6.5 weeks (so far) in Japan

[Greg Beetham]

I had a browse through 2, 4 and 5, I didn't make it to 6 yet, I wanted to compare some earlier work against the latest. I think the latest are slightly more intimate with the people shots as well as of a higher standard, it's almost as good as being there...(I'm not saying the earlier work isn't good of course).
I really don't know a lot about Japanese culture, I haven't any idea about the food items I saw or the odd eating place, or what this or that festival is for, but I did enjoy the great Samurai shots, the early period houses and street scenes, and especially the magnificent castles, you can almost feel the history oozing out of those. a couple a reconstructed I understand but that doesn't matter, if you have read Shogun you will know where I'm coming from.
Greg

[bakubo]

Hi Henry, I went through the two albums last night - superb! The colour etc. was fine through my PS3 on to the HD television. All of the pictures are great, but it is the pictures of people that really stand out for me, both candid and posed. You always seem to get a great connection with the people you photograph. It seems that people in Japan are generally happy to have their picture taken? I was also amused to see the universal 2 fingered V sign in salute from most young people you photographed. The autumn colours are also amazing and I suspect would even rival New England.

Thanks, Birma. That is good to know that the colors, etc. looked okay to you. Yeah, people photos are generally what I like the best too. The first time I visited Japan in 1985 young people were always flashing that sign whenever I took a photo. Nothing has changed. Yes, the autumn colors in Japan are amazing. Although I saw some good stuff, I was not at any of the places at the height of the autumn foliage. On Japanese TV they have daily reports at this time of year telling everyone where in Japan the kouyou (fall colors) are best on that day. It generally goes a bit south each day but, of course, in mountain areas it doesn't necessarily follow that pattern. The same TV reports about sakura (cherry blossoms) are in the spring and they generally go north a bit each day.

Looking forward to the next batch(es)

In the last week I have taken a bit of a break and haven't taken many photos since I am sort of hanging around in one place for awhile. Later I expect to be out taking more and then I will add a few more to the website.

[bakubo]

I had a browse through 2, 4 and 5, I didn't make it to 6 yet, I wanted to compare some earlier work against the latest. I think the latest are slightly more intimate with the people shots as well as of a higher standard, it's almost as good as being there...(I'm not saying the earlier work isn't good of course).

Thanks for the comments. I'm curious about how you chose 2, 4, and 5 and not 1 and 3. Some of the folders have more people shots than others. Both 1 and 3 have quite a few people photos (especially 3). A few shots in 1-4 are from scanned slides/negatives, but most are from digital cameras. I need to someday go back to my earliest Japan photos from 1985 and 1988 and see if there is anything worth scanning.

I really don't know a lot about Japanese culture, I haven't any idea about the food items I saw or the odd eating place, or what this or that festival is for, but I did enjoy the great Samurai shots, the early period houses and street scenes, and especially the magnificent castles, you can almost feel the history oozing out of those. a couple a reconstructed I understand but that doesn't matter, if you have read Shogun you will know where I'm coming from.

Yes, I read Shogun in 1984 and it was one of the reasons I decided to visit Japan in 1985. Also, when I was 10 years old in school our teacher divided the class into groups of 4 students and each group had to choose a country to write a report on, make some sort of visual aid, and then give a presentation to the other students. I think we worked on it for over a week. My group, for some reason which I have forgotten, chose Japan. Since then I have always had an interest in the country and people.

[Greg Beetham]

Henry old son, choosing which to view at that time was a very complex procedure, mainly owing to the available time I had it boiled down to 'eenie meenie miny mo'
When I get a minute 'I will return'....or....'I'll be back'

What has always amazed me about the Japanese is their fastidiousness, I bet if you saw an old derelict car or house it would be a neat and tidy derelict car or old house, with everything looking just 'so'....for sure.
Greg

[bakubo]

My dad had a totally manual Pentax camera and took lots of slides, terrible color balance. Someday I hope to scan and see what if anything I can do with them. I'm waiting for the price to come down a bit, still $5K for a decent one.

I haven't looked into film scanners for awhile, but in the late 1990s I bought 3 over a period of 3 years. The last one I bought, in late 1999, I think, was the Minolta Dimage Scan Elite. I still have it. It cost about $1000. On my website, including the Japan gallery, there are a fair number of slide/negative scans made with this scanner (Japan 1-4). I assume Nikon, etc. still make film scanners. For scanning 35mm I don't think you need to spend anywhere close to $5k to get a decent scanner. Especially for 40+ year old slides of dubious quality. I bet you could find one for less than $1000 and maybe less than $500.

[david antony]

Really enjoying this trip Henry.
Very interesting people and places.

Thanks again for sharing these wonderful photos.

[bakubo]

What has always amazed me about the Japanese is their fastidiousness, I bet if you saw an old derelict car or house it would be a neat and tidy derelict car or old house, with everything looking just 'so'....for sure.

I think if you come to Japan you will be surprised then.

[bakubo]

Really enjoying this trip Henry.
Very interesting people and places.

Thanks again for sharing these wonderful photos.

