Dajoeng Choi / reaction essay 2 / thur 34

Review of Two Owe-inspiring Photographs                I like photograph because it tells a story with one shot of picture – simple and implicative. So it is very fun to watch how people response to one same photo. In some photographs, the meaning is so clear that can exactly deliver what the photographer purposed, while others can be interpreted into lots of different versions. We have two photos here.              The first photo is seen as a romantic photograph of a couple standing hillside. They are admiring the suspension bridge seemed endless. Because of the dense fog, the bottom of bridge cannot be seen, but this fog creates very dreamy atmosphere in the picture. The couple in the foreground of the photograph keeps attracting my eyes. The man is hugging his lover behind her back and the woman is also grapping his hand. Maybe that bridge is a famous construction that they traveled to here to capture this stunning scenery. If not, a story spontaneously came into my head, which is they were first met here while climbing the mountain, and they visited here again to celebrate their anniversary on the same spot. Isn't it such a romantic and sweet story? Whatever the reason is, at this moment, they may feel as they are the only couple in the whole world.              The other photo shows a beautiful waterfall. You can see a cruise ship is sailing into the waterfall. I've been heard about this tourism product that a cruise sailing across between the waterfall and cliff so that tourists can feel as the huge amount of water straightly coming down above their head. Maybe this is that one. The cruise is carrying as people as possible at once and slowly heading to the grand waterfall. The spray from the waterfall indicates how massive the waterfall is and how fast the falling speed. If I'm one of the people in the cruise, my heart would throb with fright and fear while my head continuously thinking about what' going to happen after a while. But still I think that's something I've got to try.              Both photograph has famous landscape in it and also has people who are admiring it. So I assume that these two photos are attached from a travel brochure. The target of each attraction is different. The first one target couples who want to have their private time away from the crowding city, while young people who crave adventures are the key marketing target of the other one. Also, the grand bridge in the first photo shows the greatness of human, while the other photo let us see the amazing view of what the nature has made.              In conclusion, we have seen the two owe-inspiring photographs. I thought of very different stories while looking these two photos. Overall, the one with the bridge gave me romantic and impressive and the one with the waterfall attracted me with the nature-made stunning view. If those places are actually famous tourist attractions, I really want to visit. The first one with my future lover, and the other one with my fearless friends.

Siho Yang/ reaction essay2/ Thu 11~1

Have you ever been to places where we can feel a magnitude of nature? There are many amazing places showing grand nature such as the Grand canyon and Niagara Falls. When we stand there, fronting the nature, we feel that human beings are so weak and small compared to nature. Here these two photographs show this well. Although they are different in many factors, they both present the clear comparison between nature and human and also they both have a mysterious atmosphere.

 

 The first photograph with a big bridge doesn't seem like a picture. It is more like a painting in imagination. Almost half of the photograph is filled with the sky. Since there is a small amount of cloud, the sky looks simple. At the middle is a big bridge with two high towers connected with a kind of ropes. We can guess how far the distance between two towers is and how huge the bridge is by looking at the size difference between two towers. Under the bridge is full of fogs that almost make it impossible to see the floor of the bridge. Besides the bridge, there are silhouettes of two people – a man and a woman. They are standing there with their backs to fogs behind. This helps us see their shape clearly because of light comparison.

 

 Now let's look at the second photograph. It is divided into two – upper part and down part. The upper part is all about a big fall. We can see that water is falling down with tremendous speed and this makes some fogs around there. At the down part, there is a cruise full of people in it. They seem like being amazed by a huge waterfall. The cruise looks so small compared to the waterfall. This comparison makes us think about what human beings can do in front of the nature. The power of nature is so big that it seems there is nothing we can do. This kind of thought provides an opportunity to learn about being modest.

 

 Two photographs are focusing on different subjects – a bridge and a waterfall – but they are similar in that they tell us about the relationship between human and nature. The first one shows what human can do by posing the big bridge at the very middle of the photograph. The bridge here is sort of a symbol of human civilization. However, in the second photograph, humans look so helpless facing a massive waterfall which symbolizes the nature. The fogs in both photographs are playing a role that make these comparisons stand out as much as possible.

 

 There are various opinions about human and nature. Some think humans can do almost everything and even control the nature. Meanwhile, others think humans are just small creatures that are easily destroyed by even a tiny movement of nature. Each is depicted in two photographs using many effects such as light, size, and position. In spite of the differences, both pictures bring us to think about what human beings are in the enormous nature.

Nam Alexander/the last assignment/Two Pictures/thursday

Photo Instead of Imagination

Many decades ago human beings had to have a good imagination and beautiful words in their notes in order to feel surrounding people and environment. But today just having a look at the photo can make you feel that things. There are two good photos can play a role of the perfect examples of that fact.

The first picture which I would like to call "calmness" shows two people who are in love. I think this picture expresses their sincere feelings toward each other through the calm and quiet atmosphere which shows that they are confident in each other's truly love where there is no place for the doubts and restless emotions in comparison with a lumpy sea. The foggy bridge creates an atmosphere of the lovely relaxation. The two persons are not clearly shown to make feeling that anyone who watch it could imagine that he or she may stand there and feel the gooseflesh and warm of love.

Another picture, which I would like to call "restless" is a totally different situation. The guide ship which is full of the people who are like the fish in the tin looks very tiny in front of the powerful and fearless waterfall. The people like an ancient Greek slaves who came to get forgiveness from the god of the water. But the boiling up and fuming water which drops like the mass of the stones shows god's dissatisfaction.

The both pictures show the wonderful scenes. The "calmness" shows the quiet and warm atmosphere which makes feel relaxed and calm about the surroundings. It also shows the harmony and true love between the couple where the nature is also harmonized with them. But the opposite feelings are experienced by having a look at the "restless" picture. This picture creates a boiling up and the feelings of indignation. It shows not the harmony but the recognition by the human beings, that despite the fact of the high technological achievements we are still the slaves of the nature.

So many decades ago we had to have a perfect imagination of the places which are difficult to get, but today the photos give us a chance to experience the atmosphere of any place even if we cannot get there. By looking at the photo we are able not just imagine but we can to feel what it expresses.   

