Life / Photography / Travel 
8 P- Street photography in a city of ten million, where culture, modernity, technology, and religion are reflected in the cityscape.
- Visit Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest traditional markets in South Korea.
- Exotic, Korean, traditional setting – street photography in Bukchon Hanok Village, a Korean village in the middle of Seoul. Traditional Hanok houses, pagodas and alleys provide the perfect setting for unique images.
- Portrait Photography Workshop at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of five palaces in Seoul. Experience the fusion of ancient South Korean culture amidst modern architecture.
- Enjoy the sunset on the top platform of Lotte World Tower. A breathtaking view of the city of Seoul from one of the tallest buildings in the world.
- DMZ, the demilitarized border zone between North and South Korea with a former Swiss officer of the NNSC.
- On the road with your camera and tripod, night photography of the skylines of Seoul and Busan.
- Haeinsa Temple, one of the most impressive temples in South Korea, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During an unforgettable temple stay, take a look behind the scenes as well.
- The Gamcheon artists’ neighborhood, which has been transformed by artists and residents into a cultural village in Busan.
- Basics of filter photography – Sunrise at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which is located right by the sea.
- Visit Jagalchi Fish Market in Busan, one of the most important fish markets in Asia.
- Character portraits, image compositions, spectacular photo stories and tips and tricks – Spotting the last sea women of Korea, the famous Haenyeo divers.
- Landscape photography – Climbing the extinct volcano Seongsan Ilchulbong on Jeju Island and marveling at the Manjanggul Lava Cave.
KOREA
Photo Tour 2024
Photography Tour South Korea 2024
Photography workshops in a country where the clash of tradition and modernity couldn’t be more different!
There is probably no other country this fascinating, a place where millennia-old tombs, pagodas, and temples, meet a technology-driven, future-oriented nation.
“South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced nations in the world!” says Daniel Thomas Faller. He should know, after all, he has been living, working, and photographing in his adopted country South Korea for more than eight years now.
“Moments and shots captured straight from life, that’s what fascinates me!” says Dominik Baur. The well-known Swiss professional photographer has already photographed many personalities and remote places of this world.
Travel with Dominik Baur and Daniel Thomas Faller right into the heart of a country that, despite K-Pop, K-Drama, and the Netflix series Squid Game, is considered to this day as one of the secret hot spots. Listen to the evocative prayer of the monks, who loudly express their connection with nature using drums and bells. Explore Seoul with its modern and vibrant Gangnam district and get exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the demilitarized zone along the border with North Korea. Admire the hard-working Haenyos, the female divers who submerge without oxygen tanks up to 20 meters to harvest seafood on the volcanic island in Jeju.
The ideal opportunity to fully dedicate yourself to photography in a small group of like-minded people under professional guidance. Whether you are a beginner or a professional – everyone is welcome. And all that with a lot of practice and little theory! So let’s go!
Highlights of tour
Itinerary
Seoul DDP by night
DAY 1 | Mon, 13.05.24
Seoul | Architecture photography
Welcome to the “Land of the Morning Calm”! After individual arrival, your journey through the Tiger State begins in the capital city of Seoul. In the morning you will meet all participants as well as the workshop and tour guides. After a short introduction about the current program, we already explore with the camera one of the latest trendy neighborhoods, the Seongsu-dong. We will conclude our day of street photography with night and architectural photography at Dongdaemun History & Culture Park. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Gwangjang market
DAY 2 | Tue, 14.05.24
Seoul | Markets and Hanok houses
Immerse yourself in the authentic market hustle and bustle of the oldest and largest covered market in South Korea, Gwangjang Market. Over five thousand stores offer Korean textiles as well as Korean food. The street food hotspot in Seoul. In the afternoon, we stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village, which boasts centuries of history. We visit the traditional hanok houses made of stone, wood, clay and rice paper. There we can photograph Korean women in their hanbok, the traditional Korean costume. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Seoul Gangnam
DAY 3 | Wed, 15.05.24
Seoul | Gangnam and night photography
Gangnam is probably the most famous and crazy neighborhood of Seoul. Busy streets, beautiful people, fashion and trends – a paradise for street photography. Today we will be impressed by many skyscrapers and capture the liveliness of the youth. In the afternoon, we will set up on floors 117 to 123 of Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in Korea and the 5th in the world. From there, we will enjoy a unique view of Seoul and capture the sunset with our cameras. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung palace
DAY 4 | Thu, 16.05.24
Seoul | Palaces and Portrait Photography
Today, we dedicate ourselves to the finesse of portrait photography. It holds enormous artistic potential, but it is also undoubtedly one of the most demanding disciplines. The afternoon is dedicated to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is the largest palace built in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. In front of one of the many ornate Korean backdrops, we will organize a portrait shoot where we will photograph models dressed in the traditional costumes, the Hanbok. Overnight stay Seoul.
