The changing of the guard ceremony outside Heungnyemun (흥례문) gate in Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) Palace in Seoul (서울), South Korea (대한민국).
Heungnyemun Gate was originally built in 1426, but was then named Hongnyemun Gate (弘禮門). When it was rebuilt in 1867 during the regency of Daewongun, it was renamed to Heungnyemun ( 興禮門) as Hongli (弘曆) was the name of the Chinese Qing dynasty Qianlong Emperor.
Destroyed in 1911 to make way for the construction of the Japanese Government-General Building during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the Japanese Government-General Building was then demolished in 1995, and the current building was reconstructed in 2001.
-0.7 exposure compensation in Capture NX 2
Selective Curves adjustment in Capture NX 2 in overlay blending mode
Colour Control Point used in Capture NX 2 to brighten and add contrast to gate
Local Contrast Enhancement selectively applied in Capture NX 2
Shadow and Newspaper removed from bottom right corner of image using auto retouch brush in Capture NX 2
Defished to equirectangular projection in PTGUI 8 Pro
Extra sky added to top corners in Photoshop CS4