Kyoto
zweiblumen
Registered Users Posts: 369 Major grins
Rumor has it that Schmoo and I went to Japan last month. I've been seriously slack on processing anything, and lord knows I can't write like she can. The set bridges People and F&S, so I'm putting it here as it was a Journey :dunno.
The American side of Japan :
I found this scene immensely amusing. This was one of, if not THE, only American car I saw the whole time in Japan... Parked next to a Coca-cola machine? The juxtaposition was just too much for me.
Staring at the sun:
Shot from the hip, I must have had to take this shot 3 times due to bad settings. His stance here was okay, but the earlier ones were much better. Salvageable, but my memory makes it a disappointing shot.
Rush Hour:
This is my favorite from the day. The tangle of power/telephone lines, the bustle of traffic in the background, then the lone bicycler up front. Just makes me happy, and I don't know why.
Life's Weight:
This TINY old lady came into my frame while I was trying to shoot a pano around the corner and then her cart just kept coming... there was more and more and more of it. (Try to imagine seeing this through the camera as she walks across your shot). Her face was SO expressive, but I wasn't able to get any good shots of that not having a long enough lens with me. But she was hauling that huge cart effortlessly, or at least apparently so. I was so curious as to what her story was, because we never saw anything like that anywhere else.
Rushing Prayers:
Tuesdays are holy days in Kyoto (at least, cue lack of Buddhist/Japanese culture here) and the Monks where walking along the back streets ... bellowing is the volume, but not the right word. Chanting at extreme volume? Calling people to the streets. At one point they all started running some where, I'm assuming it was to their temple and were running late, but I'm not sure. This shot is of the last one running towards us.
Calling out:
This is the first Monk we saw earlier in the morning.
Moat:
The Moat protecting Nijo Castle in Kyoto.
Moat 2:
Where the rain from the inside goes.
Lost?
I have no memory of taking this shot. Again, shot from the hip the original is HORRIBLY tilted, so I lost a lot of the street behind them in straightening. Another shot that just makes me smile.
Entrance:
The sun was out from behind the clouds for a brief moment and I was able to grab this shot. I have no idea what it says, but it was on both columns in front of the entrance to this building. It looked like a house to me, but I'm not sure.
Morning Commute:
My first shot of the day, a young mother on her way for the day. I wasn't able to get a shot of the one woman who had three children attached in various ways to her bike.
Apartments:
These balconies were on the side and it struck me how much like a pagoda the section of this otherwise flat building looked.
The American side of Japan :
I found this scene immensely amusing. This was one of, if not THE, only American car I saw the whole time in Japan... Parked next to a Coca-cola machine? The juxtaposition was just too much for me.
Staring at the sun:
Shot from the hip, I must have had to take this shot 3 times due to bad settings. His stance here was okay, but the earlier ones were much better. Salvageable, but my memory makes it a disappointing shot.
Rush Hour:
This is my favorite from the day. The tangle of power/telephone lines, the bustle of traffic in the background, then the lone bicycler up front. Just makes me happy, and I don't know why.
Life's Weight:
This TINY old lady came into my frame while I was trying to shoot a pano around the corner and then her cart just kept coming... there was more and more and more of it. (Try to imagine seeing this through the camera as she walks across your shot). Her face was SO expressive, but I wasn't able to get any good shots of that not having a long enough lens with me. But she was hauling that huge cart effortlessly, or at least apparently so. I was so curious as to what her story was, because we never saw anything like that anywhere else.
Rushing Prayers:
Tuesdays are holy days in Kyoto (at least, cue lack of Buddhist/Japanese culture here) and the Monks where walking along the back streets ... bellowing is the volume, but not the right word. Chanting at extreme volume? Calling people to the streets. At one point they all started running some where, I'm assuming it was to their temple and were running late, but I'm not sure. This shot is of the last one running towards us.
Calling out:
This is the first Monk we saw earlier in the morning.
Moat:
The Moat protecting Nijo Castle in Kyoto.
Moat 2:
Where the rain from the inside goes.
Lost?
I have no memory of taking this shot. Again, shot from the hip the original is HORRIBLY tilted, so I lost a lot of the street behind them in straightening. Another shot that just makes me smile.
Entrance:
The sun was out from behind the clouds for a brief moment and I was able to grab this shot. I have no idea what it says, but it was on both columns in front of the entrance to this building. It looked like a house to me, but I'm not sure.
Morning Commute:
My first shot of the day, a young mother on her way for the day. I wasn't able to get a shot of the one woman who had three children attached in various ways to her bike.
Apartments:
These balconies were on the side and it struck me how much like a pagoda the section of this otherwise flat building looked.
Travis
0
Comments
Because of that I'm moving this to People.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
gefillmore - Thanks for lookin'
these bad boys.
I like the apartment shot. I'm not sure why but on the whole, I have never
found the front door to a Japanese apartment to be inviting. Always
seemingly more functional. Not sure why that is.
I think you've hit the nail on the head there. A lot of what I saw there is about function and less form, although they take streamlining their designs to a whole new level. Maybe that is why I was left feeling a little off-kilter, because they seem to compensate for their extreme functionality of some things with elaborate packaging and design in other areas.
Z I really think you've found your niche in photography! The old woman, the monk, the lost couple... they are priceless.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
i enjoyed viewing and reading your story! nice lighting too!
Call me Riz.
My work:
https://instagram.com/rizwan.sattar1/
riz_sat - Thanks!
javierplumey - Actually, it's exactly as it implies. I was holding my camera at about hip level and taking pictures without looking through the eye piece. Trying to be a little more discrete about pointing cameras in people's faces. Just trying to aim in the more or less correct direction and hoping the auto-focus nails the right thing
Generally Buddhist monks walk around town requesting donations. They tend to love a very humble life.
I love your shot of the moat at Nijo, I love that castle.
As for that character, it's fairly simple, but I'm having troubles finding it in my Kanji dictionary, I'll dig around in there more later to see if I can get you a translation.
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Very nice.
You must have lots more than this still left to display......
Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
Awais - Thanks! I appreciate it.
Jim - Thanks for looking. These were the keepers from that day. I still have one more day in Kyoto to process and then 2 or 3 days worth from Tokyo to go through again.
Some of the best advice I've read. Straight up great stuff.
If you feel like it, there are a number of great interviews in the thread
that demonstrate different writing styles.
GFI
Gallery of mine...caution, it's under CONSTANT construction! | Photo Journal
In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary. ~Aaron Rose
I like! I'm keeping a copy of this for myself. *yoink*
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
I really loved Kyoto.
Your pics are really great. I saw things like that but I didn't come back with such great street photos. Congrats!
http://monicarooney.smugmug.com/
...
JenW - Thanks for looking. And tell me about it with the people at work!
Moni - Yeah, that's most likely where it was. We spent most of the day walking around east of the river. We never went to a bath house.
fascinating and well worth the time. Baldy's is pretty dang good too.