Stubborn Flower Keeps Resisting Identification

Who Can Identify the Beauty?

 

 

There are over 200 flowers in the pending files and, I want this one out before the year ends.

It seemed like it would be an easy one to research, when I first shot it.

There are many methods, I use to find the names of plants and flowers.

Library books on my desk, that are always a month overdue at the library, help sometimes.

But, I can't find anything that looks like that rascal in them, this time around.

This plant was in some sort of rock garden by the City Office.

Usually, I'll talk to someone, in the neighborhood and, ask if they know the plant's name.

Some guy came along but, said he didn't know what the flower's name might be.

It would have been better, to talk to an old woman. I like doing that for a few reasons.

First being, they usually know, what they're talking about and, help me.

Second reason: If I decide to grab the plant and run, most of them can't catch up with me. 

Just kidding. But, I do tell them, I'm married. However, I'm free, in the evenings.

Then, I wink at them and, watch them cackle !  I just love old ladies.

 The photos were taken in February and March of this year and, are gone now.

It could be, bugs ate them or, maybe someone less honest than me, snatched them up.

Beautiful things like this, never last forever, you know.

That's why my wife, doesn't worry about me being around beautiful, young ladies.

She knows, I ain't never fooling around with a young girl who's fast enough to catch me.

Back to Flower Identification

It would have been nice, if a specimen was borrowed, to take to the flower shop.

Sometimes, I'll snap a quick shot and, show the lady, what I'm trying to name.

They are very helpful and, chase me down the street, when they have a solution, for me.

The last time, they solved a toughie, I told them I'd buy a hundred bucks worth of flowers.

And, I did because, it happened to be the wife's birthday that week.

All the old gals, in town smiled, when they saw my walking with a bale of flowers in my arms.

The damn thing was heavy and expensive so, I'll probably only visit the flower shop once a year.

Flower ID's can be found online if, you don't mind staring at a computer monitor.

Well, I look at computer screens too much, as it is, with my photography.

So, unless it's an easy one to identify, I'd rather try a different method.

There are a few flower experts, I know on Facebook and, they are helpful most of the time.

It might become a burden if, I sent 240 flower photos, to one of them for identification.

That would be a great way, to reduce your friends on Facebook if, you have too many !

So, I decided to try this, little experiment.

Does Anybody Out There Know What the Heck This Flower Might Be ?

 

UPDATE:

 

Of all the places, I've never thought, Twitter would be a resource, until now.

I received a tweet from charming, Laura MacKinnon:  (@tokyololas)

And, she told me, we have an Iris japonica, here.

She now has a new Twitter follower. Check her out and, you may want to see her Tweets, too.

Common Name: Fringed Iris, Shaga or, Butterfly Flower on the Wiki site.

 

End of the Year Party: The Family at a Karaoke House

It's Called a Bonenkai in Japan

 

 

A site named Gurunavi says, "Use extreme Caution and Reckless Abandon."

Company workers and students only, attend these things, up in Japan. Not families.

Down in this southern prefecture, we do things differently; families hold them, too.

Going out with the camera on 18 hour days, Friday and Saturday, I decided to take a break.

The family was holding a bonenkai, Sunday night at a karaoke room Ishikawa.

Caution with the camera, sounded like a good idea so, I didn't bring one along. Big mistake !

As soon as, I walked into the place, I wished I had brought along a camera.

Karaoke boxes, I have been in before but, had never experienced a karaoke house.

 Waiting for all the rest of the family to show, I gave myself a tour.

All the rooms in the hallway, looked the same, to me; you could get lost in there.

Once, we got our reserved room, I counted the doors, from the front desk, to my room.

It's important, to know your way to and from the toilet if, you start drinking too much !

The room, we would be in, holds about twenty guests and, there were eighteen of us.

Not pictured, are the two karaoke TV screens and the telephone, for ordering stuff.

This photo was taken, across the isle from our room so, nothing would be moving.

The camera was, my cell phone, which isn't ideal for any type of photography IMHO.

In one of these fine establishments, your shoes are kicked off and left at the door. 

Some people stack theirs up on the shoe shelf, I keep my flip-flops handy.

There would be ten grandkids and eight adults bouncing around in there.