DMZ
DAY 5 | Fri, 17.05.24
DMZ - Exclusive Insights
Today we visit the demilitarized zone on the border with North Korea. Since 1953, Swiss and Swedish officers have been in South Korea as neutral observers. As a former officer, Daniel Thomas Faller has lived and worked in Panmunjeom, Korea for 3 years in the service of the NNSC (Neutral Monitoring Commission). We will start with a short introduction about the Korean War, the Armistice Agreement and developments that radiate into today. After lunch, you will visit the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel and peek at the “other side” while visiting the Dora Observation Platform. A very special highlight of this tour is a visit to Camp Greaves. It served as a military base for the 506th US Second Infantry Division for about 50 years after the Korean War Armistice Agreement. Today it is a site of postwar remembrance. Overnight in Seoul.
Haeinsa temple
DAY 6 | Sat, 18.05.24
Temple Stay | Nature and Tranquility
In the morning we take the bullet train KTX from Seoul to Daegu. Around noon we reach Haeinsa Temple. The temple is one of the most important legacies of the country’s Buddhist roots and houses the Tripitaka Koreana, the oldest Buddhist scriptures. Located in the Gayasan National Park, it is so well embedded in its surroundings that it gives the impression that the mountain and the temple are one. We experience the daily life of the temple together with the monks and look behind the scenes. After an introduction and tea ceremony, we will have dinner together early in the evening. We spend the night in Haeinsa Temple.
Busan skyline
DAY 7 | Sun, 19.05.24
Busan | Korea's gateway to the world
Today we start early in the morning at 4am with morning prayer and the Yebul ceremony, which takes place at Haeinsa Temple. After breakfast and a temple tour, we leave Hapcheon at noon for Busan, comfortably in a minibus along the beautiful east coast.
The afternoon is dedicated to street photography, where we discover the lively port city of Busan with its many small alleys and markets. Towards evening, a spectacular skyline of Busan awaits us, which we will photograph from the famous Haeundae Beach. Overnight stay Busan.
Jagalchi fish market
DAY 8 | Mon, 20.05.24
Busan | Jagalchi Fish Market
Early in the morning we will see the sunrise at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, which is located just a few meters from the seashore. Then comes the highlight of the day – the Jagalchi fish market. Hardly any other market in East Asia offers such a wide selection of fresh fish and seafood as this one. From crabs to octopus, you can find everything in this fish market that did not escape the fishermen’s nets. A special feature of this fish market is that you can choose your meal directly from the water tank, and it is prepared right on the spot. Brave eaters can try sannakji (산낙지) – live octopus there! In the afternoon, we will explore Gamcheon district with its colorful houses and winding alleys. Overnight stay Busan.
Jeju Jusangjeolli
DAY 9 | Tue, 21.05.24
Jeju-do | The Volcano Island
After breakfast, transfer to Busan-Gimpo airport, from where we reach the volcanic island of Jeju in just under an hour’s flight. Upon arrival in Jeju-do, we will drive across the island to the south, passing Hallasan National Park. A stop at one of the 368 flank volcanoes is a must. Arriving in the south of the island we explore the Jusangjeolli cliffs. The Jusangjeolli were formed from lava from Hallasan volcano and have a cube or hexagonal shape. Today we also find time to chill out and daydream, our boutique hotel is located right on the enchanting south coast of the island. Overnight stay in Jeju.
Jeju Haenyeo
DAY 10 | Wed, 22.05.24
Jeju | Haenyeo - Daughters of the Sea
Today’s highlight are the sea women of Jeju, the famous Haenyeo divers, who dive up to 20 meters without oxygen tanks to harvest seafood. Character portraits, image compositions, spectacular photo stories and tips and tricks, professional photographer Dominik Baur will reveal what to look out for so that your photo reportage will also be completely uncomplicated, high-quality and sharp shots. Overnight stay in Jeju.
