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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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?

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.

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.

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!

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!

Morning After Full Moon

Blame It on the Dog

If the stupid animal hadn't licked me at 4 AM, this photo wouldn't be here.

There are plenty of things going on around here because it's Golden Week in Japan.

The dog got walked to my office and I grabbed the camera along with a tripod.

The moon became visible off and on for about an hour and, I shot a few photos.

This one, I'll post and may save the rest to create a clouded moon GIF.

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Sigma 50-500 with 1.4 converter  Focal Length 700 MM

Exposure: f/16   1/15   ISO 100

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: May 1 2018   4:42 AM

Happy May Day Wherever You Are!

Animation: Flying Fish and a Plane

Plane - A Weathervane

Not the typical flying fish, either. These are Koinobori or, carp pennants.

Luckily, we got up to the Village of Oku, early in Golden Week.

Living on a Pacific Island, you never know, when the weather might take a turn.

Beautiful blue skies were over the Ryukyu Island Chain, yesterday.

Wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, it was a little bit warm.  So, I switched to shorts today.

Wouldn't you know it.  A cold breeze, cloudy skies and rain, showed up today.

Fortunately, a flannel shirt was hanging around in my office and, it's on me, now.

Visit Oku Village During Golden Week

City Folks Don't Know What They're Missing

Way up in the northern part of Okinawa is a village named Oku.

Every year during Golden Week the river gets decorated with the carp streamers.

Koinoborui, they're called in Japan and, there must be 1000 of them, fluttering in the sky.

Cabins, lining the waterway only cost about one third, the price of a city slicker hotel room.

It's quiet up in those hills. I could lay down in the grass and watch the flying fish all day.

There probably, will be some children, splashing around in the creek tomorrow.

But, it wouldn't be like that noisy city, I stayed at a hotel in, once. It was hard to sleep.

Some honeymooners, kept making noises all night long and, it cost me over 300 bucks !

Almost Missed the 2016 Kin Town Mud Festival

Tambo Fest (たんぼフエスヌ) in Japanese

Taking a leisurely stroll to reach the event, sounded like a good idea.

It started at 10AM and, was scheduled to last until 6PM.

Knowing the afternoon sun could get unbearable, I decided to show up in the late afternoon.

While I was walking in the shade of mangroves along the river, the weather took a turn.

It started sprinkling some raindrops on the scene so, people ran for cover.

These were the last four kids, left and, they were getting ready to hop in the shower.

Of course, I got parental consent to photograph the children.

But, I didn't get a signed model release from he lady.

Because, she was all muddy, too !

PREVIOUS MUD FESTIVAL PHOTOS:

2015

2014

2013

2011

2009 Apogee Photo Magazine

Testing the Pentax K1 Full Frame on a Bug in Flight

Dragonfly Landing

 

 

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300MM F4

Exposure:  f/11   1/6400   ISO 12800

Location:  Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  MAY 4 2016  11:26AM

Moving a Little Slow Today

 

 As much as I need to learn all the functions of this new camera, I took yesterday off.

It's Golden Week and, some time had to be spent with the family.

Another high-tech gadget, I've been learning to use, came along to the beach with me.

Unbeknownst to me, the thing makes movies, whenever it feels like.

Totally unedited, here's a minute movie, showing some of yesterdays events:

 

5 Carp Streamer Images at the Kickoff of Golden Week

Testing the Pentax K1

 

 

Not enough time in my hands for a full review, yet but, I like it already.

This photo was taken with a 300MM lens f/11  1/320   ISO 400.

Location:  Oku Village, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  APR 29 2016  11:12 AM

My mission today, was to try out the GPS function on the camera.

Latitude and Longitude, came out in more characters than my name and mailing address.

If you have an EXIF file reader, check it out.

Remaining Photos with the Old Pentax K3

 

 The skies wouldn't turn brilliant blue so, I cropped them out with a zoom lens.

There must be a few hundred of those colored streamers, flapping in the breeze.

Doc Graff and I, moved around, trying to get the best compositions, we could.

This time, we wandered across the river and up a road we had never been on before.

Golden Week is just the beginning of Okinawa's eternal festival season.

Families will be out in the fresh air, enjoying nature and festivals every weekend.

And, I'll  be out with the cameras, every chance I get, trying to capture them.

Full Moon Golden Week 2015

Briefly Peeking Through Clouds

 

 

A walk along the Okukubi River to the sea was fruitless last night.

The skies clouded over and, it was doubtful the moon would appear.

Back to the office, I went, with only a few scenes shot along the way. No moon.

After downloading the camera, I looked outside and there it was.

Clouds were blowing by fairly swiftly.

The highway in front of the shop was packed with Golden Week travelers.