Dasom Yoo/reaction essay2/Thur34

Atmospheres Created in Two Photographs   Every photograph has its own atmosphere. They are very various, some photographs contain mood of peace, while others have vigorous mood. Here are two photographs with different atmosphere. One is about a couple looking at the bridge. The other one is photograph of a foggy waterfall and a boat approaching it.   In the first photograph, you see a Golden Gate bridge at the background. And there is a couple looking at the bridge in the foreground. The gap between these two is filled up with fog between. It looks like they are blocked by the fog. But they are not trying to cross the bridge but just standing still by the river. Also there is no light, so it is difficult to see the faces of couple clearly. It makes us hard to read their feelings. And it creates atmosphere of stillness and silence.   You can see a boat carrying hundreds of people heading toward the waterfall. People on the boat are so small that it looks like they are ants. They look like that since the photograph was taken above the boat. The current of water under the boat seems active and dynamic because the waves are breaking and forming white foam. Also the waterfall plays an important role of creating magnificent atmosphere. And the boat toward the waterfall creates scene like as if it is confronting the nature.   When you look at both photographs you can find something in common. It is the fog and people. But this fog creates different mood in two photographs. The fog in the first photographs adds sense of darkness to the scene. It is so dense that it covers most of the road of bridge.  You cannot tell how many cars are there or what is happening there. But the fog in other photograph creates mysteriousness and lighter mood. You can see through the fog in some degree. And you know what is behind the fog. But it is still covering some part of waterfall and makes people have expectation.   Two photographs have similar background because they both have fog. But the moods you can sense in these photographs are totally distinct to each other. In one we feel stillness and silence. Also you sense solitude by watching how the couple is standing. The other one is more active, dynamic and also looks risky. They show different moods, but they both have atmospheres that draw people's attention.

Lee, Shin Hye/ Reaction Essay 2/ Thurs 3-4

Most people love to take photographs, and they do not think that taking photographs is not that difficult. Then, what about appreciating photograph? Because a lot of people consider photograph as a kind of art, they think of it as a hard and difficult to understand in detail. However, it is not true. Although we are not experts on photographs, we are able to understand and appreciate photos in our own ways. There are three things to consider when we would like to analyze a photograph: foreground, background and an overall atmosphere.

 Here are two pictures. One photograph is about Golden Bridge, and the other one is about a huge waterfall. First of all, if we have a look at foreground of those two pictures, we can easily find similar and different elements that two photographs contain. On the first picture, there are two people and they look like a couple. There are no other people or elements. And the foreground of the first picture is illustrated as black, so we cannot find more details. On the other hand, we can find a huge cruse with a lot of tourists inside in the foreground of the second picture. Even both of two pictures were taken at riverside or seaside, because of different foreground element, the different atmosphere comes out.

 Next, we need to look up the background of two pictures. One picture has a huge Golden Bridge on its background part, and the other one has a huge waterfall on the background. Even the topics of two pictures are different, they contain a similarity. For example, the background elements-Golden Bridge and waterfall-are fading away. On the right side of both photos, we cannot see the object clearly, which techniques create more dreamlike and mysterious atmosphere. Of course, both pictures have difference in their background; briefly speaking, the trait of Golden Bridge picture can be illustrated as "emptiness", rather that of the picture of waterfall can be said as "solidity." There is no special thing except for sky in the Golden Bridge picture, but in the waterfall picture, we can find no empty room inside of the photograph.

 Lastly, when we want to appreciate or compare two photographs, we need to focus on their overall atmospheres. Because there are few elements including the main object, the Golden Bridge, that photograph creates really calm and silent atmosphere. And a rain-fog around the bridge enhances that peaceful atmosphere. However, in the waterfall photograph, the atmosphere is not calm or peaceful; rather it is really active, powerful and strong. Although the second photograph also contains a water-fog which comes from a huge waterfall, the feeling it gives is totally different from that of the picture of the Golden Bridge. The reason seems to be both two pictures have different foreground and background elements, which finally create the overall atmosphere of each photograph.

 

 To sum up, three parts that we need to consider when we appreciate or compare pictures are mentioned: foreground, background and overall atmosphere. Because we are not experts who professionally criticize or compare photographs, we do not have to afraid from worries from misunderstanding. There is no exact answer in photograph. The photograph, like the photographs we have taken so far, is just a halted moment which captured certain scenery or someone's memory.     

Lee Jae Ryoung / Reaction Essay 2 / Thursday 3,4

Wonderful Scenery in Two Photographs

 

There is a saying that a photograph is an art that makes one moment lasts forever. As a member of the photography club of our school, I'm definitely sure that there is something attractive about photographs. Not only they remain forever so we can recall our memories, but also they contain messages from photographers. The fact that they are taken for some reason is intriguing enough to draw our attention. There are two interesting photographs here; one picture of a bridge and the other one showing a ship and waterfall. In both pictures, the subjects and the landscapes display particular moods and convey certain emotions.

 

In the first picture, there are two people in the front. One is tall and the other one is relatively short. The tall person seems to be a man wearing suit. On the other hand, shorter person seems to be a woman with curly hair and wearing long dress. They look like lovers or married couple since they are so close to each other. In fact, it seems like the man is embracing his lover from the back. Also, it looks like they are looking at the scenery of bridge and sky. In the background, we can see the cloudy sky and the mountain. The mountain is so much in the distance that we can barely recognize it. In the center, there is a bridge which seems to get smaller as it goes on. Below it, there is a river full of fogs which look like white clouds. The fogs rolling in the river is covering some parts of the bridge. The cloudy sky and the fogs make the mood of this photograph mysterious and somewhat romantic.

 

The second picture depicts a wild river with a strong current. In the background, there is a magnificent waterfall which extend to a wide river. It's scary to see a tremendous amount of water falling from the top of a cliff. It is truly overwhelming and let us feel the greatness of nature. Also, the fog is formed in front of the waterfall and it definitely makes us feel cool as if we are actually sensing it. On the left of this picture there are some huge rocks which look very dangerous. In the upper left corner, there are roads, hills, and some trees. Beneath the waterfall, a cruise ship is floating on the river. It is full of people looking like tourists who came to see the waterfall. There seem to be so many people that it's hard to count all of them. We cannot see their faces but we can guess that they are excited and amazed.

 

Both photographs depict people and landscapes. The first one shows exactly two people while there are countless number of people in the other one. Also, the moods that each landscape gives is different. In the first photograph, thick fog, deep sky, and clouds create soft, mysterious, and calm atmosphere. The foggy river and cloudy sky are in a good harmony together and the couple standing close together makes the mood more romantic. On the other hand, the second picture shows more active and dramatic mood. The water falling from the cliff and the river waving harshly are full of activeness and thrill. Also, this picture gives exciting but dangerous atmosphere because the people in a ship may be excited to see the great waterfall but there's danger that they may be swept away in the rapids.

 

In conclusion, the first picture of a bridge and the second picture of a waterfall display different moods by capturing particular landscapes and individuals. In the first photograph, the mood is calm and mysterious with misty background. The grandeur of nature gives cool and dynamic atmosphere in the second photograph. The nature and human in these pictures are represented in a certain way to create special moods and give the viewer great impressions.

