Jeju Island Exposed
Capturing the Exotic Botanical Treasures!

Just back from Jeju Island again. Been there spring and summer -- now I've been there for some autumn pictures. Being almost tropical, even October was too early for fall colors! My aim is four seasons coverage of the volcanic island we call Asia's Hawaii!

Jeju Island or Jeju-do sits just off the southern shore of the Korean Peninsula. It's my favorite island paradise - only 73 km east to west, 41 km north to south. Small but....

Good things come in small packages!

There are so many attractions on Jeju Island - but - we're here to talk about flower and garden photography. So let's talk botanical...

There are five officially recognized botanical gardens and arboreta in South Korea. And our tiny island delight is home to two of them -- Yeomiji Botanical Garden (say it “Yuh-me-jee”) and Halla Botanical Garden and Arboretum.

We'll check out Yeomiji Botanical Garden first. Yeomiji means “a beautiful land”. They got that right!

Here's a Google map of the gardens. I put some information on it for you. Just put your mouse over each blue label and click to orient yourself. Have some fun with a larger map. Open the link and play with the map even more! Don't you just love technology?

The garden is in the posh Jungmun Resort (say it “Jung-moon”) on the southwest Pacific shore. About 50 minutes from Jeju City.

The conservatory is a central observation tower with five adjoining greenhouses. From above it has the shape of a sunflower but from the ground.... the unit looks peculiar like some out-of-this-world UFO.

Come on in and see why this Jeju Island botanical garden claims to be the largest and best in Asia - maybe even the universe!

• The Conservatory - Center Hall and the Greenhouse Gardens

1. The flower garden is the first greenhouse on the left. This is the place for orchids. And plenty of other flowers here to photograph.

• There's a marvelous begonia display at the back -- the lighting isn't optimal for photography. You'll need to use some fill flash.

2. The water garden is next to the flower garden.

• You'll find the revered lotus blossoms here... and papyrus - the original writing paper! All excellent subjects for flower photography.

3. The desert garden has almost 500 cacti species. First-rate place for photographing interesting patterns.

• Try some close-ups or use a macro lens if you have one. Get creative with a lens-baby! Don't have one? Neither do I -- but it's my next investment.

4. The jungle garden is a rain forest ecosystem, just like experiencing the Amazon Jungle on our own Jeju Island!

• The vegetation is thick with tall palms and rubber trees... ferns and other dangling jungle plants everywhere... lots of insectivorous plants. Great photo material. Because of the dense growth, it can be a bit dark and you may need to use fill flash or longer exposures.

5. The tropical fruits garden... coffee, mangoes, starfruit and Asian jackfruit that can weigh up to 36 kg. The garden with all the yummy stuff!

• Look for interesting patterns and lines in the exotic fruits -- a macro lens would come in handy.

Here are some of my pictures of the conservatory...

	Yeomiji Botanical Garden has a fabulous display of begonias. This photo shows perhaps a quarter of the total display. The greenhouse light is difficult to get a good photograph and you'll need some additional light like your camera's fill flash.
	The desert garden has a wide variety of shapes and sizes of subjects to choose from. I was lucky enough to have a lightly overcast day so there aren't any harsh "desert-like" bright spots and harsh shadows to send your camera into fits!
	This fellow has a partner who didn't make the shot! They share the swamp with some giant Mesozoic era flowers and ferns. On the other side are a couple of dinosaurs, to emphasize the relationship of ancient and present life in a rain forest .
	Here are four of the seven! Snow White hangs out on Jeju Island at her quaint little cottage in the woods. A real hit with the younger crowd. The tropical fruit garden may present even more photo opportunities if you have a macro lens.

This man is taking a picture of his wife with a spring floral display for background. The bright-colored elevator transports you up to the observation tower for a 360° panoramic view of surrounding Jeju Island. Do you have height problems?	I absolutely love the relationship between this begonia and the mossy weathered clay pot. If you're lucky enough to stumble on such a symbiotic relationship, be sure you get some photos. I had to use a little bit of fill flash.	Cacti - great subjects for patterns! Many higher quality point and shoot cameras will focus on the subject a very short distance away. Have an SLR with removable lens? Try a macro lens to get up close and personal!

Deep purple Phalaenopsis blooms - sometimes called Moth Orchids. Natives of south eastern Asia - shade plants living under canopies of moist, humid forests. Sometimes bloom as long as 3 months.	Another Phalaenopsis orchid dressed in gold. Orchids are awesome subjects for your flower photography. If you're lucky enough to grow them, you can set up an indoor studio with a home-made light box - very effective.	Buddhists believe the lotus blossom represents spiritual growth, enlightenment and purity of body, speech and mind. Capture their beauty on camera and appreciate the symbolism they represent.

