Old Okukubi River Bridge Photos

Once a Main Highway Through the Ryukyu Island

 

 

Out today with 420MM of lens on the camera, no birds showed up.

Walking all those miles with a heavy load, I wasn't coming home empty handed.

It took some creativity and, plenty of backing up, to shoot these photos.

A sign near the Kin Dam, shows what the bridge looked like, back in 1931.

A Google search led me to Map It Okinawa's website, where I learned something.

 All that's left of the bridge, is a partial arch, on the east side of the river.

It seems like, the Japanese Army, knew the Americans were going to attack them.

So, they destroyed the bridge, to slow their attackers down.

Somebody must have thought, that sounded like a good idea and said "Let's do it."

Ouch !

Shuri Castle Pond Again and Again and Again (Photo)

This is a scene we've been working on for months, now.

There is a photo I'm trying to duplicate for the Then and Now Series.

 A Flickr Friend named, Okinawa Soba, gave me a black and white photo of this scene.

My goal, is to recreate the photographic shot, as it was originally made.

The photo, from his collection, was taken sometime, before World War II.

Shuri-jo Castle was leveled by bombs, during that war.

The reconstruction of castles, on this island was accomplished by looking at old photos and sketches.

It amazes me, how much the re-constructed buildings, look like the originals.

So, I try to do the best I can at duplicating the old photos.

The light, has to be right.

And, if there were people in the scene, I try to get someone to pose, in my photo.

Lighting was perfect, when I shot the image above.

Along came a couple, visiting the castle and, I got them to pose.

Then, the clouds, that were blocking the glaring sun, drifted away and ruined my shot.

The couple, were really nice, posing in the hot sun, for me.

They signed model releases and I emailed them the best photo of the day.

But, Shuri Castle Pond's Then and Now will have to wait.

As stubborn as a mule, I'll keep going back to that castle again and again and again.

When the light is right and I get the scene the way I want it you'll know.

That's because I'll post it here and yell, "Gotterdun" !