Thursday, May 31, 2012

Photo: Editor's Pick for the Month of May 2012

Shuri Castle Gate

The hunt for tunnels has been put on hold temporarily but, I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I have to chase down these two girls who modeled for the above photo.

Whenever someone poses for a picture and it becomes an Editor's Pick they get a print from me.

Instead of traveling up north to Motobu, I have business to do down in Naha.









Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Characters in the Sky Terrace Ken Ken Cafe: Short Photo Essay

Back up in the northern part of Okinawa, on Motobu Peninsula the search for a tunnel continued.

We got off the paved roads and a little muddy but, didn't find any N. Koreans or the tunnel they allegedly dug.

 So, retracing some of yesterday's steps we wound up at the Sky Terrace Ken Ken.

The place doesn't open until 11AM but, Seiho Sakihara (Owner and operator) recognized me.

He invited us in at 9:30, and even let us climb up on the roof to shoot some scenery.

Too cloudy outside for any island photos, I decided to shoot indoors.

 This character was posed on a windowsill with some harsh lighting in the background.

She was moved away from the window so you cold see the jug better.

The thing in her hands, I mean.


Those bronze statues
are really heavy so, I put her back carefully after this shot.


Doc Graff spotted several more Marilyn Monroe posters.


Two more photos of her is all I'm showing today.

We made a connection who knows where the Koreans dug the tunnel and I'll probably 

go back to Motobu tomorrow with the MapitOkinawa Dude.

More than likely we'll be having lunch at the Sky Terrace Cafe.

Not sure about you but, I'm sure getting tired of moving characters around

just so you can see them in better light.

Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have some tunnel photos to show you !


Visit my homepage for the PHOTO of the DAY
 





Tuesday, May 29, 2012

N. Korean Tunnels, Zero. Marilyn Monroe, Two: A Photo Essay

pharaoh statue,antiques,

Yesterday's breaking news was the discovery of a tunnel in Motobu Okinawa, Japan.

It seems it was dug with the assistance of some North Koreans back in the 1940's.

wooden globe

What in the world were any Koreans doing digging tunnels on the Ryukyu Islands, ever ?

antiques, wooden globe, collection

So, the mission, today, was to grab cameras and find the tunnels.

We scored a big zero on tunnels but, found an interesting Cafe.

antiques, museum,cafe,photos

The upstairs and downstairs were full of antiques and treasures from around the world.

antiques,horns,photos, collecti0on, miuseum

Pharaoh statues, Old World globes, horns and trinkets were everywhere.

antiques, knight, armor,vases, art

Even a knight in armor was standing in a corner.

wooden ship's wheel,antiques,lamps,knick knacks

Under the stairwell, that poster of Marilyn Monroe caught my eyes but, I wouldn't dare move it.

If the North Koreans were really here, they may have bobby-trapped the place.  Hah !

Marilyn Monroe poster,antiques

So, the zoom lens was used to get a little closer.

Marilyn Monroe photo

No luck finding the North Korean tunnel but, we'll go back again later this week.

black and white Marilyn Monroe poster
 
Two Marilyn Monroe posters made the trip worthwhile.

It's hard to believe the North Koreans were digging tunnels here.

But, if I find any evidence, after I shoot it with a camera, I'll let you know. 


Visit my website for the PHOTO OF THE DAY









Monday, May 28, 2012

Disclosure About this Blog in Japan: It Falls Under US Laws

The United States of America Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
requires me to tell you some legal stuff about this blog.

Like, if you see any product advertised here and decide to buy it, um, I get paid by the advertiser.

Or, if I do a product review on something and get a freebie from the company, I'm supposed to let you know. That way nobody can say I tricked you into buying a piece of junk that I got for free.

Most of the junk I have, I paid for but, I have been known to collect old furniture from friends to furnish a house or, my new office. Sometimes, I buy brand new stuff.

The Photographer's Market, I got five years ago and, I just found out the 2013 edition is on sale.


 



The Writer's Market 2013 from Amazon is on sale before publication, too.






Any photographer or writer who is in the business of making money should have these books in their library.

They get a five star rating from me but, mine are a little bit too old for a book review.

US laws, which I fall under (sometimes) say I have to disclose this stuff, to you.

If you buy one of those books or, anything else, from any advertiser on this blog

THE ADVERTISER PAYS ME !

(yawn)

This Disclosure Statement will be reviewed by my free legal advisory board as soon as they sober up and may be updated periodically to comply with US Laws and the people who fall under them in Japan. 







Sunday, May 27, 2012

Yahoo ! It's a Dream Come True !

The good folks from YAHOO BROADBAND got this place back online.

It will take awhile to get everything reorganized around here.

Almost two months of work has managed to pile itself  on the back burners.

I want to thank everyone for being patient with me.

A few hundred emails and StumbleUpon mails are waiting for my attention.

Then, there's some editors waiting for articles.

Once I tackle all that stuff and getterdun, my normal routine of craziness will resume.

While you're waiting, you should get plenty of rest.

And, eat more fiber ! 

Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY







Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Treasure in a Flower Garden: A Photo Essay

There is a village on the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa, Japan called Izumi.

Today Doc Graff and I went to check out the Hydrangea flowers.

 
Anytime the sun shines during rainy season is a good time to head to the hills.

 
There are thousands of these Hydrangea in bloom and they come in dozens of colors.

 
If you like hiking up mountain trails on a sunny day,

 
or taking photos of brilliantly colored flowers,

 
this is one place you'll want to see.

 
The best part of the day wasn't taking pictures of flowers, though.

Up in the house with the red-tiled roof is Uto Yohena, the woman who planted all those flowers.

More than thirty years, my senior and as lively as can be....


...she insisted on walking a bit down the hill, to pose with me !









Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Travel Photo: Children Perform Traditional Okinawan Dance

This photo was taken back in 2009 when this blog was just getting started.

Still not wired, I'm at the WiFi Spot doing a quick post.

Then, I have to run and do some quick celebrating.  That meter hit 900,000 views, overnight.

So, I figure it's time to start planning a million views contest.

Er, ya reckon I should quit doing this blog thingy and just take some Okinawan Dance lessons ?


Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY










Monday, May 21, 2012

Excessive Misery: A Photo Essay

Gloom, despair and agony on me

Deep down depression, excessive misery

If it weren't for bad luck

I'd have no luck at all

Gloom, despair and agony on me

 
It seems like moving to this new location is taking a bit longer than planned.


Hanging around waiting for the electrician, telephone company and internet dude, I keep busy.

Like, I probably played over 10,000 Solitaire games, and even won a few.

 
The telephone people came one day and put a brand new wire on the pole.

But, the doohickey thing that makes internet run ain't here, yet.

One way to make sure a whole bunch of people show up is to paint the floor.


It hasn't worked, so far.  But it ain't dry, yet.

We'll just have to wait and see.

Gloom, despair and agony on me. Groan.


Visit my homepage for the PHOTO OF THE DAY








Sunday, May 13, 2012

Then and Now Photos: Shureimon (守礼門) a Torii in Okinawa

This photo of Shureimon ( 守礼門 ) often called the Shuri Castle Gate, was taken in the 1960's.

Here is a photo of the Torii at Shuri Castle taken May 12, 2012.

The first photo was taken with color slide film and provided by Donn Cuson at


Visit his link above to see the original color print along with hundreds of other photos showing 

Okinawa, Japan as it looked during the last Century. 

More Then and Now Photos






Saturday, May 12, 2012

Photo of the Week: Under the Kitchen Table


Once in awhile, I get lucky and don't have to travel very far to shoot a critter.

This photo was taken this morning under my kitchen table.

Visit my homepage for the Photo of the Day 






Friday, May 11, 2012

Carp Streamers ( 鯉のぼり) Koinobori in Okinawa (Photos)

Between moving the office and travel to the USA, Koinobori photos sort of got forgotten this year.


 These Carp streamers get flown, most places in Japan, during Golden Week.

But, in Okinawa they start showing off the brilliant colored things in April.

They fly like windsocks in the breeze for the whole month of May.

The internet thingy hasn't been hooked up at my new place, yet.

This Wifi spot is really an alright place to get online but, it happens to be Friday night.

The place is crawling with geeks.

I gotta get outta here, now.

So, if you want to learn more about the Koinobori, take a peek at Doc Graff's


He must have shot a thousand of those critters.




Visit my website for the PHOTO OF THE DAY











Thursday, May 10, 2012

12 Photos by a Teenager with the Canon G12

It was Golden Week in Japan. The family get-together was held at Matsuda Beach in Okinawa.


These photos were taken by a fourteen year old girl with the Canon G12 in Auto Mode.

She took them hand-held and has had no camera training other than some words of wisdom from her grandma.

If you break grandpa's camera, he'll kill you”.

 
She shot children on the beach.


Adults and kids on the beach.

 
She shot her grandmas.

 
Her uncles barbequing.

 
Her cousin hula-hooping.

 
A crow in flight.

 
The boys lighting sparklers.

 
The Super Moon over the ocean.

 
Her brother acting like a ghoul.

 
Her mom and aunt being cool.

 
With a few classes on photo composition and a tripod this teenager could become a pro.


If you want to buy one of these awesome cameras



Visit my homepage for the Photo of the Day