Too much light pollution for me so, I set up the tripod out back.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 50-500 at 500mm

Exposure: f/16  1/125   ISO 100

Date and time: May 4, 2015  9:01PM

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

6 GIF Animations of Flying Fish (Koinobori) in Oku Okinawa

Huge and Brightly Colored Carp Streamers

 

 

A road trip to the north of the island turned out to be a good idea.

Crowds haven't hit the highways yet but, Oku Village is ready to party.

Workers were putting the finishing touches on festival tents and the stage.

Hundreds of  these decorative fish were flying everywhere along and across the river.

Without a tape measure, I'd have to guess, those streamers were a few meters long.

Some body spent a small fortune, buying those things.

Photos were taken from as many angles as possible to give you a sense of scale.

Here's a view from the top of a hill outside town, looking down at the river.

Back down in the village, you could see children playing in the water.

It's Golden Week so, they are all out of school.

Some folks call this the beginning of Spring. 

To me, it is the start of the never ending Summer Festival Season in Okinawa, Japan.

Bright Colored Koinobori (鯉のぼり) Flying in the Wind

Carp Streamers or Windsocks

 

 

Today was the first time I spotted them floating overhead in the breeze.

It's a reminder, that Golden Week isn't too far away.

One source, I discovered says these originated with the samurai.

Some of them carried banners with carp painted on them when they went to fight.

They sure do brighten up the sky on a cloudy day.

These streamers will be flying throughout the rest of April and the month of May.

Learn all about the history and customs of Koinobori in Japan.

Having a Blast at the Local Mud Festival

2014 Tanbo Festival in Kin Town

 

 

For those who don't already know, a tanbo is a flooded field.

Somebody donates their land for this event during Golden Week.

 Kids love playing games in the mud.

They get to do stuff like slide and splash.

Big people are allowed to have fun in the mud, too.

Sometimes, parents and children participate in relays where they do some crazy stuff in the mud.

There was good, clean fun, away from the flooded fields, too.

Try catching noodles with chopsticks while they are sliding down a bamboo pipe.

This is what's called, Nagashi (flowing) Somen (similar to ramen) but, it's not hot.

Not many noodles make it to the end of the line.

That kid in the red shirt was happy, just catching a few !

Running around, trying to capture all the events at this festival gave me an appetite.

So, while the camera was downloading, I went down the street and grabbed a hamburger.

Wednesday's Motion GIFs from Oku in Okinawa Japan

Golden Week Keeps Us Busy

 

 

Today, over a thousand photos were taken in northern Okinawa.

It was cloudy and a little wet but, a fun filled day.

These koinobori (carp streamers) will brighten up anybody's dreary day.

So, I shot plenty of images, using the burst mode and a tripod.

That way, when the fishes dance around in the wind, I can get them GIF'd.

When shooting these streamers, just pretend they are wildlife.

And, keep a close look on their eyes !

More about how these Motion GIFs, are created, coming soon.

Closing out the Month of April 2013: Too Many Things to Do

April has always been a hectic month for a cameraman in Okinawa.

This year it didn't get any easier.  It's not over, yet and, there's plenty more to do.

This morning, I ran down to the print shop early, trying to stay ahead of the game.

That's not a scrapbook, I'm making.  Just some prints I'll be delivering to people.

There's a Bit of Madness to My Method

 

Magazine editors and some of my best friends, don't always get it.

Sometimes, neither do I but, it seems to work.

When I hear of an event, about to take place, I research, all I can, about it.

Visit the village days, weeks or, months before and meet people.

That way, I'm not a stranger, in town, when it's time to use the cameras.

Most of the places I go, people are friendly.

But, they might not like some foreigner shoving model releases in their face.

So, what I like to do, is forget about all the paperwork and just shoot cameras.

Then, visit, a few weeks later, with some free photos to hand out.

Why Close Out the Month So Early ?

 

 

The next few days it's going to get real hectic around here.

There was supposed to be some sort of Pink Full Moon last night and, I missed it.

So, tonight, I'll be looking for the moon.

Sunday, we're going to another island for a ritual in a sea cave.

Monday,  will find me in the Orion Beer Brewery, shooting a camera.  No drinking.

And, while up that way, I'll see if I can catch that Ryukyu dog, again.

If I get a signed pet release on him, he may become a star !

Then, there's those adorable women from Henza Island, I have to catch-up with.

One, already signed a model release.  The other one will, too, I'm betting.

With all the things I have to do, it's best to close out April 2013 today.

Golden Week in Japan is all ready to kick-off !

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

GOYA REPUBLIC BLOG

He must have shot a thousand of those critters.

Visit my website for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

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

GET IT HERE

Visit my homepage for the Photo of the Day