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!

Walk This Way: Wordless Wednesday

Editor's Picks (Photos) for the Month of March 2014

One Flower -- One Person -- One Bird

 

 

With half the month spent indoors, due to foul weather,  there won't be any complaints.

Things should be warming considerably and we'll be hitting the trails more often.

There are some exciting photo shoots, lined up in the upcoming weeks and months.

Here are the latest images selected by the judges in the photo contest for March.

 2014 Iris in Okinawa

Okinawan Master of Karate

Stalking Heron

Shrines and Temples in Okinawa Day and Night

10 Photos from New Year's Day 2014

New Year's Day the sun shined down beautifully and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Never one to complain, I looked around for some clouds to help me.

At the time of the day we were out shooting, the light was fairly challenging.

So, I sneaked-off into the shade to shoot these fortunes.

The whole first week of the new year, people swarm to the Temples and Shrines.

After a while,  deciding the sun was to bright at some of them, we came up with a plan.

The Map It Okinawa Dude and I planned to do some night shooting.

We were at this small shrine, out in the country, in the afternoon.

The shadows and light were so horrible, I threw the images away, to save my reputation !

Lucky for us, a pretty gal came along and told us the place would be open at night.

 Nobody else, came along after dark, so I had plenty of time to use slow shutter speed.

 They didn't have one of those big bells, you ring with a log.

Did you know, they ring those things 108 times, for the vices of man ?

Well, I rang this one, just 3 times.  Don't try to guess why.

Next, we went to a real busy place in Nago City.

 It's a little tricky taking photos when lots of people are moving around.

So, I took a break and bought some trinkets, for good luck.

And, I got enlightened.

Quit shooting, where people are moving around and, aim higher !

This is the view looking down the street from (護佐喜御宮) the temple in Nago,   

also known as, MamoruTasukuki Omiya.

Power to the People: A Photo Made with the Pentax K5 Camera

This photo was taken March 6, 2012 at a place named Nature Mirai in Okinawa, Japan.

While waiting for some ospreys to show up I noticed this guy working on the power pole.



There weren't any birds to shoot so, I figured I'd shoot people instead.

The camera I was using was the Pentax K5.

My partners over at Adorama Camera are having a sale on this model through March 31st.

33% OFF on a Pentax K5 Body

or

27% OFF on the K5 with an 18-55mm Zoom Lens

That's a fairly good chunk of change you'd save if you're in the market for one of the toughest cameras made.

You wouldn't believe some of the places I've been or the crazy things that have happened when I'm out toting my Pentax around.  So, I won't tell you.

I'll just tell you, if they had laws against camera brutality, I'd probably be behind bars.

DISCLOSURE: If you buy a camera through my Adorama links, I get a few bucks.

YABADABADO !

Visit my website for the PHOTO OF THE DAY

People Reflections at Naha Dragonboat Festival 2011 (Photos)

There are still hundreds of Dragonboat photos in the development stage and I'll be posting them shortly.  Meanwhile, here are some shots I took between the races.  Things to do on a rainy day in Okinawa.

When the rain slacks off for a few minutes, the light is just right and no wind or movement disturb the water it can be the same as standing on a mirror.

Children in bright yellow raincoats make terrific subjects, if they'll to stay motionless for a second.

            Adults are easier to capture when you can find them standing in the lighting you want.

           Every now and again, even a teenager will hold still to have a cell phone conversation.

                                For larger crowds you have to back off and go wide angle.

    Where there's enough room to move left, right, up and down it's easier to get the best reflections.

           This couple was very cooperative but, the little Bulldog didn't want to get his feet wet.

Turn a little tyke loose in a puddle at a festival and it's better than watching entertainment on the stage.

        If you think I was miserable at the Dragonboat races, getting rained all day, you're wrong. 

It was so much fun wandering around looking at people reflections I almost missed the boat races!

There will be plenty more photos of the Naha Okinawa Dragonboat races and the teams that were there posted here and in my wesbite gallery as they get processed.  Please be patient and if you happen to know someone who enjoys writing about these events, making no money at it (like I do), have them contact me through my website.  I'll give them all the free photos they can eat !

Visit my Homepage for THE PHOTO OF THE DAY