Massive quantities of food and alcohol would be consumed from 6-10PM.

The children do most of the singing and dancing, for the first hour or, so.

After awhile, they get restless and, go out near the front desk to watch movies and play.

 Then, the adults, practically have the whole place to themselves, the reckless Abandon stuff.

It was good, in some respects, not to have to be the cameraman for this event.

But, my eighteen year old granddaughter, seems to be interested in learning the trade.

 

 She nabbed this photo of the daughter-in-law and, I having a tender moment.

We were checking to see if, my Orion Beer Baby has started kicking, yet.

No drastic movements were detected but, it does gurgle and burp, every now and then !

Because I, have always been out shooting events, I had never attended this annual function before.

It was such a blast, I told the wife, to mark my calendar, way in advance next year.

That's because, I never want to miss a bonenkai with the family, again !


More About Bonenkai in Japan:


Japan Guide: Bonenkai and Shinnenkai

Japan Talk: Forget the Year Parties in Japan (Bonenkai)

Japan Times: Bonenkai season a blast for some, drag for others

When Traveling at Night Use Caution

Dimly Lighted Areas

 

 

Every now and then, you may find yourself, walking down a dark street.

You should remain alert and be aware, there may be suspicious characters in the area.

It's best, not to act timidly and, walk with confidence, in these situations.

There may be desperate, homeless, drunk or mental hospital outpatient folks in the area.

If you don't know how to deal with them, take a taxi, to get to where you're going.

None of those characters, frighten me; I've dealt with all of them before.

There's only two things, I try to avoid when, enjoying the night life.

These folks, don't approach you aggressively, they are smooth talkers and good at their trades.

There won't be any photo, of the desperate women because, I didn't take any last night.

But, the characters at the billiard table, are something else, I avoid.

Call them pool sharks, if you like !

Before and After Photos of a Singer Onstage

Getting Rid of Distractions

 

 

Sometimes, taking photos and an event like this, can be a real challenge.

Poorly light barrooms with customers bouncing around, can get on your nerves.

 Using an external flash, I was able to catch Sari the singer's eyes in this position.

But, look at all those distractions in the background. A horrible image !

  

 This little darling only comes to our town once or maybe, twice a year.

I wanted to capture her act and, print her a photo but, it's not completely done, yet. 

Before I finish, I have to ask the bar owner if, it'd be OK to remove the grunge on the walls ! 


RELATED POSTS:

15 Photos from Another Kin Town Live Matsuri

Travel Photo: Sari the Singer and Sanshin Player 



FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC VISIT:

Eliminate Background Distractions in Photographs

It Wasn't a Hamburger That Set Me Off

It Was Some Sort of Humburger

 

 

Sunday was the Annual Hamburger Festival in Ginoza, Okinawa.

The place was sort of crowded and, I had other things to do but, I visited briefly.

Driving the car was, Map It Okinawa dude and here's where we got in line.

ToTo la Bebe Hamburgers have been champions for a few years so, we ordered some.

 The most popular burger joints had the longest waiting lines.

After about 25 minutes, I decided to order something from a place, with no line.

Way down to the left, was some sort of Brisket Burger tent and, nobody was waiting.

Hah.  I plopped down my 800 yen and, ordered me one and, went to eat it.

Waiting for my partner in crime to bring the real hamburgers, I looked at this one.

There wasn't any hamburger meat on the thing so, I shot it.

Some sort of boot leather, cheese and maybe, tofu, were on the bun.

Map It, showed up with the real deal from ToTo la Bebe and, we left the festival.

The plan was, to do a comparison on the two types of burgers but, it didn't happen.

Well, I ate the two hamburgers from Toto la Bebe but, couldn't do the test.

Tonight was the first time, I noticed, what the little flag on the concoction, says.

The thing was Bones, some sort of brisket, HUMBURGER !

They will never have to worry about me, doing a review on their restaurant.

Truthfully, I'd rather be eating hamburgers, buffalo burgers or, kangaroos. 



Related Posts:

The Hamburger With a Wide Angle Lens 

Ginoza Okinawa Announces --- The Number One Hamburger 

Food Photo of the Week: Toto la Bebe Special Burger