Okinawa Travel Photo Plus a Travelers Tip and a Tune

This photo was taken at Hedo Misaki in northern Okinawa, Japan.

  

The mission, I was on, to capture a beautiful sunrise, didn't happen.  Grrrr.

  

The sun was coming up, over the horizon, covered with dark clouds.

Anywhere, in the world you go, sunrises and sunsets can be disappointing, at times.

Here's the tip:  Don't let that get you down.  Look the other way.

Find a scene with some colors and contrast and, shoot that.

  

Just in case it starts raining or, something like that, I found a tune you can listen to.

It doesn't have anything to do with cameras or, sunrise but, I bet you'll enjoy it.

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Okinawa 2013 Iris (オクラレルカ) Report #3 and a Travel Tip

In Ogimi Okinawa the Iris Fields are Blooming

 

 

We went up there today even though it was raining and, it's a good thing.

After Iris Report #3 hits print everyone on the island will start heading north.

Before traveling look at these photos and be sure to read to my travel tip.

 These flowers we call Iris, bloom in some awesome colors.

Some look purple, others blue.  And, they have bright yellow on the petals.

They resemble a dragon, sticking its tongue out, according to legends.

 The breed of iris, called Okurareruka (オクラレルカ) locally, loves lots of water.

This plot of the flowers is just starting to bloom.  The photo was taken to give you an idea.

It can be pretty wet and slippery between those rows of plants.

Turning around, here's a view of the fields you'll want to visit with a camera.

 To shoot a photo like this, get real close or, use a zoom lens.

Some places, it's safe to walk between the flowers to take a close-up.

The whole valley is starting to bloom.  You could spend hours there on a nice sunny day.

Even though it was cloudy and wet, I had a blast and, forgot all about what time it was.

Another thing I forgot was, the place isn't flip-flop friendly.

Trying to cover the iris fields, from all angles, I stepped in the muck, a few times.

My travel tip: Wear boots or shoes and watch where you are going !

The ditch, in front of that construction sign, is a good place to wash-up if you forget !

Directions for the Village of Kijoka and Iris Fields of Ogimi.


UPDATE:  

Everyone should take the time to visit my "Always Entertaining Friend"

OKINAWA SOBA and Checkout his Iris Photos from 2013 

Travel Photo with a Tip: Drink Ginger Ale without Booze in It !

Surprisingly few people know about Ginger Ale.

For those travelers who are prone to motion sickness it can work wonders.

This morning I was racking my brain trying to think of something to post for my Canadian sweetheart over in Korea on that Travel Photo Thursday thing she always does.

When I ran across the street to get my morning iced-coffee fix, I spotted this can of

Canada Dry Ginger Ale in the soft drink display.

BINGO !

Ginger, is like the greatest motion sickness, natural, sea sickness, herb in the world.

Well, most travelers don't have time to grow their own.

And, it's pretty hard to find gingerbread cookies, any of the places I've been.

But, Ginger Ale can be found almost anywhere.

Just don't do what some of my friends do with it.  Leave the booze out and drink it straight.

There's no sense traveling around looking like a drunk sailor.

A recent trip to the island of Kudaka-jima, and watching some of the sad faces bouncing around on the ferry,  reminded me of this old home remedy.

So, I grabbed my backpack and shot this can for you and TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY.

Learn more about Ginger here: BUT, HAVE YOUR CREDIT CARD READY.

Wikipedia needs help and if everybody donates Twenty-Five bucks that'd be great.

We can keep getting it FREE for another year that way.

I LOVE IT !

Truck Culture in Japan: An Insider's Tip (Photo Essay)

There is a subculture in Japan among Truckers. Truck Yaro or Deco-Tora is an art form inspired by a 1970's movie series with titles like, "Bullets 'n' Babes", "Run, Truck Rascal, Run" and a few others probably not fit to print on a family-friendly blog.

Think "Smokey and the Bandit" from 1970's and make it an X Rated comedy and it would probably be as popular as Truck Yaro is in Japan today.

