Selected Photos from the Kin Town Full Moon Festival

5 Motion GIFs Depicting Some of the Action

 

 

It would be impossible to show you all of the 1000 images taken last night.

These photos are an example of what you may have missed.

And, part of the reason, I decided to take photos locally, instead of traveling to another location.

This stage was set-up just a few minutes walk away from my office.

There are probably 1,000 guests sitting down in front, who got cropped out of the photos.

At a shrine nearby, some offerings are made, before the sun goes down.

Off to one side, this gentleman, warms up.

He will be taking a shishimai (lion-dog) to the festival.

Just in case, you've never met a shishimai, here's what the look like.

Two very talented and, athletic individuals, are inside that hairy suit.

Don't ask, who's uncle is in the background. He just wanted to make an appearance.

So, everybody let him.

It wouldn't be a festival, without Eisa and these characters were good at it.

The colors might not be coordinated in this scene but, it sure jumped out at me.

Now, I'm having a tough time deciding what color my next umbrella should be.

What do you think would look best ?

A blue or green umbrella, to replace the one I lost to the last typhoon.

Ya'll know, I'm usually wearing yellow flip-flops !

Harvest Moon ( 中秋の名月) Festival Kin Town (Photos)

At the start, it was looking like the moon wouldn't make an appearance.

But, it peeked through the clouds at 7:39PM.

There were friendly stick fights.

Beautiful ladies danced on the stage.

And, beautiful young girls danced, too.

A dude with his belly hanging out, threw candy for the kids to eat.

Then, along came this dancing, lion-dog.  He scared everybody and we all ran away.


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Shuri Castle Day and Night at the Moon Viewing Festival

UNESCO Shuri Castle at Night: Ten More Photos

Last Sunday's batch of photos from Shuri Castle in Naha Okinawa, Japan has finally been developed. 

Based upon the responses I got from the Moon Viewing post I decided I'll share more of the night scenery at the castle.  Normally, after these type events, I would try to delete two out of every three photos because there will always be motion blur, somebody tripping over my tripod or walking through the scene when I'm attempting a long exposure.

But, some of the photos I shot this time, I composed to avoid people.

They may not be award-winning compositions but, I got a chance to take my time shooting them.

There's plenty of sky above this shot if sombody wants to advertise castles, or red-tile roofs.

That's Naha City and the port down below.

I shot this scene about ten times using a ten second shutter speed.  See the ghost going through the second doorway?  That's motion blur.  Stuff happens, sometimes.

This girl and her shadow, I let slide just because.  Heck, I don't know why.

The moon never shined the way I wanted it to but, it will sometime and I'll be ready.

One of these days, there will be a great big pizza pie moon shining right here and I'll be waiting with a wide angle lens.  I'm gonna nail that sucker.  It's only a matter of time.

Probably, maybe, I'll get permission or something.  We'll see.

A couple of years ago, Doc and I were taking photos at Shuri Castle.

WE GOT BUSTED !

The same security guy who escorted us was there at the Moon Viewing Festival, Sunday.

Just as I was going to snap a mug shot of him to give Doc as a souvenir,

HE LOOKED RIGHT AT ME !

So, I drifted away among the crowd, real quick.

Seemed like he was a little guy, a few years ago but, he looks a lot meaner, now.

This time, he made the ground growl under my feet.  Maybe he has karate chops for breakfast !

Life has taught me.  Don't mess with karate dudes.

The only martial art I ever gained much skill in has been collecting ex-wives.

If I go back to shoot the full moon at Shuri Castle again, ahem, ahum..

Do You Think It Would Be A Good Idea To Get Permission ?

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Shuri Castle Day and Night at the Moon Viewing Festival

It was a busy day and night for me at Shuri Castle in Naha Okinawa, Japan today.  I got there early because I knew the place would get crowded and I wanted to make sure I could find a parking space.

Other people, like these tourists got there early so they could pose and jump in front of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, I guess.

When too many visitors started getting into the courtyard, I just started aiming my camera higher.

As the sun began setting, clouds rolled in.  That's not a good sign when you're having a full moon party.

The lighting crew did a fine job of illuminating the castle.  This was the first time I've ever been to Shuri Castle at night and got a chance to take photos out from under the blazing, hot sun.

The dragons on the roof look great lit up with spotlights while a dark sky serves as a background.

They had some sort of competition to select a King and Queen. All five of the girls were pretty.

The guys, ahem, ahum, I had to save my batteries and SD cards in case the moon came out.

You probably should ask a girl if she took any pictures of the guys. I had more important stuff to do.

Walking around to some of the other castle gates, I kept hoping the moon would peek through the clouds.

It showed up a few times but, it wasn't going to give me one of those see-the-craters type of shots.

This was one of my favorite photos of the night and shortly after I took this shot I decided to leave.

It's a good thing they lighted up the trail for me because it was a long walk back to where I parked.

Hah !  Right now it is 1:15 Monday morning.  My batteries are charged and I'm all set for tomorrow's Full Moon Festival.  I enjoyed Shuri Castle's Moon Viewing and got some photos of the place looking like I've never seen it before but, I'm beat. It was a two hour drive each way to Naha.

Tomorrow's Full Moon Festival is within walking distance of my home.  And I know they'll have beer !