The Great Leader, a photo from Pyongyang-si, North

Photographer's Note

When in North Korea, foreign visitors will often be asked to pay homage to the Great Leader President Kim Il Sung. This will usually be done at the Kumsusan Memorial Palace where Kim Il Sung痴 body is embalmed in a glass coffin, but many homages are also made at the enormous bronze statue of Kim Il Sung outside the Korean Revolution Museum. As it is not permitted to take pictures inside the palace, I can only post this picture of the statue at the museum. You can see how large the statue is from the group of people walking back after laying a wreath.

Visiting the Kumsusan Memorial Palace to pay homage to Kim Il Sung is quite an experience. Entry is through a long passageway which has the longest travelator that I have seen in my life. I was advised by my guides that it was installed at the initiative of the Great Leader General Kim Jung Il so that visitors would not get tired when walking to the palace. 典he great leader is always thinking of the comfort of his people�, one of my guides said. At the end of the passageway, visitors have to step on a slowly-moving conveyor belt that takes them through an x-ray machine which is like a giant version of the machines that x-ray baggage at airports (heavens know how many millirems of radiation I received) and then through a room where powerful jets of air are directed on your body (maybe that痴 to blow off any germs that have been killed by the x-rays). If you are a female visitor, I recommend you do not bother getting your hair done before the visit, because there won稚 be anything left of your hairdo when you emerge from the blower room.

Then you enter the palace proper, and walk the length of a very large hall, at the end of which there is a statue of Kim Il Sung, a little smaller than the one outside the Revolution Museum, against a beautifully lit pastel coloured backdrop, with soft music playing. I was advised that I should pause in front of the statue, and look somber, but not bow at that point. However, my guide said 的f you feel it is necessary to wipe a tear from your eye, that is permissible�.

After standing before the statue, visitors are then led into the darkened hall where Kim Il Sung lies in state. The North Koreans have done a great job of embalming their eternal president. He looks like he is just sleeping. As the guards direct the line of visitors to make a complete circuit of the coffin, you are required to bow three times, once on each side and once at the bottom. The hall is very quiet, but you can hear the sounds of some of the women visitors sobbing (not the foreigners, the North Korean women that is) and as you emerge, most of the Korean women will be wiping tears from their eyes.

PP: This photograph was shot in the middle of the afternoon under very bright light, and was very contrasty, so I had to play around with the levels quite a lot and reduce the black output. Other than that it was just sharpened.

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Critiques | Translate

kebek (5438) 2005-11-04 4:27

Serwus David !
Really huge monument! I'm not a fan of such kind of "art" and even scared of this type demonstration of totalitarian rules. But must honestly say, it is impressive statue and the whole environment. You chose perfect pov for this place. Superb inclusion of passing visitors for emphasize the power of architecture. Great work in PP, most interesting note.
Be well,
Mat

TheG1 (1509) 2005-11-04 4:29

Nice story David.
This is the same old story in every country with a powerful dictator.
Think about what they could do with the money spent here?

Amir

berek (50508) 2005-11-04 4:39

Hi David

Nice shot. i like to composition. great sky colour (blue). Thanks for sharing.
have good day.
burak

ballyna (1689) 2005-11-04 5:31

david,
good POV,the perspective in the pic is very nice.colors as well.
regards

aloyho (6798) 2005-11-04 6:57

Hi David,
Nice composition and good use of comparison. The unique feeling of such a place can clearly be felt even through a photo. I also like the wonderful sky with those sweeping clouds. Thanks for sharing with this lovely shot. Regards.

sergio1 (12152) 2005-11-04 7:46

Hola amigo

Excelente toma y composici, buen tiro
Saludos

leonorkuhn (16237) 2005-11-04 9:14

Hi David,
The cult of the person is a significant characteristic of this kind of political regimen. There are few people in the place. Very beautiful composition. The POV is perfect. Nice colors, light, sharp and depth.
Well done.
Leonor

AnneFrance (921) 2005-11-04 11:27

impressive shot, great sky too and good PP work.
interesting note also, like usual!

ArtLook (2348) 2005-11-04 12:03

Hi David,
Interesting comment and photo. This phto looks like postcard and reminds me the arhitecture from Soviet times in Russia (USSR) and monuments to Lenin. Everythings were same. Thank you for sharing.
With BEST regards,
Arthur

PeterC (2242) 2005-11-04 13:17

David,
This is a very different view of Pyongyang from yesterday. The sky here is superb stunning clouds. Great compostion with the monumental statue towering over the people. Kind of like waht happens every day there. Super shot and very interesting note.
Cant wait to see tomorrows post
Peter

kensimage (8563) 2005-11-04 14:20

Hmmm, 典he great leader is always thinking of the comfort of his people." Those North Koreans are so good at irony!

Hanoi has a similar hall where people file past the embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, but it's not so heavy-handed, no one has to bow. There's not a cult of personality, though you wouldn't want to publicly criticize Ho much.

Nice framing and POV for the image. It looks almost unreal, like a miniature Hollywood set with the people at right being little statues. I look forward to the next in the series!

Regards, Ken.

fireflyz (2097) 2005-11-04 14:58

The photo:
Wonderful perspective! This kind of photos are the reason d'etre for 12-24mm lenses. Nicely composed and good image quality.
I also enjoyed your journalistic note very much!

politics:
If majority of north koreans like their leaders and their way of life, who are we to to say our way is better or impose them to others? The guy still has more respect than GWB around the world.

richtersl (3546) 2005-11-04 19:39

Your note is SUPER, as is the photo!

Including the crowd in the photo really shows the scale of these sculptures. Somehow the size of the sculptures, the large area where they are located, and th elack of crowds just makes everything look so sterile.

Funny, how he stands in a pose not unlike those of Lenin in the former Soviet Union.

PixelTerror (0) 2005-11-05 4:34

Hi David,
Another striking view from this city together with an equally fascinating note, I like on your photo how the monument to the right balances well the statue, the people give a good sense of scale and we can feel how big the place must be. I tried a WS on this one as an attempt to bring out more potential.
Have a nice week end,
Jean-Yves

[workshop] [compare] +

jbweasle (9393) 2005-11-05 9:18

I just love these ostentatious monuments, David. They are so big, so over the top, so communist. And yes, I have to admit, I did lay flowers at the Great Leader's feet. Well, it would have been impolite not to. I'm glad you have a group of people in the foreground - they really bring out the enormous scale of of the monuments. Wonderul lighting on Kim Il Sung too.

devimeuxbe (58557) 2005-11-06 9:45

Hi David
Your pictures are still interesting. This is typical from the comunist countries.
Nice and classic POV for an unusual picture.
Thanks
Bertrand

taivo (1843) 2005-11-08 23:55

Excellent framing and perspective. The colours are excellent but the contrast is a bit soft, I think. North Korea is on my travel list for the coming 3-5 years... :)

SophieL (6042) 2005-11-09 3:40

I am impressed by your picture and the note, as always thoughtful, witnessing and not judging, although your rather detached way of telling your story says something about your own feelings. The picture displays perfectly the immensity of the place and the intensity of the personality's cult.
Technically I agree with Pixelterror's comments and WS.
I really appreciate looking at your pictures and reading your notes, they give plenty to think about.

nickthegreek82 (1708) 2005-11-09 12:58

Thanks for showing us a view from the most dificult to visit country.
Impresive monument ...
Thanks!

rabdelnoor (3423) 2005-11-09 21:46

Hi David,
Great composition joining these two huge monuments. Wow.. It is really impressive. Thank you for the fine note.
Regards,
Ricardo

sarju (5324) 2005-11-09 23:29

very good photo again David ... I like it
the clouds in the whole scene look splendid and one can sort of feel the power of the socialism in this photo too
good capture and a very informative note too
tfs .. cheers ... sarju
PS: I would have liked to see some more sharpness in this photo.
btw ... Last time I visited CN tower in Toronto, they had those sleek devices that blow air on you too ... I was told that they were to check for the bombs .. but definitely no X-rays or even metal detectors besides that .. I hope radiation was'nt too much in your case

Stepan (27210) 2005-11-13 10:54

Your gallery about North Korea is fascinating. It gives me the idea to go there, to discover another world !
Thanks for that.
St駱hane

capthaddock (28790) 2005-11-13 14:55

Hi David - wow, yet another frightening testimony to this cult of personality, the karate chop pose is priceless, and mega interesting note as usual.

ChrisJ (152428) 2005-11-16 4:10

Hi David

A superb daily life shot from North Korea. Reminds me of the Marcos statue. Excellent graphism & color. I like the blue sky. Good work!

chaity (1539) 2005-11-16 5:09

Hi David, nice statue behind the beautiful clouds behind.

klyee75 (778) 2005-11-17 19:09

Wow! impressive sky...PL works very well it give you an excellent colour....Good composition and beautiful background.

colinbrenchley (6431) 2005-12-17 9:57

Impressive POV of view to highlight the statue underneath a prefect photographic sky.
impressive notes also - almost a book. A rare look and comments from a visit to North Korea.

chicken (1557) 2006-01-22 7:12

Fantastic image! I like the dynamic lines in this photo. The great leaders arm is pointing into one direction, the memorieal and the workers into the other, supported by the cloud patterns. The few visitors give a great feeling about the enormous size of the monuments.