That finishes the conservatory gardens. Now where to?

1. How about “getting high” in the observation tower? A must-do for a breathtaking 360° view of the outside gardens and the surrounding popular Jeju Island resort.

2. And cruise the craft stalls in the middle hall for unique ceramics and jewelry fashioned by local Jeju Island artisans. Much of the jewelry is flower-inspired.

3. Floral displays change seasonally in the middle hall.

• Exhibition of Jeju Island Native Plants early March to mid April
• Exhibition of Spring Blossoms mid April & May
• Exhibition of Foliage Plants late July to mid August
• Chrysanthemum Exhibition late October to mid November
• Special Christmas and Year End Exhibition mid December to mid January

This creature is smaller than my little finger! First, I thought it was a wee hummingbird with the tiny fanning wings, but it looked like a moth. I was sitting on a bench beside a garden in the middle hall when it appeared.	Having just arrived and about to prepare my cameras, this was a complete surprise. I set into a flurry of putting lens to camera and setting up to catch the little fella on camera. He stuck around a few minutes for me.	Through my close-up lens he was so intriguing! Not a hummingbird, no long skinny beak to poke into a flower. Instead a very long thread-like device that he delicately manipulated and got his share of nectar. Fantastic!

Finished in the conservatory? Make your way outside...

• The Outdoor Gardens at Yeomiji Botanical Garden

There are 4 cultural gardens and several theme parks to occupy your camera.

1. The Palm Garden is across from the hydrangea walk.

2. The Children's Garden is a tiered, circular, sunken garden with a large topiary “duck” sitting smack in the middle.

3. Symmetry is the rule in the classic French Garden. Well manicured hedges and roses bushes, a central fountain... and a direct view of the Italian fountain. It's crucial to line everything up straight before you snap - nothing leaning -- you must use a tripod!

4. You really do get the feeling you're in Europe because right next door is the Italian Garden. The gigantic teacup-shaped fountain is a replica of the Fountain Obata near Rome.

5. Yeomiji Botanical Garden is dedicated to conserving the Jeju Island endemic plants and their endangered species. Visit the Cheju Native Plants Garden to see how well they're doing.

6. The Lawn Garden is at the rear of the conservatory. Mostly grass but there's a topiary peacock with flowering tail feathers, ornamental trees and some basalt sculptures. There's some nice landscape photography to be had here.

7. The traditional Korean Garden has a colorful Korean pavillion and water lily pond with native flowering shrubs.

8. The Japanese Garden has several varieties of stunning irises. Hydrangeas, trees and shrubs frame the red half-moon bridge over the pond.

9. I spend a lot of time photographing the perennial garden beside the Japanese Garden. Include the basalt rocks in your photos to show the volcanic origin of the island.

Photo Gallery - Outdoor Gardens

	The cheerful little train regularly chugs through the garden. It stops inside the front gate at the garden entrance. Take a ride and get your bearings. It takes about 15 minutes and you can scope out the areas you want to photograph.
	There's a perennial garden near the entrance to the right of the restaurant. I enjoy spending time here. You can get garden shots as well as close-ups of individual plants or blossoms. This was a cloudy monsoon day - the colors are deep and strong.
	Colors of spring surrounding a basalt rock carving - a dol hareubang - or “stone grandfather”... a symbol of Jeju Island. They make great garden decorations! I shot this on an angle so there are diagonal lines across the photo.
	More shades of pink and violet dotted with white in the perennial garden. Echinacea is a photogenic flower, especially the bright pink with it's rusty-colored centers. There's a cloud cover on Jeju Island so no blown out highlights.
	Sometimes I get caught up in close shots and have to remind myself that there's a larger picture! Compose your photo so there are diagonal lines or curves to make the photo interesting. Here's some information on composing your shot.
	Late spring and the hydrangeas are in bloom. The hydrangea walk is near the front entrance - a colorful show. There are all shades of deep fushia, blues, light pinks. Lots of cameras focused on them. Hope you get to see them in full bloom.
	Another shot in the perennial garden... the rhody blossoms are vibrant. I like to include basalt rocks in the photos- they're the base of this volcanic island. Here they also “enclose” the horizonal boards in the walk and create an interesting composition.

Before you visit, you should know a little about the South Korean climate - for both your sake and your camera's! The summers are terribly hot and humid and Jeju Island is the warmest and wettest place in Korea.

Fall is the best time to visit as the temperature's warm but humidity and rainfall are down.

March, April and May have a lot of rainfall, but...

