Michael Kazemi Exhibits at "2014 - The 9th Global Gathering" at Busan Citizens Park

Michael Kazemi, who is from Tabriz, Iran, will be exhibiting several of his photographs at "2014 - The 9th Global Gathering."  The event will be hosted both by Busan Metropolitan City and Busan Foundation for International Activities (BFIA), and it will be held at Busan Citizens Park in South Korea.

This exhibition is going to be Michael's largest as he will be displaying 31 of his photographs of Busan.

Lighting

© Michael Kazemi

Global Gathering is intended to celebrate the richness and diversity that foreign residents living in Busan bring to the region.  It allows many people from many different backgrounds to show off their talents to those who visit the varying venues at the event.

It is important to note that this is only a one day event.  It will be held on Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Busan Citizens Park.  To put it another way, it will only be on 2014/10/18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Night Talk

© Michael Kazemi

I like Michael's photographic work quite a bit, because while many of his compositions are serene and peaceful, they simultaneously have a dynamic and energetic pulse that creates excitement and anticipation.

Melody of Water and Light

© Michael Kazemi

Seeds of Light

© Michael Kazemi

To learn more about "2014 - The 9th Global Gathering," and to get directions to Busan Citizens Park, visit the BFIA website here.

A reader will appreciate that the BFIA website has a lot of information that can be helpful to foreign residents living in Busan.  Take a look around; there just might be something for you.

A final image for all to enjoy:

 

 Dancing of Clouds

© Michael Kazemi

The Hammer Falls

I lived on the east side of Jinan, which is the capital city of Shandong Province in China, in an area that is experiencing a significant amount of construction.  Most obvious are the numerous apartment complexes towering towards the gray polluted sky.  

My Neighborhood

© Mark Eaton

While exploring my little part of the world in Jinan during the day, I often heard booms that echoed off the mountains that are found in the area.  I thought construction crews were blasting into the mountains as some of the newly finished apartment buildings clearly abut the mountainous boundaries.

Then one day I discovered the source of the booms.  A large crane raised a large and obviously heavy pile driver.  The Chinese version of a pile driver looks a bit different than those I've seen from the western world, but evidently no less effective.  

The pile driver is targeted over a specific spot.  With a metallic snap, the driver is released.  The object falls silently, but there is an impressive explosive sound as it slams its target further into the ground.  And the ground shakes.  The process is repeated time and time again.

The Hammer Falls

© Mark Eaton

When several cranes are in operation simultaneously, it sounds as if a giant is walking unsteadily across the land.

The Canal and the Springs in Jinan

The blast furnace known as Jinan, which is the capital of Shandong Province in China, has more than seventy springs.  Many of those springs feed the large canal that flows through the city.

Residents of Jinan often visit the springs at the canal to haul up freshwater from the springs.  The water then is poured into jugs and large water bottles.  

Bottles

© Mark Eaton

Fetching Spring Water

© Mark Eaton

The canal is lined by weeping willows, and it is large enough for boats to navigate.  A reader will note that the large view of the canal in Jinan shows the polluted air that casts an interesting light over the entire region of the province. 

Tour Boats

© Mark Eaton

Art at the Yeosu Expo in South Korea

Unlike far too many previous Olympics, Expos, and other international events with extravagantly constructed stadiums and buildings only to be abandoned and unused following their concluding acts, the Yeosu Expo, which was held in 2012, continues to be a dynamic and vibrant venue that regularly features many different activities and events.  I almost always travel to the Expo from Suncheon by train, and the line conveniently ends at the train station that is located directly across from the Expo.  

I went to the Yeosu Expo yesterday, August 15, which was Independence Day in South Korea.  The train was very crowded, and the Expo was also crowded, too.  Amidst all of the hustle and bustle of the day, I couldn't help but see that there was a sculpture exhibition in one of the event rooms.  The exhibition room is very noticeable, because just outside the entrance is a very large sculpture that commands one's attention.  The artists involved created the sculptures from discarded metals and plastics that otherwise would have been thrown away in some manner.  The sculptures vary in size from the large piece that I mentioned above to a small piece about the size of my thumb.  

The exhibition will end on Sunday, September 14, 2014, so there is plenty of time to travel to the Expo in Yeosu to see it.  The following photographs show some of the sculptures that are showing at the event.

Sculpture at Yeosu Expo

© Mark Eaton

Sculpture at Yeosu Expo 2

© Mark Eaton

Sculpture at Yeosu Expo 3

© Mark Eaton

You might want to bring a change of clothes to the Expo.  Why?  Well, you just might get a bit wet when you paddle the kayak around near the Big O.  There is a brand new guesthouse on the premises for those who travel far from home.  I hope the event planners continue to feature other works of art in the future.

 

Landscapes of Korea -- A Photography Book by John Steele

John Steele is one of the nicest people anyone can hope to meet anywhere in the world.  In January of 2014, I interviewed him about his photography.  Take a look at the interview here: John Steele -- The Man with Heart and Soul.  Based in Seoul, he travels the country with his trusted four-legged assistant, Holly.

Recently, John self-published a photography book from blurb.com that is titled, Landscapes of Korea.  From the bustling metropolis to the quiet rural areas, he shows many of those areas not frequented by tourists.  I like his style.

To preview and purchase the book, visit John's blurb page here.  It is my opinion that considering the quality of his work, the pricing for the photography book is very good.    

The image below shows the photographs used for the book covers.

Landscapes of Korea

© John Steele

Congratulations to John Steele.  I look forward to seeing his photography for many years to come.