Seung Ah Lee/ Reaction Essay 2/ Thur 34

Lives Seen through the Lenses of Camera

      Photography is a wonderful form of art. I am often amazed by what camera lenses can do thinking about the pictures they produce. Especially in pictures of nature, I cannot help but wonder how difficult it must have been to capture the very moment. It is not an easy job for a photographer to express feelings with the subjects that are not human. The two pictures here draw the viewers' attention, both delivering different moods in a vivid manner. One is "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge" and the other one is "A Ship toward the Waterfall."

      First aspect of I would like to discuss is the fog. When you give a quick look at the pictures, you can probably see foggy background fairly easily. It takes up a great part of the whole picture. In both photographs, a wet fog seems to be distracting because it is covering the main subjects. It creates an atmosphere of obscure and blurry scene. If you take a close to into the photographs, you can tell the difference in fog. In "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge," the fog over the wise river is thick and spread widely all over the surface of the river. On the other hand, in "A Ship toward the Waterfall," spray rose up from the water fall. While the fog on the left photograph is calm and still, that on the right photograph seem tough and scattered sporadically. The water spray created by the fierce waterfall in the right picture creates overwhelming and threatening mood. Unlike the furious one there, a wet fog in the left photograph creates tranquil and settled setting for a couple to enjoy the beautiful view. Although the two photographs both have a fog, its effects in them are contrasting.

      Another feature I compare between the two is the main subject. In "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge," the huge bridge over the river and a couple seem to the main focus. Considering the pose, body shape, and clothing, the couple looks like they are over 40 or 50. The man is giving a back hug to the woman. It looks like the woman is gently covering the man's hands around her waist. Their bodies that are facing to the same direction lead our eyes toward the big bridge that are crossing horizontally through the photograph. Cloudy sky and a long path through the bridge imply the difficulties in life. Yet, when together like the couple in the photograph, everything will be alright and difficulties can be overcome. In "A Ship toward the Waterfall," in contrast, a huge ship filled with thousands of people is heading toward the waterfall. By the size, the ship is incomparable to the waterfall. Here, we can feel the overwhelming natural scenery. Even if there are a huge number of people boarded together, there is no way they can fight against the nature. In a ferocious water wave, however, the ship is still sailing rigorously as opposed to the possible threat. The picture represents a tough life in that people have to go through a lot of unexpected obstacles in life as if the journey of sailing here.

      Two photographs- "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge" and "A Ship toward the Waterfall" where a wet fog is commonly captured display different moods in their own styles. The former one gives an impression of calm and settled life of a couple with no worries whereas the latter depicts how people, in front of the nature is weak creatures. The nature and human beings are harmonized in distinctive ways to create certain moods and impress the viewers through the lenses of camera. 

Jimin Baik/ 11th Assignment/ Comparing two pictures on page 173/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jimin Baik/ 11th Assignment/ Comparing two pictures on page 173/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   Two contrastive photos on river        There are many pictures about the river, but there would be few of them that show definite contrast in atmosphere like these two pictures on page one hundred and seventy-three. Two pictures in the book both depict a river, but in a very different way. There are three major differences between two photos: the backgrounds, the grounds, and the people.        First of all, although the backgrounds of both pictures are foggy, the first one is calmer, while the second one is more active. In the background of the first picture, there is a bridge. Above the bridge, there is a foggy sky with some white clouds. Below the bridge, there is a misty river which looks very soft like cloud candy. The fog from the river, like a misty effect on a stage, is making some parts of the bridge invisible, creating a romantic atmosphere. Overall, the foggy sky with clouds and foggy river are making a harmony together to create a soft, romantic, calm, and peaceful feeling. On the other hand, in the background of the second photo, there is a marvelous river fall. The fog is being formed because of the waterfall, but it is wilder type of fog than the previous one. A quite amount of water is falling from the top to the bottom of the cliff, giving the picture more active and spectacular atmosphere.   Also, while the ground of the first photo seems safer, that of the second one looks more dynamic. In the first photo, on the periphery, there is a plain ground with some grass, but no trees or rocks. Also, over the bridge, there is a plain ground. The fact that the ground of the picture is a plain without big obstacles such as rocks and trees creates a safe and tranquil mood. However, in the second picture, the ground is a violent river. On the left of the photo, there are also some big rocks. Behind the rocks, there is a giant cliff, and over that, there is a mountain with trees. In other words, the ground of the picture is in a mountain, and it is fast-moving water with some seemingly dangerous rocks, rather than a solid plain field. This makes the photo look more exciting and a bit more dangerous but thrilling.   Last but not least, compared to the number of the people in the first photo, there are a way more people in the second picture. In the first picture, there are only two people. Considering their height and contour, the taller shadow is man, while the shorter one is woman. The man is wearing his suit, while the woman with short curly hair is wearing long skirt. They look like that they are lovers, from the fact that they are standing so close to each other. With the romantic background, they seem like they are enjoying their date. On the contrary, in the second photo, there is a cruise, and it is full of people. They look like they are tourists who came to see the great waterfall. There are so many people that even the exact number of people is unclear. They create excited atmosphere.   To sum up, although both pictures are about river, the atmosphere is totally different because of the three factors. First, while the background of the first picture is more romantic and calm, that of the second picture is more rough and active. Next, compared to the safe plain field of the first photo, there is a violent river at the bottom of the second photo. Lastly, there is a pair of lovers in the first photo, while there are so many tourists in the second photo. Although both of these two photos are about river, two pictures give the viewers completely different feelings.

Seung Ah Lee/ Reaction Essay/ Thur 34

Children in Two Different Photographs

     Photography has its own specialty as it is a way of expressing the world in tremendous number of different styles. Depending on the photographer, light, angle and place where it the picture was taken, the picture can be interpreted in a variety of ways. On top of all, what accounts most for the intent of the message would be the subject of the picture. Among many subjects, children can be the most preferred subject with their honesty and diversity in facial expressions and body movements. Here are two examples of photographs to the point: "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White and "Children's Puppet Theatre" by Alfred Eisenstadt. Children in these two are depicted in disparate ways. 

     In "Village School", about a dozen of male students are seated in rows in long wooden benches that do not look comfortable. They are in a confined room without any furniture or decorations on the wall. The faces of children are highlighted with lights on them. As most boys have standardized, short hair with lighted pale faces, they are like light bulbs. Their faces are still with no expressions. They look rather rigid and determined while some are even frowning. They look as if they were bothered by something, looking comfortable. Except one boy on a second row and another on the left column, everyone else is looking at the same directly, which is to the direction of the photographer. The majority of the children are wearing dark and thick clothes which seem quite formal for young school kids. Although there are inside, they have their outer jackets on. Also, they are quite distance from each other. Even though it is a still shot, they show no movements.

     In contrast to Bourke-White's photograph, a photography taken by Alfred Eisenstadt depict children in both genders. Boys and girls are in an open place during a daytime. Puppet Theater must be located outdoors. Two-third of the photograph is filled with children with five prominent faces in the foreground. Almost all of the children look extremely surprised but they facial expressions and movements all differ. One girl on the right bottom corner is leaning against the girl next to her horrified. The girl on the left put her left arm around the horrified girl's neck. The girl with long hair in the middle in the front row has her mouth widely opened unconsciously making her fingers awkwardly. The boy on the left corner at the front is wearing a gentleman like suit with a hat. He is trying to close his ears with his two hands as tightly as possible. The other boy at the centered stands out because is on top of other children. He must have stepped on something to get closer to the stage. He is screaming and has his right hand holding straight toward the front. Children at the back look equally surprised, thrilled, or scared. They all seem focused with what is going on in front of their sight. Back of the photograph is de-focused but seem to be packed with a lot of people. 

     In "Village School," children are not quite children. It gives the viewers a change to glimpse at the history or culture of Russia back in early 1900s. The photographer included the picture in her book "Eyes on Russia." It shows that Bourke-White wanted to express the rigid, strict and inflexible Russian society through children. Children are supposed to by childlike, displaying their feelings however and whenever they want. Children in "Village School," however, can be seen somewhat too controlled under certain regulations or ruler either by the person in the classroom or by the society. On the other hand, children in "Children's Puppet Theatre" are just like typical kids with free, apparent emotions on their faces. Children are fully engrossed in the puppet performance and they, under nobody's control, are releasing their feelings in a free manner. They are astonished or horrified and they feelings are directly reflected in their faces and postures. Unlike school boys, children are compacted, leaning and touching each other. It implies that children are just the way they are supposed to be. It creates, therefore, the image of freedom and energy in their lives. 

     Despite the differenced in both photographs are dealing with children as subject. Yet, they are very different in the mood. In the former one, we can feel the rigidity, tranquility and formality. They way children are seated or arranged gives a sense of separation. Also, sheer contrast between the background and the children's faces that are lighted. In the latter photograph, we feel vivacity, dramatic and extreme expressions. Such distinguished ways children are captured determine the different moods in these two photographs.

Seongyool Myung / Thu 34 / reaction essay

Our lives in photos

 

Writers send their message through their writings to their readers. Directors display what they want to say by showing their movies. Photographers deliver their message with photos. So each photo has a meaning. Not a single photo was taken with no reason, even though people who see the photo will get to have different opinion. My opinion about these two pictures, one with a bridge and the other with a ship is that they make me think about what life is. And by comparing these two, we can find out how life goes on.

 

First, let's see what's in these two pictures. I want to describe the right one with a ship first. This photo shows a ship sailing by a waterfall which puts out strong waves. It seems a bit risky to go near the waterfall even though it's a big ship with many people on it. The overall atmosphere of the picture is quite dynamic, and part of it is even mysterious because of the fog made by the water. In contrast, people will feel calm when seeing the photo on the left. The bridge crosses the whole view. The fog under the bridge also creates a mysterious atmosphere and it seems like a couple of people are looking at the bridge. The sky is also quite and tranquil.

 

So I thought that the photo on the right describes how our lives are when we are at young age. When we're young, we tend to take more risks when it seems quite unreasonable. The people near us sometimes make us do something since they are with us. So for the risks we take, our lives at young age are more like an adventure. And the dynamic adventure makes us challenge to do things even if they're unclear and mysterious.

 

Different from that, the photo on the left gives me the idea of our lives when we get old enough to look back what we've gone through. The bridge is the path we took so far, with which we have clear memories. But under it there is a fog, so we just can recall vague memories. But not with many people but with just one life partner we can talk about it without anger, rage or sadness, because it's all behind the past.

 

I don't know what kind of opinions would other people have comparing these two pictures. And for me, this brings me the meaning of life. Although life is said with various other words, we often forget the words and the wisdom from them. Today I once again thought about what life is, thanks to the two photos.

Lee Jae Ryoung / Revised Reaction Essay / Thursday 11:00-13:00













(Revised)

 

Being a Satisfying Vacation Planner

 

To me, vacation has always been like freedom since I was in elementary school, but also an anxiety. The reason is that I feel very happy when the vacation starts but then I begin to worry about how I'm going to spend the vacation wisely. I don't want to waste my precious time just doing nothing but sleeping and eating. I think it is the wonderful opportunity when we can take enough rest and do whatever we wanted to do but had not enough time to do it. As a college student, I believe there are three ways to spend satisfying vacation for students like me: studying, going abroad, and doing volunteer work.

 

First option is studying. We can't only think about having fun during vacation. College students need to prepare for their career, their future and vacation is the excellent time to do it. We may study subjects that we are not good at but are necessary for our future career. For instance, I need to master economics to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade but I'm especially weak in this subject. Therefore, I'm planning to study it during upcoming summer vacation by reading books and news papers. Moreover, we can review what we learned in last semester or study the subjects that we like or want to learn. For example, history has always been my favorite subject but I had not really studied it after I graduated high school. I decided to start studying it and I'm planning to take a Korean history exam in August. Studying hard during vacation may sound boring. However, it's a good way to gain new knowledge and spend time profitably.

 

Next thing we can do during vacation is going abroad. We may go abroad to study in foreign schools or to just travel. I prefer to travel rather than to study abroad. Instead of just moving around within our country, I think it's better to go outside of the country. It's good to go with our family or friends or just alone. Last winter vacation, I went to Turkey, Greece, and Italy with my grandmother and some of my church members. I stayed in these countries for 11 days. Although the weather was cold, I had a really great time. It was my first time going to Europe. I especially liked Italy, since my first major is Italian, and more specifically, I really liked Firenze. I loved the streets, the medieval buildings, the elegant ambience, and the gentility of the city. I still think of that time and smile through the photos that I took. I believe overseas travel will be a valuable experience to know about other countries and their cultures. There's no doubt that it's better to actually go overseas than to just read books about foreign countries.

