3 Minutes of Blue Skies Shining on Me

Not especially high tech, at computer stuff, I tried something new today.

There was a huge (6000x4000 pixel) photo of a bridge in blue skies, I was saving.

It had a speck of dust, up in this blue portion of sky.

There are all sorts of Adobe programs that can be used to remove dust.

And, I own a bunch of them but, never tried dust removal on any of my photos.

Dust on a camera sensor or, a spot on a lens, shouldn't be there, in the first place.

So, whenever, I see a spot on one of my images, I just throw it away.

And, go figure out where it came from.  Then, fix the problem.

This Was a Special Photo

 

 

 

It was high time, I taught my self, how to do digital spot removal.

So, I did some online research and read my Dummies book.

Then, opened the photo with my Adobe Elements.

Thinking, I knew what I was doing, removing the dust, here's what happened:

The bridge disappeared along with the dust !

Everything (eventually) turned out alright and I gotterdun.

But, can't show you the image, just yet, because it's going to be in a contest.

Anyhow, the incident reminded me of this tune.

There's no sense, letting some good old blue skies go to waste.

Enjoy the Willie Nelson song and music. 

Travel Photo: Sushi Bar

Location: Kin Town, Okinawa, Japan

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Sigma 10-20 at 13mm

Exposure: f/16  3sec   ISO 100

This photo was taken about an hour before opening time.

Once the doors open for business hours, the counter fills up quickly with customers.

Last week, after shooting photos at a restaurant, I stopped here on the way back to the office.

And, managed to weasel my way in for a few minutes.

Now, I'm thinking, I should go back without any cameras and grab a chair.

Looking at that big bottle of sake, got me thinking.

Maybe, I should give some a try with my dinner.

1st Birthday in Okinawa Japan

Little Sammy Goes Through the Ritual

 

 

This custom, in Okinawa, is something unique to the Ryukyu Island Chain.

It is a tradition, passed down through generations, more than likely, by word of mouth.

Researching the custom, to find the origins, has left me with very little documentation.

THIS JUST IN

 

There are other places, in Japan, where this ritual is practiced.

It is known as "Erabitori" -- Pick up and keep an item.


 Read more at Blackcabbit's World

The best, I can do, is show you what takes place, with the digital cameras.

All of Sammy's Relatives from Near and Far Gather at the House

 

 

 

Fortunately, most of the guests allowed me some room for the tripod.

There were anywhere from 30-50 visitors who attended the celebration.

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces, were just part of the crowd.

It was a good idea, to play around with the cameras ahead of time.

Some children are camera shy, especially when a foreigner points a camera their way.

The Big Event

 

 

Several items are placed on a tray and everyone watches to see which the one year old selects.

The order in which the child picks up each item has some significance.

It helps the family determine their child's future.

The mother, watches anxiously.

She will, probably record the day's events in some sort of diary.

Will her son be a scholar, artist, manual laborer, butcher, baker or, candlestick maker ?

 

Does the child place more significance on the food, money, soroban, pen or, paintbrush ?

As each item is selected, by the child, it is set aside.

The one year old will keep picking items up, until the tray is empty.

The objects placed on the tray may vary, depending where in Okinawa you happen to visit.

And, the interpretation of the order in which each item is selected, is up to the mother.

Mother's always, know best.

Don't they ? 

More About Celebrating a 1st Birthday in Okinawa

Related Post: An Okinawan First Birthday Party (Photo Essay)

Taking a Peek Inside an Okinawan Mom and Pop Store

Almost a Thing of the Past

 

 

There used to be stores like this, in every village, throughout the Ryukyu Islands.

Shopping malls and convenience stores, open 24 hours a day have changed things.

Many of these small operations have gone out of business.

 Walking the back-roads, behind my office, I discovered one that's still open.

There's nothing quite like a good old mom and pop store.

The government should declare, the few that are still open,  National Treasures.

And, give them tax exempt status.

By golly, the people, are giving-up a front room of their house, to serve humanity.

Just inside the door, I passed an ice cream cooler and fresh vegetables.

Shelves lined one dimly lit aisle and, it was real quiet.

 That gave me a chance to zoom-in and get a closer look.

When it looks like nobody is home, here's what you're supposed to do:

Say, "Gomenkudasai" loud enough for the people in the house, to hear you.

Somewhere, from within the house, you'll get a response.

And, you will discover some of the finer souls, who walk the planet Earth.

 This morning, I met the mother and daughter at Kamiyamah Shop.

They gave me permission to shoot the whole place.

Look in the mirror (upper right) and, you'll see me, peeking through the viewfinder.

 This is the view from the side entrance to the home.

They gave me permission to photograph the family butsudan, to the right, as well.

Once, that was accomplished, I wanted to get back into the store.

Children, need to know, they have snacks and candy in this store.

And, the prices are no different than, at any other establishment.

Now, I have no idea what people pay for these household items.

There may be some savings, buying laundry and dish detergents at a major distributor.

But, I bet you'd spend a few more nickles, driving there.

The best part of visiting a mom and pop store, is in this photo, of the checkout counter.

There isn't any fancy cash register.

If you like to hear beeps and tweets at the checkout, make your own noises.

The addition and subtraction gets done with those wooden beads.

In Japan, that's a soroban. Something, you might know as an abacus.

Before Leaving the Store

It would be nice to know, just how long this shop was in operation.

When I asked, the mom had to think about it for awhile and, couldn't remember.

Then, her eyes lit up.  She turned the soroban over and read some writing on the bottom.

"Since 1967" she replied.

Then, I bought a few cans of iced coffee and a watermelon ice cream.

She rung-up the tally on her beads.  And, told me the ice cream was free.

Stop by Your Local Mom and Pop Store Wherever You Are !!!

Just a GIF of a Buncha Dam Birds

This scene occurred while I was at the Kin Dam.

The mission, I was on, had nothing to do with wildlife but, that's what I'd rather be shooting.

There are some egrets in the trees and, a crow flew through, briefly.

It's Not Nice to Go Around Cussing

 

 

There are all kinds of special events scheduled for the weekend.

And, I was planning on being busy Friday, Saturday and Sunday, attending them all.

But, it started raining outside. I went and checked the weather online.

5 and 10 day forecasts and several sites, all say the same thing: Rain.  Groan.

Some alternate plans will have to be made, for me and the cameras.

Unless, some of the weather experts, are wrong, all we'll see is rain.

So, you'll have to enjoy these dam birds, until I get a chance to shoot some more.

Dagnabbit !