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Songgwangsa
Temple, Korea
In Songgwangsa Temple, it is not permitted to photograph
the faces of the monks. I didn't know why, and I was a
bit disappointed, as I was on assignment to photograph
the monks and their temple. Soon after I arrived, I spoke
with a senior monk for more than an hour and discovered
the reason for this rule.
Many people come to this temple hoping to use the monks
as their photographic subjects, spending too much energy
studying the residents of the temple instead of enjoying
the peace of its surroundings. This severely disturbs
those who have come to live here within that aura of peace
and solitude.
This became easy to understand and respect as I spent
more time there, and I took no photos that include the
faces of the residents. As it turned out, I found that
what attracted me most wasn't the monks, but the amazingly
beautiful light at sunset, and the colors it brought out.
The monks had a very graceful ease about them when they
walked to their evening ceremonies. I was able to feel
and share their sense of peace and contemplation as I
watched them walking . . . their colorful gowns swaying
gently in the evening breeze as they passed.
After a long moment, letting my mind drift, I picked up
my camera and snapped as many shots as possible, knowing
that the late afternoon light would be gone soon, and
the brilliant colors would mute themselves again as the
day passed.
I didn't capture any of the monk's faces while I was there,
but I learned that the face is not where the spirit resides
on this mountain. |
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