You are welcome. I have been interested in photography and taking photos since I was about 13 years old. I have never done to make any money from it so I just show them on my website. Sometimes I wonder why I even take photos, but I keep on doing it.

[bakubo]

I really don't know a lot about Japanese culture, I haven't any idea about the food items I saw or the odd eating place, or what this or that festival is for, but I did enjoy the great Samurai shots, the early period houses and street scenes, and especially the magnificent castles, you can almost feel the history oozing out of those. a couple a reconstructed I understand but that doesn't matter, if you have read Shogun you will know where I'm coming from.

Yes, during the war some of Japan's castles were destroyed, but on my website Inuyama-jo, Himeji-jo, Matsumoto-jo, Kochi-jo, and Matsuyama-jo were not destroyed and are not reconstructions. Only Osaka-jo is a post-war reconstruction. Inuyama-jo is up on a high bluff overlooking Kiso-kawa (Kiso River) and gives a great view of the countryside. Himeji-jo is particularly impressive and the Japanese rate it as their most beautiful castle, known as the White Heron. Going inside these castles is very interesting and well worth it. Lots of steep wooden stairs in the main donjon. The main donjon of Himeji-jo is 5 stories tall from one side, but from the other you see that it is actually 7 stories.

[Dr. Harout]

Still enjoying the shots on your site. Didn't finish them yet but am really enjoying. Thanks for taking those shots.

[bakubo]

The devastation in Japan from the earthquake, tsunami, and now nuclear power plant problems is incredible and distressing. Here are a few photos of Japan. Feel free to post yours too.

Little boy at Meiji-jingu for Shichi-Go-San in Tokyo



Buddhist monk outside Shinjuku Station, Tokyo



Little boy in the station, Nara



Taking photos at Kiyomizu-dera, Kyoto

[Birma]

Great street shots as always Henry. Sadly I have no pictures from to Japan to share, but I'm sure my thoughts and prayers join those from the rest of the world for the people of Japan. The level of devastation is truely shocking.

[Dr. Harout]

The little boy and specially the monk shots are superb.

[bakubo]

The little boy and specially the monk shots are superb.

Thanks. I took the monk photo on a cold, winter night in front of Shinjuku station as I was going home. Later I wrote the following to go with it:

夜の新宿を見たことがあるか？皆は急ぐにどこかへ行っている。友人に会うか？恋人に会うか？楽しみにしているか？今晩を楽しんでください。明日はまた仕事や学校などだ。

仕事から帰っている人は疲れそうだ。もう少しがんばってください。もうすぐ内に着いて、自分の暖かくて、気持ちがいい所で休める。直ぐお風呂に入って、今日の心配することを全部和する。後で、座って、冷たいビールを飲む。

しかし、一人は動いていなくて、静かに立っている。あの方も見たか？

Rough translation:

Have you seen Shinjuku at night? Everyone is hurrying to go somewhere. Meeting friends? Meeting a lover? Are they looking forward to it with enjoyable anticipation? Tonight please enjoy yourself. Tomorrow there will again be work, school, etc..

People returning from work look tired. Please hang on a little more. Very soon you will arrive home, your own warm, feel good place where you can rest. Soon you can get in the bath and you can forget all of today's worries. Later, sit and drink a cold beer.

However, one person is standing quietly and not moving. Did you see him?

Sounds better in Japanese.

[aster]

The little boy and specially the monk shots are superb.

Thanks. I took the monk photo on a cold, winter night in front of Shinjuku station as I was going home. Later I wrote the following to go with it:

夜の新宿を見たことがあるか？皆は急ぐにどこかへ行っている。友人に会うか？恋人に会うか？楽しみにしているか？今晩を楽しんでください。明日はまた仕事や学校などだ。

仕事から帰っている人は疲れそうだ。もう少しがんばってください。もうすぐ内に着いて、自分の暖かくて、気持ちがいい所で休める。直ぐお風呂に入って、今日の心配することを全部和する。後で、座って、冷たいビールを飲む。

しかし、一人は動いていなくて、静かに立っている。あの方も見たか？

Rough translation:

Have you seen Shinjuku at night? Everyone is hurrying to go somewhere. Meeting friends? Meeting a lover? Are they looking forward to it with enjoyable anticipation? Tonight please enjoy yourself. Tomorrow there will again be work, school, etc..

Everyone returning from work looks tired. Please hang on a little more. Very soon you will arrive home, your own warm, feel good place where you can rest. Immediately you can get in the bath and you can forget all of today's worries. Later, sit and drink a cold beer.

However, one person is standing quietly and not moving. Did you see that him?

Sounds better in Japanese.

Yes, proobably sounds much better in Japanese, but I like these verses, although you wrote it in simple text form.

It feels really strange to read these lines and instead have to visualize the life-and-death troubles that threaten both the Japanese and all humankind. More ruptures at the nuclear reactors...and more unrest to one's peace of mind. I'm glad all countries are pulling away from intentions of expanding their nuclear power plants or building new ones. Only one reactor with a full meltdown has the power of endangering the future of healthy future generations, of the humankind, fauna, flora and drinkable water...

Good shot of the Monk, Henry.

Thanks for sharing,

Yildiz