Early September: A Firey Sunrise

We don't get the bright colors of Autumn foliage on this island.

Year round, things are mostly green.

If you're out before sunrise, you may catch scenes like this, looking out towards the horizon.

Something told me, to get outside early today and, I'm glad that I did.

This photo was taken three minutes before sunrise.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 18-250 at 92mm

Exposure:  f/11   1/10   ISO 100

Location: Kin Bridge, Okukubi River, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time:  SEP 2 2015   6:04AM

Traveling Around the Kin Dam -- Photos and Commentary

Flip-flop Friendly and Fun

 

 

Enough visits have been made to write a book about this attraction but, I won't. 

It's a great place to spend some time outdoors exercising or enjoying nature.

This photo was taken from the center of the Kin Bridge.

For photography, it's best to travel around the east side of the dam, using morning light.

Late afternoons, HWY 104 and the western entrance would be best.

The red drink machine is the only place you can spend money at this site.

Grab some coffee, tea or juice to drink but, don't waste your cash buying water.

 Just a few meters past the drink machine, you come to the Dam Park.

And, over there the dam water if free !

Off to the left of the Dam Map you will find toilets and, they are always clean.

 This is one of my favorite spots for catching birds in flight.

There weren't any ospreys out, diving for fish today for some strange reason.

Moving deeper into the dam, here is another great place for viewing nature.

The bridge is a great place to watch for birds, flying around the dam.

Kouchibaru Wetland is directly ahead.

Enter here slowly and quietly and, you will observe all kinds of wildlife.

Herons, egrets, kingfishers, ducks, ospreys and turtles are some of the critters, I've gotten here.

If you move too fast and frighten one bird, they all disappear.

This is a point on the west side of the dam where, you cross over water.

Around the bend, you lose sight of the water and come back out on a highway.

HWY 104 can be dangerous for bikers and hikers.

People like to speed along this road  and, some say it's haunted.

Let's just call them a bunch of dam fools.

If you are walking, it's best to use the sidewalk; it's only on one side of the highway.

Afternoon light is always the best, over the west side of the dam.

The entrance from HWY 104 leads to the parking lot below.

Driving across the dam would take you to the park and toilet facilities.

Outside the dam, there are restrooms to the right and down the stairs below this viewpoint.

Walking towards the dam office, I stopped halfway across the dam spillway.

From this point you can see the Kin Bridge, Okukubi River and a bit of the ocean.

The entire excursion lasted a few hours but, I don't rush things.

It's easy to spend half a day, taking photos and, inhaling nature for me, anyway.

The red X's on this Google Earth screenshot, show where, I Geo-tagged today's images.

More later.....

Viewing the Kin Bridge in Okinawa with a Wide Angle Lens

Which Photo Do You Like Best ?

 

The skies off to the east were looking good today.

A little after 3PM, I decided to take a camera, tripod and a few lenses for a hike.

It was hot and steamy, walking there and I was tempted to hail a taxi.

But, besides being a cheapskate, the exercise would do me good.

Five bucks was saved by walking on the shady side of the street.

Late afternoon is the best time to catch the scene in good light.

But, I didn't want to get there too late.

Once, rush hour traffic begins, plenty of traffic crosses the bridge.

Chrome and glass, from vehicles crossing the bridge, causes glare.

Even, from way back where my camera is positioned.

Using different focal lengths, from 10-20mm, I moved up and down the Okukubi River.

Construction work is being done along the river.

So, I tried to move around and keep earth moving equipment out of the scene.

The next time, I see blue skies like this, I'll check the tide schedule.

The scene would be much prettier, during high tide.

The only other way to make this a postcard perfect picture would be ask for help.

Those guys working the Kin Dam, could open the flood gates for me.

That would fill the river banks up, I bet !

Out of these 8 photos, which angle of the bridge do you like best ?

Let me know and, when the river and light suit me, I go back and getterdun for you.

Going to Shoot the April Full Moon in Kin Town

Circuitous Travel Route

 

 

That's what they call travel that ain't exactly in a straight line.

The way I went to shoot took a few more hours than usual.

This photo of the Kin Bridge has been something, I've been meaning to do.

So, the plan was, to walk to the beach, following the Okukubi River.

Along the way, I spotted this Northern Shoveler duck.

So, I nabbed a couple of photos with the duck doing different poses.

It would be a few hours before sunset and moonrise would happen.

A couple of Whimbrels entertained me for awhile.

There were plenty of other birds in front of my lens, too.

This Cattle Egret was one of my favorite for color and contrast.

When the moon first showed up, I was disappointed.

It was sort of reddish but, clouds kept getting in the way and, it was cold outside.

It was windy, down by the seashore and, I was freezing.

No kidding.  By the time I made this shot, my hands were numb from the cold.

It would have taken a good hour, to walk back to my office, after I finished.

Luckily, I met a security guard with a cell-phone.

He called me a taxi, to get me home !

Cattle Egret Shot While Hanging Out the Car Window

Not the Preferred Method

 

 

 

This photo was taken back on July 15, 2013 at about 5:30PM.

Riding along with RyukyuRusty, I spotted the bird in a field below the Kin Bridge.



Normally, I'd make a shot like this, using a tripod and, the big 500mm lens.

 

This photo was taken with a Pentax KD10 and the 18-250 lens at 250mm.

All I did was lean out the window and spot focus on the bird's eye.

Three quick shots were made using burst mode.

Then, I told Rusty, "Close the window.  It's hot out there"  !