Wesley's Tool-Box

2025 was an interesting year with lots of chaos and progress, much of which resulted from the events that took place in 2024. Now we're entering 2026, the year of the Fire Horse. Like the Sun in the picture, I hope everyone outshine the murkiness that is the clouds and rise up.

Device: iPhone 17 Pro Max
Settings: 200 mm equiv. - ISO 25 - 1/940s - f/2.8
Time: 2026-01-01 07:56 KST
Location: Naju, Korea

Nuri, Korea's indigenous rocket also known as KSLV-2, took off from Naro Space Center for the first time in 2 and a half years at 1:13 AM today. This launch was the 4th overall, and also the first ever nighttime launch. I wasn't sure how well the photos and videos would turn out since all the rocket launches I've been to happened during the day. But I came in prepared and got the results I wanted.

For the equipment, I brought my well-trusted Nikon P1000 for the superzoom and my new iPhone 17 Pro Max as the back-up, relatively wide angle shot. Both were fortunately sensitive enough for capturing the visuals during this clear and dark night.

As with last year, I pre-ordered a new iPhone for pickup on the launch day at an Apple retail store location within Korea. This time, I went with Apple Myeongdong. As the location is popular with tourists, foreign and domestic alike, lots of media coverage was made. I ended up in many of the photos taken by the press, and JTBC even did a short interview with me about the new Pro / Pro Max series.

Video Coverage
- JTBC News (reuploaded at Naver News)

Press Photos
- News1 news article
- Individual photos: #1, #2, #3