Volcanic island, Jeju-do
DAY 11 | Thu, 23.05.24
Jeju Island | Landscape Photography
On today’s day trip, we will leave the southern part of Jeju and explore the east of the island with its diverse natural landscapes. We will climb the extinct volcano Seongsan Ilchulbong at the eastern end of Jeju-do. From there, we will witness an impressive view of the overgrown volcanic cone and the surrounding sea. We will end our day tour with a visit to Manjanggul Lava Cave, the longest in the world (over 13 kilometers long). Overnight stay in Jeju.
Myeongdong street food
DAY 12 | Fri, 24.05.24
Seoul | Myeongdong - Street Photography
In the morning we leave Jeju Island by plane and arrive in Seoul around noon. In the afternoon we explore the lively neighborhood of Myeongdong. Here, in addition to the many typical stores, there are also the well-known street vendors offering specialties such as chicken soup with ginseng, Korean dumplings, mandu (만두) and much more. A farewell dinner with all participants is not to be missed – a culinary journey into the eating and drinking culture around Korean rice wine will round off this photo trip. Overnight stay in Seoul.
Incheon airport
DAY 13 | Sat, 25.05.24
Seoul | Departure
After breakfast and hotel check-out, individual home or onward journey.
Infos
Photo Workshop | Prerequisites
This workshop photo trip is specially designed to meet the interests of photographers. The daily programs offer enough time and space to dedicate to the main motifs described. Special physical abilities are not required on this trip. This photo trip is designed for photographers who not only want to take their time for the individual themes, but who also want to expand and or refine their photo skills in exchange with the other participants.
– Small groups with a maximum of 8 participants
– Plenty of time to shoot in peace
– Intensive supervision by the instructor Dominik Baur
– Excellent local knowledge by Daniel Thomas Faller
– Camera equipment, see additional information
Price per person
CHF 4’350.00 per person in a shared double room
Supplement single room CHF 1’740.00
Price and program changes expressly reserved!
Costs included
- private workshops and guided tour by Dominik Baur and Daniel Thomas Faller during the entire tour (from/to Seoul) in German and English
- 11 nights in a middle-class hotel (basis double occupancy) incl. breakfast
- 1-night temple stay (shared room) as per program incl. breakfast
- 1 dinner and 1 lunch
- all transports (partly minibus) according to program
- flights Busan - Jeju / Jeju - Seoul in economy class
- KTX high speed train Seoul - Daegu in 1st class
- exclusive private tour to the DMZ, demilitarized zone
- fee photo model Hanbok portrait shooting
- entrance fees according to the program
- incl. taxes and fees
Not included
- International flight to/from Seoul
- Meals and all beverages
- Cancellation and travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
Additional Information
- The photo tour starts and ends in Seoul. We can help you with flight bookings to and from Seoul
- Citizens of EU and Schengen countries can enter the Republic of Korea (South Korea) visa-free, short-term stays (less than 90 days and no gainful employment) are possible without a visa. However, all visa-free entrants must apply for an “electronic travel authorization” (K-ETA: Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online via the K-ETA website or app at least 24 hours prior to departure. Further information is provided by the K-ETA website or the relevant South Korean mission abroad.
- Time difference: CET summer +7 hours, winter +8 hours.
- Best travel times: April-June and September-November. The summer months are very warm and humid. South Korea can be easily traveled throughout the year.
- Fun facts: Population: 50.4 million / Area: 2.5 times that of Switzerland / Capital: Seoul / Language: Korean. English is not widely spoken outside the major cities.
- The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 12 people. The photo trip takes place with a minimum of 8 participants.
Photo Equipment
- Stable tripod
- Digital camera or SLR camera
- Lenses: wide angle (approx. 24mm) to telephoto (approx. 200mm)
- Grey filter, polarisation filter, grey gradient filter (plug-in filters system)
- Sufficient memory cards and batteries, chargers
- Remote trigger
- not required photo equipment, but recommended: wide-angle lens (approx. 14-24mm), rain cover for the camera, cleaning set with pump, microfiber cloth, small brush
Don’t forget to share this trip with your friends!