Now, Okinawa is an island only about 65 miles long so, we don't have the long haul trucks with 18 wheels and a trailer (or two) big enough for me to live in but, that doesn't keep us from putting a little chrome, gold, platinum and some extra lights on our heavy haulers. Here's a series of photos I shot at a gathering before I ever knew what Truck Yaro was and kinda sneaked up on them with caution.

This was at a Cherryblossom Festival in Okinawa around January time of the year.

Moving around, I'd snap a shot here and there from positions where no one could see me.

This shot was taken from ground level.  I was in the drainage ditch.

Coming up out of the ditch to shoot the trucks from another angle, I got spotted. So, I figured I might as well try and make friends. That's what I do.

Truck Yaro people aren't a bunch of gangsters. They're real nice people who just happen to be truck artists.

They take pride in their trucks and like to show them off. When they aren't driving, they like to drink and dance and play real loud music.

Music loud enough to wake up the dead, that's what I'm talking about !

So, if you happen to be driving somewhere in mainland Japan and see a whole convoy of great, gaudy, humongous, big, heavy hauling rigs with artwork painted on the sides, don't be afraid of them.

Hang out the window, pretend you're pulling the chain on an air horn and yell "Wu Hu Hu" or act like you have a CB radio and say stuff like "Come again, 10-4,  Catch ya on the flipside" or whatever they said on Smokey and the Bandit. They'll probably love it and think you have some culture, too!

Photography Tip: Get Rhythm

Sometimes it takes more than basic exposure and composition to capture the moment. Today’s Photography Tip explains why you need some Rhythm behind the viewfinder of your camera.

There may come at time in your travels where you wish to capture a lively performance of some cultural event taking place on a stage. Stage lighting can be tricky and in many instances the use of your camera flash is forbidden.

To catch this photo of a very active singer, performing on an outdoor stage at night, I had to use a few tricks other than a tripod and manual focus.

I used Selective Focus and moved the focus point to the level of her eyes.

While she moved around the stage, I panned the camera, concentrating on her left eye. At the same time, I listened to the music (foreign, to me) and observed her movements, watching for a pattern.

I had my camera set at f/6.3 1/200sec. ISO 800, not wanting to use a higher ISO setting to keep noise to a minimum. 200ths of a second is not a fast shutter speed, when you’re trying to freeze the action of a fast moving dancer.

By paying attention to the music and her motions, I was able to snap the shot when her eye was just where I wanted it and her left hand was at the peak of its movement.

So, when you travel afar with your camera, remember, besides sampling the local spirits and food, get some rhythm in your photography.



Do you think it’s odd for an old goat like me to be telling you to run up to a stage and get some rhythm? Well, wait'll you see my next Photography Tip where I’ll teach you how to sharpen your Reaction Time. It’s a trick you do without your camera!

Photography Tip: B&W a Color Photo

This past Saturday I went on a self-inflicted photo shoot. That's a job where you know there's no money involved, unless you happen to pick up a winning lottery ticket while you're out.  I always shoot color photos but, sometimes convert a few to Black and White (B&W) when I develop.

This is a series of photos taken near Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. An apprentice working with me was asked to get some photos for an old geezer in Texas who was over here in 1963.

He wants to see what his hangouts back in the day look like today. I doubt he'll recognize anything but, figured I'd take a few shots (I would have deleted, anyway) and give them the B&W treatment.

Photo Set #1

Photo Set #2

Photo Set #3

Photo Set #4

Photo Set #5

This area, near Gate #2 of Kadena Air Force Base has gone through several booms and busts over the years so, we went to some of the alleys off the main streets hoping to find something to remind the Texan of the good old days back in the 60's. Maybe a B&W vs Color photo will  help him recognize something he once saw here. He may even have an old scrapbook photo to match one of mine !

You can convert any digital-color photo to B&W, Sepia, Monochrome, whatever you want to call it, easily. Try it sometime before you throw away a picture with some distracting colors or objects in it. Just hit the FIX button in your Windows Photo Gallery or any simple editing program.

WHICH PHOTO SET ABOVE LOOKS BETTER IN B&W vs COLOR TO YOU ?