Friday, May 3, 2019

10 Photos from a Mud Festival in Okinawa

Kin Town Tanbo Festa 2019


A Tanbo is a flooded field or rice paddy and this Mud Festival is a Golden Week event.

Not wanting to get signed model releases, I won't be selling any of these images.



children, festival, mud, Okinawa, people


The idea is to let kids have some fun while splashing around in the mud.

After capturing a mob scene photo, I decided to get some closer up photos.



child, festival, mud, Okinawa


Snapping images of children can be tricky. I always get parents consent before shooting.

Some children don't want to cooperate. You can't swat them like they're your own!

Just kidding.



children, festival, mud, Golden Week, Japan


Some of the cute little rascals love to pose for the camera.



children, festival, mud, Okinawa, people


Anyone who's been in Japan over one week understands this picture.

Every time someone takes a picture in Japan, you're supposed to smile and flip a peace sign!




children, festival, Golden Week, people



It's nice to have parents, who've been in the mud, pose along with their children.




children, family,festival, Golden Week, Japan, Okinawa


This woman was probably the most photogenic and cooperative subject of the day.

She assembled her family for pictures several times over the course of an afternoon.

Then, she'd jump back in the mud with her kids and catch frogs with her bare hands!

It's hard to find a frog-catching woman these days. Dontcha think?




mud, festival, Japan, Golden Week, people, Okinawa


Normally, I wouldn't get in someone's face with the camera at a festival.

A photojournalist friend arranged for some of the Nature Mirai staff to pose for me.




mud, festival,Okinawa, people


Maybe, I'll be able to chase these subjects down and give them prints of their images.

Of course, model releases will get signed. The girls were super cooperative.

Notice, they traded the peace signs for some different hand signals.




children, mud, festival, Golden Week, Okinawa, Japan, people


It's a good thing this dad gave a big happy smile for everyone to look at.

The child wasn't as thrilled. She's sort of gritting her teeth and shivering from the cold water.

Anyway, they helped keep the audience's eyes off of the background scenery.

That's good because someone out in the water got totally naked. I hope you didn't notice!




children, festival, mud, Golden Week, Japan, Okinawa



Most of these folks were smart enough to bring along a change of clothes,

They had some freshwater outdoor shower contraptions hooked up.

That way, you could be sparkling clean for the ride home.

Maybe, I'll pack some dry clothes next year and jump in the mud with everybody!

No comments: