Mountain Tiger Butterfly Photos

Mountain Tiger Photo #1 is a Contest Finalist shot in a butterfly house with a camera strobe.

Photo #2 was taken outdoors on Mt. Yonaha.

It's nice having photos make it into the finals but, I like photo #2 better.

That's mostly because I'd rather be out in nature, anywhere than, be indoors.

The best part of shooting photo #2 was when I got back up the hill.

You should have seen the look on Map It Okinawa's face when I told him,

"I finally got a Mountain Tiger, in the wild !"

March 4th is Sanshin Day in Okinawa Japan

One of the Best Days of the Year

 

It almost slipped my mind but, when I turned on the radio, I knew, immediately.

Today is Sanshin No Hi and I'll be listening to the music until well after dark. 

Here's a photo of a sanshin it a dimly-lit bar.

It was taken one night when I was dimly-lit and decided to use the camera flash.

But, it shows you the three strings and snakeskin of an Okinawan sanshin or, samisen.

Thanks to a guy from Australia, Wolfsleepwalker, I have this treat for you.

Playing the song Sanshin no Hana (三線の花) is Eisho Higa, along with the band Begin.

There isn't a better video of anything on YouTube, if you ask me.

So, before I practiced stealing screenshots of this, I asked for permission.

And I got a reply.

"Hi Mike,  Take as many as you want.  
My best regards,
Wolf."





Now, my plan is to take the rest of the day off so I can enjoy Sanshin no Hi.

All you have to do to celebrate Sanshin Day, wherever you are, is go listen to this band.

If you're anything like me, you can't resist giving them a Thumbs-Up.  Enjoy !


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Related Posts:

Today is Sanshin Day in Okinawa and the Islands are Rocking !

Okinawa Sanshin Day: A Photo Essay

RyukyuMike's Favorite Facebook Shares of the Week

Here are Five Facebook Shares from the 1st Week of March 2013

 

 

Not everybody gets along, as well as I do, with the Zuckerberganator.

For those poor souls, I'll post a few teasers here.

That way, if they don't have a Facebook account, they'll start thinking about getting one.

There are lots of things I share over there but, these five are special.

From Amy Chavez, who I must give credit for teaching me about plastic grass in my bento:

The Thinnest Latex Condom and Other World Records Held by Japan

Don Cartwright, I don't really know but, he posted this video that tickled me:

It's supposed to be about gun control, I'm guessing.

Mommy Cracked, changed her name to Read, Write, Mom but I like her old handle best

because she finds stuff like:

Gallon Smashing

Splice Today, I read something over there every day but, not like this one:

Top Ten Reasons I Hate Mommybloggers

Last but, not least, Chris Willson Photography added my mugshot to:

The Wild Bunch

Field of Cosmos in Kin Town: Editor's Pick

This photo got an Editor's Pick in a contest for the month of February 2013.

It was taken as I was walking behind Nature Mirai, in Kin Town on the way to shoot the full moon.

 It's been so busy around here, I forgot all about photo contests, for this month.

So, I was kind of surprised when I discovered this photo went anywhere.

To make a short story long, there's something I have to tell you.

Remember that Lunacy Before the Full Moon thing I was talking about ?

Crazy Things Happen Before the Full Moon

Before I got to this field of flowers, I ran into some other photographers.

They were at another field of cosmos, taking photos of a pretty girl.

Shawn Miller, I met a few years ago and, he has been a guest photographer here a few times.

Chris Wilson, I've been following online, for quite awhile but, had never met in person.

Shawn introduced us and we shook hands.

Then Chris asks if he can take a photo of me. Being the shy person I am, I had to think quick.

So, I said "Sure, if you let that pretty girl stand next to me."

Click Click Click 

He starts shooting horizontal, vertical, left and right.

There had to be a dozen or, two shots taken of us in that field of cosmos.

It would have been nice if I had a hairbrush.  I wasn't prepared for modelling, ya know.

We have email contact now.  But, I bet there is plenty of editing to do with those photos.

That girl, Rie, he probably didn't have any trouble developing her photo.  She's a beauty.

Now, my scraggly-looking face may take some work.

When I go out to shoot the moon, I'm not the ideal photographic subject.

Chris promised me a photo from that night.

It would be a lot easier to just crop me out of the picture.  I can't complain.  

Kin Town's Cosmos got an Editor's Pick !

Checkout Chris Wilson's Travel 67 Website

2013 Azalea Festival in Okinawa (Photos)

Azaleas Are Blooming in Higashi Village

 

The Ryukyu Dudes went up to Higashi in Okinawa, Japan to check them out today.

 Tonight I'll post 10 photos, quick because there are many more waiting development.

 First, you should get a look at the surrounding area.

 These shots were taken from the observation tower.

Blue skies, blue seas plus, it was hot and hazy.

What more could you ask for ?

A wide angle lens was all I carried into the place but, here's one close-up for you.

There was this neat shelter I stopped in to get out of the sun for a break.

Then, it was man against the elements.  I went back out there to shoot some more.

When it started looking like the elements might get the best of me, I panicked and ran.

Other brave souls were still coming in and walking across the Azalea Bridge.

Well, it never did rain while we were there but, we had other important stuff to do.

The 2013 Azalea Festival goes from today, until March 20th.

If you happen to be a flower fanatic,  get on up there.

And, it might be a good idea to carry an umbrella !

Map It Okinawa has excellent directions and admission information.