Theana (623) 2006-02-22 9:33

Unbelievable, that scenery looks like it is a shot from some science fiction movie I find! Very impressive photo and the sky is very nicely captured. I cannot imagine how one must feel standing in front of this huge statue. I think the largest Lenin monument I have seen here in Saint Petersburg so far cannot match this one size wise at all. The note is great and very informative, but I am still wondering what was the reason for you to go to North Korea? Is it even possible to get in easily?

Dr_Nibbles (283) 2006-02-22 9:47

Very interesting note to a really good photo... How'd you make it into North Korea, I always thought that they don't really let people in?

tsangclare (130) 2006-04-16 8:50

Hi David,
Great photo, and your note with it really show the historical and educational background of the photo! Really like the sky and the whole composition! very interesting and well done! =D
Clare

boaz (385) 2006-04-23 20:30 [Comment]

Show Comment

Voltri (1777) 2006-05-02 10:24

Davide, I don't know what I like more - your photo or your notes :) Both are great, ery interesting and unique!

Sergio (102) 2006-05-02 10:56

desculpe mas a sombra nao parece real, o angulo nao convence, em alguns pontos existe em outros parece que nao.........

pburraco (861) 2006-07-06 21:08

Lo banco a Kim Il Sung!
Casi tan grande como Per!

Un saludo

Patricio

donluicu (24727) 2006-08-02 13:02

Hello
excellent framing, very good colors..
but, i find a little veil on the image...do you know where it comes from?

regards

loic

rbcy1974 (20758) 2006-10-02 14:26

Hello David
This is a scene with epic connotations. Already the huge size of this statue compared to the mere mortals states its point quite well.
Very well documented
Regards
Daniel

Serendipity (1045) 2007-02-13 19:56

A very interesting and nice picture, which shows well the megalomania of Great Leader (lolll) General Kim Jung Il.
That's a document.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
Marc.

mattosborne (85) 2007-05-21 9:29

Hi David,
Cant they make the statues any bigger, the propoganda any loder. On photographic merits, it hold its own.
Cheers
Matt

takabanda7 (338) 2007-05-21 9:57

Ciao David,

bello scatto e nota molto interessante. ﾈ incredibile come la propaganda di Stato riesca, in un modo o nell'altro, a far credere tutto e il contrario di tutto alla gente.

Il tuo racconto di questo angolo di realt� nordcoreana � distaccato e "giornalistico". Bravo!

ckpark (10) 2007-10-28 18:45

As the tour guide says, I stare at the Dear Leader, weeping... at the thought of how many North Koreans needlessly starved to death over the years under the Kim Dynasty. The cult of personality in North Korea does not compare with that of GWB; They are dictators of a different kind.

plimrn (21344) 2007-10-28 21:26

Hi David,
Pyongyang-si was a featured denition and I couldn't resist the balance that called to me from the thumbnail. The way the sweep of the clouds connects the uplifted statue's hands with the uplifted bow of the BG sculpture is very dramatic.
HLJ, Pat

touristdidi (8583) 2007-12-06 9:12 [Comment]

Show Comment

atus (15858) 2008-01-30 11:43

Hi David,
very interesting and well composed shot from this intriguing country, I plan to visit one day. This kind of devotion I've seen in Turkmenistan and sincerly I like the unicity of these few countries, remained on earth.
How did you reach DPRK? I mean, with which airways company. Is it possible to enter and leave it also by road from/to South Korea? Tfs and best wishes.
Attila

Julian_K (1055) 2008-05-11 1:54

Hi David,
What a very rare and interesting from this mysterious place. Your note is one of the most interesting and informative I have seen for a long time. I really like the inclusion of people in the shot to give the idea of scale. Thanks for sharing,
Jules

mast_maula (123) 2008-09-06 1:36

very dynamic. like the streaks in the sky

fredon (5052) 2008-09-26 11:22

A amazing picture. Great work!

fred

rajhema (1873) 2008-11-22 12:55

Well detailed narration of what happened when you visited David. At times you added some humor to it as well. Why would you wipe tears anyways? Your POV is very good and the beautiful sky helped a lot to capture this massive area. Good one.
TFS
Rajesh

jimmj63 (0) 2009-11-09 4:44

compliments

you have show us a veritable nightmare, told like a normal story.

ciao, giacomo