and LED light. Around Gwanghwamun, high-rise office towers coexist in uneasy harmony with royal palaces and Confucian shrines centuries old. Here, every rooftop, every alleyway, every window tells a story, a story of a city running towards tomorrow, even with one foot firmly planted in the past.

zoom
MODE Landscapes
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 0.0063 sec
ISO 100
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manualt
zoom
MODE Landscapes
LENSES T/S 24mm F3.5
CAMERA NIKON D750
DIAPHRAGM F1.0
SPEED 0.0031 sec
ISO 200
EXPOSURE Manual
BRIGHTNESS -
FOCUS -
PHOTOMETRY Manual

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Samyang’s Guide to Achieving the Optimal Angle of View

The perfect spacing and distance are always necessary when shooting all kinds of subjects, including people, to give them a proper relationship with the beautiful space around them. So, what’s the exact distance that helps you best appreciate a work of art, or a photo?

The correct answer is the diagonal length of the full frame of a subject.

표준화각 자료 이미지
표준화각 자료 이미지

The best standpoint from which to appreciate the full view of a subject is the distance of the diagonal length of the subject frame. This wider angle is superior to standing closer at a 50 degree angle to get a more detailed view. This notion of an ideal distance or view point is also applicable in the world of photography.

For still images, keeping a distance equal to the diagonal length of the full image surface is recommended. The full frame sensor of a digital camera is 36 x 24mm and the diagonal length is 43.26mm so any distance close to this number is nearer to the ideal than the currently accepted industry standard of 50mm.

Back when film cameras were common, 45mm was the industry standard and this continued as reflex cameras needed extra space to fit a mirror. However, as mirrorless cameras become more popular again, there has been a need to return to this industry standard…which is the impetus for the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE. With less distortion than a 35mm lens and wider angles than a 55mm lens, the Samyang AF 45mm F1.8 FE is a perfect lens for portraits, landscapes, architecture photography, and pictures of pets.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Preset Aperture Control Function?

On the Preset Aperture Control function, the aperture blade operates smoothly like a "De-clicked lens", which is advantageous for video recording.
Fujifilm cameras are engineered to control the aperture according to the minimum exposure value(F-stop), so when the camera controls the aperture, it blinks momentarily to set the proper exposure.

AF 75mm F1.8 X intentionally disconnects the communication with the camera body and the lens itself on the Preset Aperture Control function, so it is possible to smoothly adjust the exposure without flickering. ISO and shutter speed are adjusted according to the changed exposure by controlling the aperture, so the exposure value can be changed even with the 1/2 F-stop.

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

What is Recommended Settings for Preset Aperture Control Function?

The Preset Aperture Control function operates only when shooting video(Movie mode) and the focusing mode of the camera is set to AF mode. Please set the aperture at f/1.8 before switching the "Custom Switch" to "Mode 2. It is recommended to set the "Exposure mode" as A mode (Aperture Priority AE) or M mode (Manual Exposure).

* How to use the “Preset Aperture Control” function?

1) Camera Body Setting
      AF Mode → Video Mode ('A' or 'M' mode) → Set the Aperture @F1.8
(2) Lens Setting
      Switch your "Custom Switch” to “Mode 2(M2)"
(3) Now, you're ready to use the Preset Aperture Control function with your focus ring

[What is Dolly Shot? How to shoot easily]

[What is Dolly shot?]

A dolly shot, also referred to as a tracking shot or trucking shot, is a camera movement technique used by cinematographers to track and follow a subject in motion. To achieve this, the camera is mounted on a device called a "dolly," which facilitates smooth tracking movement. The dolly can move in front of, behind, or alongside the subject, which can be a person, a location, a product, or any other object of focus in the frame. Through this, you can control the emotional distance between the subject and the viewer by highlighting the audiovisual and dramatic effects.

[How to take a Dolly Shot simply by handheld]

Tip. If the moving distance is long, the camera may shake, so please shoot at a focal length between 35 and 100mm.
1. Stand at a distance of about 1.5 to 2 meters away from the subject.
2. Set the custom switch to MF and Mode 3 and adjust the focal length to about 100mm.
3. After focusing on the subject, set the aperture to F8~16.
4. Slowly turn the zoom ring to the left (towards the wide-angle end) while using your upper body and arms to move the camera toward your subject.
5. Dolly Shot complete!
※ When shooting from a farther distance from the subject, use a cart or gimbal for more stable shooting.

DSLR / Full Frame
1D X Mark Ⅱ
1D X
1Ds Mark Ⅲ
1Ds
5DsR
5Ds
5D Mark Ⅳ
5D Mark Ⅲ
6D Mark Ⅱ
6D
DSLR / APS-H
1D Mark Ⅲ
1D
Mirrorless / APS-C
M6
M5
M10
M3
M2
DSLR / APS-S
7D Mark Ⅱ
7D
80D
70D
60D
30D
D60
D30
77D (9000D)
760D (8000D / Rebel T6s)
1300D (Kiss X80 / Rebel T6)
1200D (Kiss X70 / Rebel T5)
200D (Kiss X9 / Rebel SL2)
800D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
700D (Kiss X9i / Rebel T7i)
100D (Kiss X7 / Rebel SL1)
650D (Kiss X6i / Rebel T4i)
600D (Kiss X5 / Rebel T3i)
550D (Kiss X4 / Rebel T2i)
500D (Kiss X3 / Rebel T1i)
1000D (Kiss F / Rebel XS)
450D (Kiss X2 / Rebel X냐)
DSLR / Full Frame
D850
D5
D810A
D4S
D810
D750
Df
D610
D4
D800
D800E
D600
D3s
D3x
D700
D3
DSLR / APS-C
D7500
D3400
D500
D5600
D7200
D5500
D3300
D7100
D5300
D5200
D7000
D300s
D300
DSLR / Full Frame
Z6
Z7
D810A
D4S
D750
D810A
DSLR / APS-C
D7200
D500
D3300
D5500
D5600
D3400
D7500

* Cameras released within 5 years from 2019 are tested.

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