Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app

Continue in app Continue in browser

User submission

159

12.7K

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

My name is Hélène Veilleux and I’m a Lyon (France) based photographer. My creative work could be defined as the fine line between reality and impossibilities.

I would like to invite you to cross the 38th parrallel North and visit Pyongyang, the secretive capital of North Korea (DPRK).

I am a tourist with my forehead pressed against the bus window, eyes wide open to capture every inch of the city. Clinging to my camera, accumulating postcards’ images I hope to finally confront the reality of this city nestled beyond the 38th parallel north with the sum of the images, rumors and fantasies laying inside me. But I’m a tourist, and the bus is back on track…

More info: ladentdeloeil.net

Arc of Triumph

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Mansudae Hill

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Amusement park

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

Mansudae Hill

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

Modern architecture

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Propaganda

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Subway entrance

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

New Dubai

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Stadium

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Street view

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Modern architecture

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

Wedding day

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

ADVERTISEMENT

Street view

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Propaganda

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Street view

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Traffic girl

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

Street view

I Photographed The Secretive Capital Of North Korea

13Kviews

Helene Veilleux

Hélène Veilleux – French photographer based in Lyon. Baikonur , Chernobyl, Transnistria … The pictures of Hélène Veilleux are part of an attempt of questioning the real , exploring the concept of « Zone » : these spaces , whether real or fictional , where what we take for granted is a little less … where certainties crumble , giving way to something certainly … Other.

Hélène Veilleux – French photographer based in Lyon. Baikonur , Chernobyl, Transnistria … The pictures of Hélène Veilleux are part of an attempt of questioning the real , exploring the concept of « Zone » : these spaces , whether real or fictional , where what we take for granted is a little less … where certainties crumble , giving way to something certainly … Other.

What do you think ?

CristineCristine 9 years ago

One thing I noticed: very, very clean.

8points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

clean and empty

11points

Load More Replies...

DiegoLòpezProsen 9 years ago

Beautiful work Helene! Congrats!

6points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

thanks :p

3points

Load More Replies...

A.e.Dynamo 9 years ago

very melancholy...

4points

KarenNordyke 9 years ago

The photos are surreal. They seem so empty, sad, oppressed even. Wonderful photographer that's able to show the sadness and sterility in such a way that it captured my soul in those minutes!

2points

Sangfroid 9 years ago

Lack of crowds of people. Why build the monuments if your people cannot enjoy them? Or, maybe the people choose not to enjoy them? OR?????

2points

KathiMcCallum 9 years ago

Creepy. There is no life in that place.

2points

RaoulJM 9 years ago

Why are all your photos brown?

2points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

I choosed fade tones to enlight the sureals fealing of old postcards ( DPRK is a country out of "time" ) and "staged" scenics I experimented while visiting this country

6points

Load More Replies...

Sonia.Alexandra 9 years ago

Very empty... It's so strange... But the photos are incredible ;)

1point

GlynisLailann 9 years ago

The monuments & architecture seem to be copies of western ones. But then "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Yes, the streets seem clean, but devoid of all passion.

1point

DorianTireli 9 years ago

amazing shots. love it

1point

rhetorical1 9 years ago

Do the North Koreans think this is normal living? So desolate. The photos are great.

1point

JamesGuinness 9 years ago

This is normal living for them.

0points

Load More Replies...

AnnaSalerno 9 years ago

This is beautiful work for a tourist and photographer. The most evident thing I noticed is; where are the people? Why are the streets so empty? I find myself wondering if the camera had to be hidden. I felt a sense of profound sadness in all these pictures even the wedding photo.

1point

RosemaryTurpin 9 years ago

Not many trees, eh?

1point

microsaurio 9 years ago

Where is the selfie with Kim Jong-un?

1point

SantakDalai 9 years ago

Looks cleaner. But very less people moving around.

1point

JudyAshley 9 years ago

Sterile -- hardly any people. When I hear stories about China, its about conjestion and pollution. Not in these plaes. It's almost like people are avoiding the monuments.

1point

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

Even if China is the historical "big brother" , DPRK and China are really different

1point

Load More Replies...

DanielYerkes 8 years ago

Did you add a filter to the pictures or is it actually brown and hazy like that?

0points

DonGuild 9 years ago

Why would anyone want to live in a country run by an egotistical maniac . He is a murderer. Starves most of the people in the country.

0points

MarioLarenasNegrete 9 years ago

Ugly

0points

motamanx 9 years ago

I'd love to buy (or preferably trade) a picture with you. google Rowland Scherman.

0points

motamanx 9 years ago

Wonderful pictures! What does the traffic girl do, as there is none.

0points

CristineCristine 9 years ago

One thing I noticed: very, very clean.

8points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

clean and empty

11points

Load More Replies...

DiegoLòpezProsen 9 years ago

Beautiful work Helene! Congrats!

6points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

thanks :p

3points

Load More Replies...

A.e.Dynamo 9 years ago

very melancholy...

4points

KarenNordyke 9 years ago

The photos are surreal. They seem so empty, sad, oppressed even. Wonderful photographer that's able to show the sadness and sterility in such a way that it captured my soul in those minutes!

2points

Sangfroid 9 years ago

Lack of crowds of people. Why build the monuments if your people cannot enjoy them? Or, maybe the people choose not to enjoy them? OR?????

2points

KathiMcCallum 9 years ago

Creepy. There is no life in that place.

2points

RaoulJM 9 years ago

Why are all your photos brown?

2points

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

I choosed fade tones to enlight the sureals fealing of old postcards ( DPRK is a country out of "time" ) and "staged" scenics I experimented while visiting this country

6points

Load More Replies...

Sonia.Alexandra 9 years ago

Very empty... It's so strange... But the photos are incredible ;)

1point

GlynisLailann 9 years ago

The monuments & architecture seem to be copies of western ones. But then "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Yes, the streets seem clean, but devoid of all passion.

1point

DorianTireli 9 years ago

amazing shots. love it

1point

rhetorical1 9 years ago

Do the North Koreans think this is normal living? So desolate. The photos are great.

1point

JamesGuinness 9 years ago

This is normal living for them.

0points

Load More Replies...

AnnaSalerno 9 years ago

This is beautiful work for a tourist and photographer. The most evident thing I noticed is; where are the people? Why are the streets so empty? I find myself wondering if the camera had to be hidden. I felt a sense of profound sadness in all these pictures even the wedding photo.

1point

RosemaryTurpin 9 years ago

Not many trees, eh?

1point

microsaurio 9 years ago

Where is the selfie with Kim Jong-un?

1point

SantakDalai 9 years ago

Looks cleaner. But very less people moving around.

1point

JudyAshley 9 years ago

Sterile -- hardly any people. When I hear stories about China, its about conjestion and pollution. Not in these plaes. It's almost like people are avoiding the monuments.

1point

HeleneVeilleux (Post author) 9 years ago

Even if China is the historical "big brother" , DPRK and China are really different

1point

Load More Replies...

DanielYerkes 8 years ago

Did you add a filter to the pictures or is it actually brown and hazy like that?

0points

DonGuild 9 years ago

Why would anyone want to live in a country run by an egotistical maniac . He is a murderer. Starves most of the people in the country.

0points

MarioLarenasNegrete 9 years ago

Ugly

0points

motamanx 9 years ago

I'd love to buy (or preferably trade) a picture with you. google Rowland Scherman.

0points

motamanx 9 years ago

Wonderful pictures! What does the traffic girl do, as there is none.

0points

Back to Homepage

More about Travel

Related on Bored Panda

Related on Bored Panda

Trending on Bored Panda

Also on Bored Panda