Portrait of a Grey-faced Buzzard in Okinawa

AKA Butastur indicus

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Sigma 50-500 + 1.4 Converter Focal Length 700 MM

Exposure: f/9.5  1/400  ISO 800

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Date and Time: NOV 26 2018,  9:45 AM

Travel Shot: Impromptu Musician Portrait

A Musician Named Touji Hatten

The mission was to photograph cherry blossoms on Mt. Yae in Motobu, Okinawa.

Sakura blossom season was kind of disappointing this year. Scattered blossoms, I'd say.

Doc and I had our fill of flowers and the mountain.  We decided to move along.

Coming down the hill, we spotted a sign with some Japanese writing on it and investigated.

It had romaji lettering, too. Said, "Shaku Hachi" after I moved another sign out of the way.

It reminded me of an alley, back in the 60's. It was located down south on this island.

Joking with Doc, I said, "That has something to do, with ladies of the night."

Along Came This Gentleman

Maybe, he was wondering what two foreigners were doing, poking around those signs.

He spoke less English than, we do Japanese but, we wound up getting along just fine.

Next thing you know, he invited us into his house, for some coffee and entertainment.

See, I call this an impromptu portrait because, it wasn't actually planned.

Touji, cranked up the CD player and played some tunes on that bamboo flute.

His woman, served us hot coffee and brought out some munchies for us.

In between tunes, we got some history on these flutes called Shakuhachi.

They've been used as musical instruments for over 900 years, in Japan.

The music was soft and relaxing. He told us why. It's good for meditation. A Buddhist thing.

After awhile, I wasn't so relaxed and started wondering. I do that sometimes.

Leaning over to Doc I whispered, "Wonder how much we'll have to pay, when this is over?"

Everything Turned Out Alright

On a  break, we learned, Touji wasn't an Okinawan. He came from mainland Japan.

He showed us CD's and posters, with him accompanying musicians at concerts.

For whatever reason, he decided to live in the hills of Okinawa, about 7 years ago.

I asked if, it would be alright to take some photos of him playing the flute and he gave the OK.

Then, next time he took a break, I asked if, he'd sign a model release. Good to go !

An A4 size photo was printed, for him today and, I'll head back to present it to him.

The photo probably, won't get sold for publication. Look at the distractions.

An Idea Popped into My Head

With some serious, time consuming photo editing, distractions could be removed.

But, to me, this image is a gem, just the way I photographed it. It has character.

Google "Einstein's Office Photos" and take a good look at them.

Guess what I'm going to do, the next time the missus, tells me my office is a mess ?

Tell her this is the way to get some serious meditating done. I learned in the mountains.

What a genius !

Travel Shot: Portrait of a Statue

Obaa in Katsuren-jo Museum

 

 

This beauty was so irresistible, I just had to do it.  Take her picture, I mean.

When you first step into the museum and, spot her, you'd think she was a real live human.

Before, hiking up the hill to see the castle, it's a good idea to stop by the museum.

There's a gift shop and information booth there and soft drinks are available.

It's a good idea, to use the restrooms before, climbing the castle ruins, too.

It was the first time, I ever saw this Obaa (grandmother) sitting in the place.

She looks as if, she just walked out of the fields and, was sitting to rest for a minute.

While waiting for the ladies, to finish powdering their noses, I had some fun.

This photo was taken with the Pentax K3 and a 50MM lens at f/2  1/40sec.

Then, I sat down next to the Obaa, kicked off my flip-flops and, gave her a hug.

The timing was perfect only, I wish there had been another photographer in the room.

It would have been so nice, to have captured the look on my wife's face, when she saw me.

She was thinking, I was getting romantic with another granny, while she was in the restroom.

It's a wonder, she didn't have to powder her nose, again ! 


More UNESCO Castles in Okinawa

Bird Portrait: Rock Thrush on the Rocks

Today, over on the island of Senaga Jima, this Rock Thrush posed for a second.

Over the past few days, we've been out shooting all over Okinawa.

And, on some of the outer islands accessible by car.

So, there are over a thousand photos of birds waiting in my (ahem-ahum) project bin.

 Not to worry. Everything will get caught-up around here when the weather turns cold.

The sun is shining and I don't have to wear socks with my flip-flops.

So, like a farmer, I have to make hay while the sun shines.

If you don't hear from me tomorrow, that could mean I'm taking care of an itch.

Itchin' to hop on a boat and hit some far away island.

And, if anybody asks what I do for a living, I know what I'll tell them I do.

JUST LIVING !

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

Portrait of a Shisa

This is one of my favorite spur of the moment shots taken of a Shisa (Lion-Dog).

More of my shots of these Lion-Dogs protecting homes, businesses, buildings and bridges all over my island have been published online. They were researched by folks a lot smarter than me so, their stories are probably as close to the truth as one can get.

Take a peek if you have time and don't let the ghosts scare you. They were Photoshopped-in!


APOGEE PHOTO MAGAZINE and SHISA'S in TEXAS

Shot Myself Today !

This isn't what I usually do but it was freezing cold outside and

 I was trapped indoors.  I felt like a wild animal must feel stuck in a cage.  So, I took my cameras to my office and practiced shooting myself.

Really, I'm not into doing studio shots or any kind of indoor photography but, unfortunately, I have to.  It's part of this school I'm involved in and if I don't finish all my homework and graduate this year there's no telling what they might do to me.

Can they still drag you up in front of the whole class and whack your fanny with the BOARD OF EDUCATION?

That probably got outlawed in the last century, but, I'm not sure because I haven't been back to the USA in awhile.  I hear they have lots of lawyers making people behave and if anyone hurts you they promise to get you millions of dollars as long as you'll split it with them 50/50.

Somebody told me a fat lady spilled her coffee in her lap at a Drive-thru joint and got Six Million Dollars.  Is that true?

Well, anyway, I'm a Grandpa and I don't think I should have to do homework unless it's something that interests me.  Portraits, advertising, and fashion; they're all things I have to shoot to graduate from the professional camera school.  I'll do what I have to do and get it done.  And when I do, I'll go get my....

Millions the hard way, I'll work for them!