Welcome to Pyongyang
Photographer Charlie Crane took a trip to North Korea and captured these striking photographs:
This series is taken from a larger body of work in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea.
Although not commonly thought of as a holiday destination all these photographs have been taken at tourist sites throughout the city.
It took over a year to get permission to go in with my camera and nothing quite prepares you for what awaits. I was not allowed to take my mobile phone past customs and was met by two guides who were to accompany me at all times throughout my trip.
It’s a fascinating glimpse into a place unknown to much of the world, and the series makes for an interesting counterpart to the previous post on North Korean propaganda posters.
via Fubiz
7 Comments Leave A Comment
Jesse says:
June 13, 2011 at 7:49 amI love these images! So eerie though. I can’t imagine existing in a fabricated living museum.
Sim says:
June 13, 2011 at 8:22 amThe guy must have been given pretty much the same guided & monitored tour as the people who made this fairly amazing documentary:
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/vice-guide-travel-north-korea/
Deep stuff!
Anonymous says:
June 13, 2011 at 10:49 amNorth Korea is an isolated and very secretive country. These pictures capture a coldness and isolation from within as well. Looking at the pictures is like a time warp back to the 1950s and 60s looking at the architecture.
It is kind of bizzare that when people are in the photos that only one person appears by themselves. No one else is in the photo.
The pictures were very interseting. thanks for posting.
Adam says:
June 14, 2011 at 7:31 amThis is actually really interesting considering how strict it is in N. Korea.
Jon says:
June 14, 2011 at 5:24 pm@Sim – Thanks for sharing; I’m watching it right now. Really intriguing look.
very says:
June 17, 2011 at 1:17 amI visited Pyongyang in 2007 and it is not that empty everywhere. There are people in most places. But yeah, these photos are conveying the feeling of the place well.
Asa says:
June 17, 2011 at 2:46 amOkay, The slideshow from The photographers site, coupled with me listening to Max Richters – “On the Nature of Daylight” made that the best experience ever.
The entire gallery resembles something… I got it now! Those dust free environments used to make computer parts. It’s too controlled, one could go so far as to say it’s filtered. The image is what they want it to be. Clean an virgin-like. Free of imperfections. The entire city almost seems untouchable. Mirage like. This one city is the biggest stage I’ve ever seen, for such a performance as grand as this.