 

Finally, doing volunteer work is recommended during vacation. It's not easy to do such thing during semester because we are busy going to school, doing assignments, and studying for exams. I think doing volunteer works during vacation is a refreshing and new experience. Through this, we can learn about taking responsibility and joy of helping others and sharing feelings with others. In fact, many students, including not only college students but also middle school and high school students, do volunteer works during vacation these days. I also have a special volunteering experience. When I was in high school, my friend and I visited the school for the disabled and did volunteering work which was teaching English and math to disabled kids. At first, I felt awkward and uncomfortable but as I talked more and spent more time with them, I realized that they were not different from others. Even though they couldn't speak well or move freely, they thought and felt like everybody else. We become good friends and we still keep in touch with each other. Consequently, doing volunteer activities is a fine way to help others and learn to build relationship with them. In this way, we can even look back at ourselves.

 

In conclusion, to spend a fulfilling vacation, it's good to study fields that we are not good at or things that we like. Going abroad during vacation is another way and moreover, performing volunteer works can be a great vacation plan. We should not waste our vacation time when we can recharge ourselves and enjoy new experiences. It's a fascinating chance to do what you really want to do so we shouldn't let the time slide by, doing nothing. I hope all of you plan a meaningful summer vacation which is only a month away.

 

 

Lee Shinhye/ reaction essay/ thurs 3-4

Although people in these days prefer to use iPhone camera instead of bringing a big and heavy one, it is unchangeable truth that people want to capture their daily lives in photographs. So, there is no exaggeration that photograph is still everlasting a work of art, furthermore people who love artistic photographs enjoy to compare several images which contain similar subject or interesting points to compare. Here are two photographs of similar subject: children. First photograph is "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White, and the other one is "Children's Puppet Theater" by Alfred Eisentadt. Both images contain similarities and dissimilarities in three criteria: characters, texture and composition, which can bring some specific atmosphere to viewers, as a result.

First of all, as we can find it easily, the main objects of two photographs are boys and girls. So, both images share similarities in terms of main characters. However, at the same time, two images have differences as well. Although the main characters of the two pictures are both children, each composition is little bit different. For example, when you look at "Village School", there is no girl with a long hair rather all boys and girls have very short hair, which create truly monotonous feeling, but girls in another picture have long hair and wear hair-band or scarf, moreover, we can fine one boy is wearing a cute hat, which make a vivid and free atmosphere.

The second point we need to consider is the texture of objects. This texture does not mean the surface of photograph itself. It means the texture of clothes that people in the photographs are wearing or color of furniture, buildings or something in the images. In terms of textures, those two pictures have totally different traits. For example, the overall atmosphere that texture of "Village School" gives is strict,boring and somewhat fearful. Children's clothes are generally all black. On the other hand, as we can find from children's clothes and hats, the texture of those elements are really soft, cozy and warm, and their colors are little bit more bright even though the picture was taken in black-and-white. Of course these elements produce more comfortable atmosphere.

Lastly, the painter of "Village School" chose very strict and strong composition style such as triangular composition. So it makes us think of children's heads as the figure of bowling pins. They are seating on the chairs in perfect order, but this figure creates very strict atmosphere. On the other hand, Alfred Eisentadt, the painter of "Children's Puppet Theater" did not choose an absolute structure. So he captured children's disorder ,in positive meaning, which gives us very exciting expression. For this reason, we can assume each picture's atmosphere and painter's intension with each image's composition.

To sum up, there are many elements that determine the overall mood of photographs, and three parts of those elements, characters, texture of objects and composition were mentioned above. Even those three elements are not the absolute things to create a certain feeling that a photograph expresses, but it is true that we need to focus on those parts at least when we analyze an image or try to understand photographer's intension. However, the most important thing to concern when we analyze photographs is the photograph itself rather than small details and elements.


나의 iPhone에서 보냄

Dajeong Choi / unit 6. reaction essay / thur 34

Emotions in Portrait Photography                Have you ever seen photos in magazines or on the web and wondered how they achieved that look. Portrait photography is the capture of a person, in which the face and expression is predominant. So the focus of this photograph is the person's face, although the entire body and the background may be included. Here are great examples of photograph that capturing facial expression of people mainly. One is "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White and the other one is called "Children's Puppet Theatre" by Alfred Eisenstadt.              "Village School" is a photograph that captured children in 1934. Without any background, you can feel the dark atmosphere of that age by this one photo. Children are sitting in the room which is very dark and confined. Seeing that the boy sitting in the end only illuminates by the light, it seems like there's only one window in the right corner of background. Most of the children have no signs of emotion on their faces and this makes the photo solemn and static. The two children in the second row appear confused, not knowing where to direct their gazes. However, the boy in the foreground is only straightly gazing front with a mischievous smile on his face. This arrangement draws our attention to this boy and makes us have a slight feeling of hope in this gloomy room.              "Children's Puppet Theatre" is a photograph of another group of children which were published in 1963. You can see at a glance that this is a very dynamic photo. Children are in the outside and responding to the puppet play in very different ways. It is very funny to observe their faces. One boy has his head in his hands and frowns as if he got shocked, while the girl next to him is screaming with scared face. On the center, one child has his arms raised pointing toward and also screaming with his mouth open. The two boys in the lower right corner are gazing in awe. We can recognize children are all fully concentrating on the play and expressing emotions exactly as they feel.              "Village School" and "Children's Puppet Theatre" both are portrait photograph that captured children as a main focus, but the mood is whole different. Children in the first photograph hardly show their emotions, while children in the second photo released their feeling freely. First one is dark, gloomy and solemn, while the second is bright, fun and loud. So the children, the main character of the photo, determined the overall atmosphere: either movement or stillness. Like this, portrait photography conveys its vision usually by using facial expression of the main figure. Divers emotions can be suggested in one photograph and they play important rule to decide our feeling to it. So if we pay attention to those subtle different signs of emotion to figure out what is the photographer's attention.

Hanul Park / Reaction essays / Thu 11-13

Differences by facial emotions and backgrounds

 

There are two images. Both are depicting children, the same ages. The first photograph is "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White. It is included in her book, Eyes on Russia. Second one is named by "Children`s Puppet Theatre, Paris 1963" by Alfred Eisenstadt. When you look at these photos at first, you can find out the differences between both images. What makes it much more different, and which part of photograph makes the mood so differently?

In the first photograph, it takes a dark room and some children. They are sitting on the table, and each of them has no emotional expressions. They seem to watch somewhere in front of them. Their eyes focused on that point, and it`s compared with the periphery because their faces are much lighter than backgrounds. The situation in the image seems to be strict and quiet. None of them are laughing, talking, and even doing another thing. Their short hairs make its mood tougher, because it symbolizes a discipline between them. We can only feel the sense of strict rules among them.

