There’s something about shooting film that always brings me back to the past. I still remember my father capturing our family moments with his beloved Pentax K2. Ever since then, that camera has been my personal “holy grail.” A few years ago, I finally managed to find a well-kept set in Japan, complete with lenses and a flash. Even now, I take it out from time to time – usually when I find myself missing him. Perhaps in a future article, I’ll share more about that connection.
That sense of nostalgia shapes how I approach photography today. Even when shooting digitally, I’m always chasing a filmic look – something with character, softness, and emotion. It’s also why I tend to favor older DSLR cameras that offer a more tactile, deliberate shooting experience, sometimes combining it with some vintage lenses to give a more unique look. I’ll dive deeper into that in another piece.
For today’s walk, however, I brought along an old friend: the Olympus OM-10 – nicknamed “Darth Vader.” The all-black finish, paired with its manual adapter on the front, always reminds me of my childhood Star Wars hero. I picked this one up in Japan as well, along with the lens I used for this shoot: the Zuiko 35–70mm f/4. While I usually pair this camera with the classic ‘nifty-fifty’ Zuiko 50mm f/1.8, today I opted for the flexibility of the zoom.
As for film, I went with one of my all-time favorites: Kodak Pro Image 100. To me, it strikes the perfect balance between image quality and affordability. Portra would have been a better choice, but with film prices steadily rising – especially here in Seoul – I prefer to reserve it for special occasions.
My destination for the day was Seokchon Lake, one of Seoul’s most beloved seasonal spots. Each year during cherry blossom season, it transforms into a breathtaking landscape that draws visitors from all over the world. The lake itself is man-made, located in the Jamsil area in the southeastern part of the city, and divided into two connected sections. On the western side sits Lotte World Adventure, the largest indoor theme park in Seoul, while the eastern side lies just behind the towering Lotte World Tower – one of the tallest buildings in the world.
What truly defines Seokchon Lake, however, are the cherry trees that line its perimeter. When in full bloom, they form a delicate canopy of soft white and pink hues, wrapping the lake in a dreamlike atmosphere.
The cherry blossom festival here took place over the weekend of April 3, 2026, lasting for about six days. I deliberately chose to visit on a weekday after the peak period – partly to avoid the heavy crowds (and the inevitable shoulder-to-shoulder photography experience). The timing turned out to be ideal. While some petals had already begun to fall and hints of green leaves were emerging, this actually made shooting easier. During peak bloom, the blossoms can appear overwhelmingly white, and under strong sunlight, they tend to reflect harshly. On this slightly later visit, the balance of color and texture felt just right.
As I mentioned before that this lake was man-made, so it’s fascinating to think that both the lake and its surrounding cherry trees were carefully planned and constructed. They reflect South Korea’s long-term vision of creating not just infrastructure, but beauty – spaces designed to be experienced and remembered. This attention to detail can be seen throughout Seoul, and even more broadly in the global rise of Korean culture, from K-pop to K-dramas, which have been equally well-crafted and thoughtfully developed.
Geographically, Seokchon Lake sits in the southern half of Seoul, across the Han River. The city itself is divided almost horizontally by the river, with the northern side is where the old city center located representing the historical core, while the southern districts – like Jamsil and nearby Gangnam – are products of more modern development. Much of this area was expanded in preparation for the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Today, Gangnam in particular has become internationally recognized, especially following the global success of “Gangnam Style”.
All in all, it was a wonderful day at Seokchon Lake. Spring is undoubtedly the best time to visit, but the lake holds its charm in every season – autumn, in particular, offers a completely different yet equally beautiful palette.
Kodak Pro Image 100 film performed exactly as expected. In bright daylight, it delivered clean, pleasing tones with just the right amount of warmth. And as for the OM-10 – “Darth Vader” once again proved to be a joy to use. Lightweight and compact, it was effortless to carry throughout my 2–3 km walk around the lake.
I’m looking forward to sharing more stories from around Seoul – different places, different gear, but always the same pursuit of capturing moments that feel timeless.
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