...Monsoon begins late June and continues through July. Heavy rains and thick fog can last into August. These torrential rains can really “put a damper” on your photography activities. Take my word for it - being caught in a monsoon deluge is unpleasant - and definitely not healthy for your camera equipment.

Summer is uncomfortably hot and humid, more-so on Jeju Island, so prepare to sweat A LOT! Carry drinking water with you at all times and stay hydrated. Incidentally, never drink the water from the tap in Korea.

(If you decide to visit spring or summer - here are some tips for keeping your photography gear high and dry.)

	At the edge of the Children's Garden there's a field of gold rudbeckia. It's a foggy spring day. The branches of the two trees frame the picture and blot out a white sky. Can you see any other compositional rules I used in this picture? Hint - Rule of Thirds
	This is the area to the right side of the above photo! The Children's garden is a circular sunken garden. In the center of is a topiary duck that reminds me of Donald Duck! The curved lines provide movement and some perspective.
	Fountain Obata is a replica of the real 15th century fountain near Rome. I love to sit near the water and listen to it spilling over into the pool. By the time I've made my way here, I'm tired. The sound of the splashing water “recharges my batteries”.
	True to traditional French garden form, symmetry reigns supreme. When I arrived, there was heavy fog but it lifted and the dampness gave the foliage a rich deep green color. A lovely peaceful atmosphere in this garden. Great lines for photos.
	Standing in the middle of the small pavillion, using the two columns as a frame for the picture. Your eye is drawn to the Italian Garden because of the triangular lines of the walk. The fountain completes the peak of the triangle. Use a tripod!
	Japanese gardens sometimes integrate highly arched moon bridges. This is a strolling garden designed for slow, relaxing walks. Across the bridge is a dry landscape garden - incorporating raked sand, stone, moss - simple and calming.

Traditional Korean gardens aren't overly “designed” and formal like Western gardens. Rather, they merge with nature. They're simple with trees and water features -- ponds, streams or rivers, possibly waterfalls.	The Lawn Garden backs against the conservatory. There are usually families relaxing on the lawn, perhaps looking at the topiary characters. A Red Horse Chestnut frames a sculpture and covers the boring monsoon sky .	I did a double-take in the Palm Garden! Couldn't find a tag to get the name of the small aster-like flowers growing on the trunk. They've formed a symbiotic relationship and I need an interpreter next visit to ask about it. Cool!

You saw this same scene in a picture above but it was horizontal. This is the perennial garden with a large basalt rock on the right. Shoot different angles of your scene in addition to both horizontal and portrait views.	This low growing plant has small, trumpet- shaped flowers. The overcast sky creates a diffuse light. So there are no harsh shadows and the colors appear much more intense than if the sun was shining bright on them.	The late spring perennial garden is in bloom. Behind, you see the conservatory - across the road . I had to use a tripod in this photo to make sure the greenhouse was standing straight and tall! Not a leaning tower of Pisa!

A Little Jeju Island Trivia...

• It used to be called “Quelpart” after a Dutch ship that accidentally sighted it. The ship was blown off course on its way from Taiwan to a Dutch trading base in Japan.

• After the Japanese annexation in 1910, it was called “Saishû” - Japanese for Jeju. If you're researching this fascinating island, you might find it as “Cheju-do” if the information was published before 2000. (In Korean, “do” means island.)

• You think Hawaii's got it all? Well Jeju-do's also a volcanic island “extraordinaire”. Come and see the cool botanical life here! As a matter of fact, Jeju Island is nicknamed the Hawaii of Asia.

• There's a neat kind of wetland on Jeju-do called Gotjawal Forest. Surprising that today any place in the world is free from human's messing about with it... but here it is folks! Totally undisturbed in the island's entire history. Can't you just picture the scientists drooling over it?

• But, aside from botanical wonders, Jeju Island is known for numerous other things - like its stone gods of fertility and protection… the adorable stone grandfathers or “dol hareubang”. These little fellas, about 3 meters high, are carved from basalt -- that's volcanic rock. They've got ear-to-ear grins, bulging eyes, mushroomy caps... talk about a phallic symbol!...

...I sure had a chuckle the first time I saw them.

• Ah yes! Amazingly, there's no Starbucks to be found on my island paradise! At least, not to date. But that's not to say there aren't a fair share of cafés and 5 star hotel alternatives. Don't worry cuz you'll still be able to get your daily caffeine fix, no problem.

• Say what? Golf? You got it!... 24 major golf courses. If you, or someone close to you, is a golf freak -- you're heading to the right place. Tee off on Jeju Island. And get this. You can golf here all year round with the mild climate.

There's much more information about Jeju Island right here.

And I can give you “insider information” about the best flower and garden photography sites on Jeju Island. Feel free to contact me.

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