Next photograph, "Children`s Puppet Theatre", shows children`s face mainly. They seems to enjoy the situation, because their facial emotions is various. Some children are yelling, and other seem to be surprised. One child even covers his ears. As the photo`s title, they`re watching a puppet show and enjoying it. Children wear various clothes, even a hat and hood. In their background, there are filled with children, too. Most of them in area, which is out-focused, are also give concentrations to show, and they seem to be happy, too. Because they`re standing in fields, the periphery is bright. There is no shade in the image.

The main difference between these two photographs is facial emotions of children. In "Village School", no one shows their feelings, so they seem to be dummies with no emotions. Due to their similar appearances, especially hairs and dark-colored clothes, makes its mood heavier, and it is the main reason why we feel closeness in the image. However, in the image "Puppet Theatre", children`s face are fully filled with their emotions. They shows their feelings directly, so it makes the feeling of movement, and finally, the whole photograph seems to be bright and shining. There is another factor making differences between two photographs. It`s the place. In the first image, children are in the dark building, which represents a sense of alienation to outside. But the place of second one is a field, so the children`s faces gain lighter and it makes its mood like their emotions.

These two images show different moods to us. One represents darkness, alienation and heavy moods by showing short-haired children with no emotions in dark building. Another symbolizes enjoyment, pleasure and happiness by taking children who shows their feelings on field. Both photographs depict the same content, children, but it makes absolutely different moods by making a focus different.

Siho Yang/ reaction essay/ Thu 11~1

Children are ingenuous and playful. They are always curious about everything that exists in the world. Also, they are very honest in their feelings. They laugh and smile when they feel happy but when they feel scared or sad, they burst into tears. Even sometimes they walk on eggshells not to be scolded. These two photographs are showing this feature very well. One is taken by Margaret Bourke-White and is named "Village School". The other one is "Children's Puppet Theatre, Paris 1963" taken by Alfred Eisenstadt. Children in these two photographs are different in that they are under different circumstances which make children hide or reveal their emotions.

 

 Let's take a look at "Village School" first. The room is dark and boys are sitting in rows. There is nothing special in there but only simple dark-colored desks. Some of the boys are staring at the photographer maybe because they feel nervous about the stranger or just they were asked to do that for taking that photograph. Most of them look very serious due to rigid facial expressions. However, one boy in the front seems to slightly smile. He might think being a subject of photograph is interesting. Meanwhile, some of other boys are looking at another point. There might be their strict teacher ordering them to stay calm. But all of them have something in common. They hide their emotions and try to be patient. They might think about what to do after school such as playing soccer or eating.

 

 Now, what about "Children's Puppet Theatre"? Children look surprised, excited and funny. The photograph looks bright and clear so that children's faces and actions are well seen. Each child expresses exactly what he or she wants. For example, the boy in the center is pointing his finger up high and screaming. He may be shouting enthusiastically "Go! Go!" for what he is watching now. The girl in front of that boy also seems excited just as much as the boy feels. The girl has her mouth open widely and shakes her left hand which is blurred due to its motion. The boy on the left blocks his ears because the sound is too loud for him. The girl behind that boy is covering her mouth shutting eyes tight in order to not to watch. The children in this photograph do reveal their emotions directly unlike those in the former photograph.

 

 These two photographs are similar in that they both focus on children but very different in many factors. First, the atmosphere of the former one is dark, calm and bit suppressed but in the latter one, it is active, bright and exciting. This is because of the difference in lights and positions of children. Regular rows in the first photograph describe strict and harsh orders, but irregular positions in the second photograph show freedom. Moreover, angle is also a big difference. In the former photograph, it is taken at high angle looking down on children. It seems like the photographer overlooks and monitors on them. On the other hand, the latter one is taken at the children's standing eye level. In my opinion, it is a more friendly approach for children taking at children's height.

 

 Although the topic of both photographs is children but they show different moods of them. In "Village School", children seem to be forced to sit still and not to do anything but in "Children's Puppet Theatre", children have no restriction to express their feelings. The contrast of mood, pressures and freedom, is depicted through children's faces and actions. But it is clear that they are all children who want to run outside and play with their friends.

Hanul Park / Reaction essay / THU 11-13

Similar, but not similar (page 173)

 

Sometimes people are impressed on nature. A photograph, depicting a landscape, sometimes makes us to feel more beautiful than any pictures. These two photographs also depict nature with fog. In first photograph, there is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Next picture takes a landscape nearby the Niagara Falls, which is the biggest fall in North America, and a ship under the waterfall. Each photos uses a wet fog as its matter, however, gives perfectly different feelings to us.

When you look at the photo depict a bridge at first, you may see a magnificent view of bridge crossing it. There are silhouettes of two people in front of the misty bridge, being surrounded by a dense fog. They are standing side by side and watching one side, and black ground is under their feet. Above the bridge, you can see cloudy sky, being dyed gray color. Overall, the photo has an absolute contrast of colors, and it looks like a photo depicting a feeling of silhouettes, not taking an aim to the bridges.

The thing filling up the second photograph is a huge waterfall and lake. Streams falls into lake are showing its powerful energy. Rocks around the falls soar sharply against dynamic streams. The lake is also shaking due to powerful waterfall. And there are many people on a passenger ship, floating above the lake. At a glance, the ship seems to be turned over because of streams. Water in the periphery makes the photo much lighter than first one.

The main point of difference between two photographs is a presence of human. In 'Golden Gate Bridge', humans and their architectures are seen across the nature. Of course, you can see and feel the beauty of scenery, but the bridge, which represents civilization, exceeds it. Features of the sharp tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and humans beneath it symbolize the human being, overcoming the nature. These features are emphasized by the contrast of black and white. However, a photo of waterfall shows the greatness of mighty nature. The ship, symbolized the civilization, and passengers are overwhelmed with grand nature and looks instable, as if the ship capsize soon. And the waterfall looks as an immense wall, cutting off people`s way. Due to these features, it shows human frailty by comparing it with nature.

We can find easily the features of human and nature. One photo represents the great human being, overcoming the mighty nature. Another symbolizes people whom be blocked up by forces of nature. Like this, the two foggy photographs contain differences. In spite of taking similar scenes, photographers` intentions make it much more different.

