Image by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash
Original Photo description: In South Korea these sculptures are part of the light festival. Dragon vs. Tiger.
Xanadu halted, stunned, staring up at the two lanterns doing battle. A tiger challenging a dragon. Fortunately, this wasn’t their first paralyzation tonight as their xenophile brain completely shut down required motor skills, so I didn’t run into them and I was able to keep others in the festival crowd from bumping into my special American.
I wrapped my arms around them and placed my head on their shoulder. “What is it this time?”
“Other than sheer beauty?”
“Ne.”
“The details of the flames lit from within by the lantern. I think I can…” They moved their hands as though chiseling or carving. “Please take a picture of them, Seok.”
Lifting my camera, I start taking pictures as we circle the lantern pair from different angles. Sometimes I activate the movie mode, because somehow Xanadu can capture movement in their sculptures and carvings and I think they will need to see three-D aspect which still just can’t. When I’m done, they hug me tight and tell me for the ninth time tonight how glad they were I brought them to the Winter Seoul Lantern Festival.
We move on, and I wait for their next dazed reaction.
(words 196; first published 4/28/2024)
Capturing the Tiger and Dragon Series