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79 D a m y a n g S u r ro u n d i n g s , F - 8 , 1 - 2 0 0 , 3 5 m m , Is O 1 0 0 P eter DeMarco has lived in Busan since 2007. Having known from an early age that he wanted to travel the world, he has conducted his life accordingly: DeMarco has visited more than 50 countries, and has also won numerous awards for his photogra- phy, including being named a Merit Winner by National Geographic Traveler. Groove Korea: Give us an introduction to yourself, the man and the photographer. Peter DeMarco: “My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.” The travel photog- rapher Steve McCurry said that, and I guess that about sums me up, too. I moved to Korea in 2007, but my first visit was way back in 1979 (I was 6 then). I lived on Jeju Island for a year. My father taught English at Jeju National University, so he brought the whole family over with him. Are these HDR (high-dynamic-range) photos? Actually, none of these photos is HDR. Every picture was made from a single photo. I don’t do much HDR these days; I find that I can get plenty of dynamic range by dodging and burning my pho- tos. Camera sensors (I use a Nikon D600 “Dust Machine”) and processing software like Lightroom have become so advanced, (so) each digital photo now has plenty of information to bend and shape almost as you please, even with a simple JPEG file. What exposure decisions did you have to make when shooting in the low-light conditions of a bamboo forest ? I am pretty much a “set it and forget it” kind of photographer. I want to keep my focus on my surroundings as much as possible so I can stay in the moment. When I’m not using a tripod, my settings are usually F/8, auto ISO minimum 100, auto shutter speed minimum 1/125 sec. to freeze motion. Of course, these can change depending on the situation. Is there anything else to do in the Damyang area? Damyang is located in South Jeolla Province, home to some of the most interesting sites in Korea. I’d recommend making Gwangju your home base and then taking day trips out to the surrounding area like Damyang, the UNESCO “dolmen” (ancient stone graves made from massive boulders) site at Hwaseon, the Boseong tea plantation or one of the most mysterious and original temples in all of Korea — Unjusa. What’s the best way to get to the Damyang Bamboo Forest from Seoul or Busan? From Seoul, take the KTX (express) train to Gwangju Station (06:40-20:30, 1 hr 20 min-2 hr 25 min intervals). From Busan, take the bus from Sobu Terminal in Sasang. Once in Gwangju, go to Gwangju Station and take local bus 311 to Juknokwon. Where can we see more of your photos and tips about traveling in Korea? Drop by my site, www.thenomadwithin.com.