Dasom Yoo/reaction essay/Thur34

The Mood Created by Two Photographs        When you look at these two photos, you will find something very different. There is also one thing they share together. The first photograph is "Village School" photographed by Margaret Bourke-White. The other one is "Children's Puppet Theatre" photographed by Alfred Eisenstadt. In both photographs, there are children facing toward you. But location and the mood of each photo are contrary to each other.        In "Village School", the place where the photograph was taken is in a room. It is a dark room filled with boys sitting in 4 rows, facing straight ahead. We can feel tense in their faces, and they all look gloomy. Not one of them is smiling in the picture. They are all just sitting straight in some kind of wooden chair. We also sense isolation because they are in a dark room where there is not much light. This isolated lightless room makes the photograph more depressed and blue.        The location where "Children's Puppet Theatre" was taken is outside. The children are outdoor, somewhere open and it is daytime. You can tell by watching the background. There are trees and also you can see the sunlight. It looks like there is enough light to brighten children, and it shows children's face with details and more vividly. It makes the photograph lively. And they show some actions like covering their ears or pointing at something or covering one's mouth.        They each create different mood in the photographs, but they have one thing in common. They focus on children, to be more specific they focus on their emotions. In "Village School", all young boys look like they do not feel joy at all. They are sitting still leaving space to one another. They look down like tensed, rigid, and stiff.  In "Children's Puppet Theatre", you can see a lot of children with various emotions. They each express in different ways when watching the puppet show. Some looks like they are shocked or surprised, and some are screaming at the puppet show. This photograph contains more emotion than the former.        The moods that two photographs create are distinct from each other. One is dark, still, and stiff. You can tell by its place, the children's face, and position how children are seated. The other is bright, active, and energetic. You know by looking at the light shining in the background, emotion of children's face, and how they are gathered together. Like these they have differences but still they have one thing in common. Both have same main focus, and they are the children and their emotions.

Cho, Hyun / Reaction Essay / Thurs34

          

 

           Two photos, “Village School” and “Children’s Puppet Theatre”, arouse dramatically contrasted feeling for viewers in several aspects. Differences can be mainly summarized as three factors : postures, facial expressions, and backgrounds.

 

           First of all, viewers can easily notice the huge difference on postures that children from separated photos take. In “Village School”, children are displayed in substantially organized manner. They are neatly seated on chair with their back straight, directly facing the front. No exception can be found for this common posture, reminding viewers of sense of order. In contrast with the mentioned photo, the characters of “Children’s Puppet Theatre” are all bunched together. Each individuals of the photo takes different action: screaming, curiously watching, covering years and so on. Unlike boys in the first photo seats orderly and quietly heads for front, the children of “Puppet Theatre” messily stand and watch over something in enthusiastic manner.

 

           Second, facial expressions presented in the former photo look greatly contrasting against the latter. The boys in “Village School” look restricted by unknown reasons, and hardly reveal their emotions through their faces. However, the boys and girls enjoying puppet theatre are fully displaying their personalities, as if proving that all of them have unique emotions distinguished with others. They are fully expressive and not hesitate to react on play which is shown in front of their eyes.

 

           Lastly, backgrounds are the one of the main reasons, which are responsible for provoking entirely compared feeling for viewers of photos. The background of “Village School” is dark and confined space, which arouse tranquil and ordered atmosphere. At the same time viewer can sense tension from the photo. In contrast to the former photo, the place where “Children’s Puppet Theatre” held is opened and bright outside, which induces vibrant and active feeling. The sunshine brightens whole bodies of children, which is compared with the fact that the bodies of boys in “Village school” are partly covered with dark.

 

           As it is mentioned in previous three paragraphs, two photos are noticeably distinguished with each others, by three main features: postures, facial expressions, and backgrounds. The first photo is displaying sense of “order” in placid and dark atmosphere, while the other is expressing bright and lively mood.  

Lee Jae Ryoung / Reaction Essay / Thursday 11:00-13:00

Catching through Photographs

 

Photographs are honest and influential about the expressions of the subjects. In fact, we can see various kinds of feelings through them; happiness, sadness, frustrations, satisfaction, and so on. Seeing these emotions expressed in the faces of subjects can bring powerful responses from the viewer. They may touch us deeply or make us happy. Here are two photographs of children. First one is called "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White and the other one is called "Children's Puppet Theatre" by Alfred Eisenstadt. In both photographs, the body language and facial expressions of the children, who are the subjects, display different moods and emotions.

 

In "Village School," the group of boys are all seated on benches that look like church pews, staring at something. In fact, they are sitting up straight in four rows, one behind the other. The periphery is dark, and we can't see the object or person they are looking at. In a dark room, the only light we can notice is shining on the faces of the boys. Their hair is short and few of them are wearing light shirts while others are in dark colors. We can barely see their upper torsos except few. The overall mood of this photograph is serious and somber since the boys seem to remain passive without having any emotion on their faces and there are large gaps between them. So there appears to be no communication and they are isolated from each other. The boy in the foreground seem to be especially isolated from his peers, alone in his row. In this picture, it seems as if the children are under pressure and afraid of something.

 

The children in the "Children's Puppet Theatre" are all gathered together. The five faces in the foreground are easily noticeable that we can see them completely. In the background, only the tops of the children's heads are visible with endless rows of children. The special thing about this picture is that boys and girls are not posed but moving freely and enjoying their happy moment. A boy in the center has his mouth wide open and his right hand raised, pointing at something in front of him. The other boy on the left is covering his ears as if he is disturbed by loud sound. Also, the children are touching each other. In fact, little girls on the right are holding on to each other, one resting her head on the other. Moreover, we can find diverse expressions on the faces of them children. Some of them are screaming and others look surprised. A few are laughing out loud and some put their hands on their faces as though they are shocked.

 

Both photographs portrays children of about the same age, who are looking at something or someone that the viewer can't see. Therefore, they give us chance to guess what that is. While there are only boys in the "Village School," "Children's Puppet Theater" includes both boys and girls. Having only boys makes the atmosphere more strict and this is emphasized by the way the boys are positioned formally. Unlike them, who are sitting in neat rows with brusque look on the faces, the boys and girls in the second picture are full of motions as well as emotions. They are shouting, leaning, laughing, and moving their hands. In fact, they are revealing their emotions openly and freely, showing exactly how they feel. However, there appears to be signs of hope in the first photograph. The light is shining on the children's faces and the boy in the front row looks like he's smiling slightly. Moreover, in contrast with "Village School," "Children's Puppet Theatre" has many tones from white to black and different textures in the children's clothes.

 

In conclusion, there are two photographs of children. One depicts the silent and somber mood while the other one shows bright and happy mood. In one, children are positioned stiffly and in the other one, children are free with their motions. Both focuses on the children's faces but one captures no emotion while the other features many diverse expressions. By just looking at these photographs, we can not only see how the children react but also feel their emotions. As the viewer, we are drawn by their gestures and expressions and finally end up drawn into their reality.

