Thanks, Luke, for the nice response to my post.
And I do think we were in the same stop that night (actually, I think half of Seoul was as well). This picture already appeared in the Seoul Selection newsletter, but since many of you might not have seen this picture, or might not remember it, I've pasted it in below.
That night was intense. The trains kept dumping out people faster than they could clear the platform. We were sardined in all the way up to the stairs to the top of the station. I think it was the highest population density moment of my life, and I had to consciously stave off panic. Considering that I'm an American from the Midwest, I reassured myself that there wouldn't be a mass trampling incident because Seoul people would likely not be as likely to freak out as I was starting to feel. Turning to take the picture was definitely a reassuring thing to do, as it kept me busy and focused.
I've never had the experience of taking photos while also thinking about my options and the possibility of dying (as unlikely as that was) while working with my camera, and it certainly wasn't a firefight-in-Vietnam-war-photoographer moment, but it was about as interesting a sensation I'd experienced as a photographer to that point.
OK. So I'm a wimpy Midwesterner and have lived a pretty comfortable life. So shoot me.
Wait. Don't shoot me.
Hehe.
"A Coex Christmas"