Jimin Baik/ Reaction essay in response to the two photographs on page 152/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jimin Baik/ Reaction essay in response to the two photographs on page 152/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   Two comparative pictures on children's emotions        There are many pictures that show children's emotions, but these two pictures express them very clearly. One is "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White. The other one is called "Children's Puppet Theatre" by Alfred Eisenstadt. These two contrastive pictures, although both of them are about children's emotions, have many differences. Among them, the major three differences are: the backgrounds, the facial expressions, and the postures.        First of all, the background of "Village School" is dark and confined, while that of "Children's Puppet Theatre" is bright and open. In "Village School", the children are sitting in a confined area. Behind the children, there is a wooden wall. There is nothing to bright the room, and consequently, the room is very dark. This suggests that the children in the photo are in the situation which is comparatively less free and suppressed. On the contrary, in "Children's Puppet Theatre", the children are in the open area. Behind the children, one can see trees and a roof of the outdoor theatre. Through the tree leaves, the sunshine is penetrating. In conclusion, the children are in an opened, bright area, on a sunny day. This means that the children are free, without any controlling force.        Next, the facial expressions in "Village School" are controlled, while those in "Children's Puppet Theatre" are lively and free. In "Village School", most of the children are not expressing their emotions freely. On the right side, the boy who is in the first row definitely shows some curiosity toward the camera. On the other hand, the two boys who are sitting in the second row seem like they are afraid. Behind the two boys, five boys look emotionless, while showing a bit of hostility and curiosity toward the camera. On the left side, the boy in the first row and another boy on the left side of the second row seem indifferent, because they are not looking at the camera but somewhere. The three boys behind the two look like that they have some curiosity and hostility toward the camera but cannot express their feeling. In "Children's Puppet Theatre", the facial expressions are much livelier. At the very front, on the right side, the girl who is leaning her body against another girl's shoulder looks sleepy. Behind her, the girl with black hair and glasses look like she is almost panicked. On the left of the sleepy girl, the girl with the very same hairstyle and clothes with the sleepy girl looks a bit afraid and astonished. At the center of the picture, the boy is yelling out loud putting his hands up in the sky. Beneath his arm, a blond girl is also screaming covering her mouth with her both hands. Below her face, there is also a girl with hair band and earrings who is also screaming. And at the left corner of the photo, there is a poor boy with a hat covering his ears to protect them from noises.        Last but not least, the postures in "Village School" are still, while those in "Children's Puppet Theatre" are free. In "Village School", the children are all in a neat row. There are many dark, wooden chairs in the photo. Even though the chairs seem to be broad enough to accommodate 3 children per one chair, only two children at maximum are sitting per one chair. Also, the children are sitting still and not touching each other. They are not even looking at each other. This means that there is no personal touch between them. On the contrary, in "Children's Puppet Theatre", the chairs are invisible, and it seems like children are sitting on the ground without row. The boy on the center is even half-standing. On the right side of the photo, the girl is leaning against another girl's shoulder, and that girl is putting her hand on the shoulder of the leaned girl. Although they are all looking at the front, one can clearly see that there are lots of personal touches between them by their postures.        To sum up, "Village School" has much more controlled, confined, and dark atmosphere compared to "Children's Puppet Theatre". In "Children's Puppet Theatre", the atmosphere is much more expressive and free. This difference comes from three major differences. First, "Village School" suggests confined, dark background while "Children's Puppet Theatre" shows open, bright background. Also, the first photo shows the children with vague facial expressions, while the second picture contains the children full of expressions. Lastly, the children are in a row and sitting still in the first photo, while the children are gathered freely in the second one. Each of the two pictures depicts children's emotions, but they show definite contrast with each other.

Seung Ah Lee/Options for Vacation Planning (FINAL)/ Thur 34

<Final Draft>

Various Options for Vacation Planning

     "Koreans are workaholic!" says most of the non-Koreans who visit Korea. Yes, it is true that Koreans hardly stop working. They are extremely stressed out and as a result feel exhausted. They desperately long for a break once in a while. Considering the hours of work of Koreans, vacation is not a luxury but a necessity. However, even when given a vacation, a great number people do not know how to get the best out of it, failing to recognize the purpose of the vacation in most cases. There are numerous types of enjoyable and meaningful options for holidays. Here is a suggestion for vacation planning categorized into three: traveling, doing an internship, and self-developing. 

      First and foremost, one of the best ways to spend the vacation is to travel. Break is meant to fun, relaxing and challenging. Depending on your preference, you could choose to go outside the country or move around within the country. For example, you can visit your cousins or friends living abroad. Last summer, I went to New York for a month to visit my cousin and she took me to many good places like Broadway, Empire States Building, 5th Avenue and Lincoln Center. Although I heard a lot about American culture, it was just amazing to actually go there and experience a new culture, meet new people and learn different perspectives. Also, visiting famous places in your own country is a wonderful way to spend your vacation because it gives you a chance to relax or refresh yourself as well as knowing more about your own culture. For instance, going to Jeju Island for family trip was a good opportunity for me to realize how great the nature of our country was. In the beautiful nature, my family had a good time there and made precious memories, away from the routine. Likewise, traveling is one good option for spending a vacation efficiently.

      Moreover, doing an internship could be another option for vacation. It might sound like working, but it could be a perfect chance for a new experience that is helpful for your future career. As many companies recruit interns during summer or winter season, you should grab the chance. Doing an internship could be beneficial for the companies but more importantly for those who are planning to get a job in the field. By working as an intern, you can explore much more closely about the job area. A friend of mine applied for an internship in a city bank. Before she did not have much information about the job itself and was not that much interested in being a bank accountant for her entire life. Yet, she spent two full months at the bank as an intern and eventually decided to go for the job. Likewise, using vacation as a chance to virtually have a glimpse at the field you are interested in can be a huge help for you in making a right decision on your future career. Therefore, doing an internship is one way to spend your holidays to have some field experience. 

      Last but not least, self-developing is the other way to spend the vacation meaningfully. Nowadays, people in their 20s or 30s are known to have the highest level of stress due to social pressure. They continuously need to develop themselves in this competitive society. What I mean by self-development as an option for vacation planning is not simply to prepare for TOEIC or acquire certificates and licenses, because then, it is no longer a break anymore. They are essential part of becoming a more intellectual, educated and knowledgeable human being. Self-developing includes reading books, doing voluntary works or meeting people from other countries for language exchange in addition to studying for particular tests. There are so many activities out there that help you improve yourself in diverse fields. Being professional and knowledgeable in your field is crucial but life experience through books and real experiences are often times much more useful and worthwhile. Vacation is a perfect chance to get away from daily life and try something new for self-development.

      To sum up, there are a variety of options to spend your vacation: going on a trip, getting a work experience and self-developing. There is a saying that goes "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." As such, having a break is prerequisite and what is more important is to plan well for the break. You should remember that whatever your preference is, vacation planning's main priority should be to enjoy and rest, not work!