Flower Photo of the Week: Orchids in the Dark

Strange things happen when the camera and I run across something like this.

At the Okinawa International Orchid(蘭) Show, this beauty was on display.

It was in a special, dark room and, I wasn't letting this shot get away.

Using a tripod, Pentax KD10 and Pentax 18-250 lens at 18mm, I took the photo.

In a rush, to move on before the next group of visitors passed through,

I never got the name of the special flowers.

So, we'll just have to call them orchids in the dark, for now.

They should send a note-taker along with me.  Dontcha think ?

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Just in Time for Valentine's Day: A Chocolate Tree (Photos)

A Chocolate Tree Growing in Okinawa

 

With Valentine's Day, just around the corner, what an unexpected find this was.

First, I saw these flowers, planted in the shape of a heart, going into the Orchid Show.

And, that's what reminded me, Valentine's Day must be coming soon.

Guys tend to forget stuff like that, you know.

So, I snapped a picture, to remind myself, it's like, any day, now.

Lucky, for me, guys don't have to do anything special on Valentine's Day.

Girls have to give the guys chocolate and stuff like that, for Valentine's, in Japan.  Hah !

 After shooting a few thousand orchids, I wandered into a greenhouse.

And, found this sign.  It tells me there's a chocolate tree, somewhere in there.

This is great.  I got the Latin name and found the tree, too.

Who would ever have dreamed, chocolate comes from these things, hanging on a tree ?

Now, all I have to do is tell the wife.  "Don't go buying me chocolate, anymore."

Let's just get one of those trees and plant it by the house.

See, I even shot the recipe for her so, we can make our own chocolates.

All you have to do is watch the fruits rot and, you get chocolate beans.

Sounds pretty simple, to me !

Related Posts:

Valentine's Day in Japan

These Birds on Valentine's Day Cracked Me Up

Photography Tip: Shooting a Camera Under the Tripod

When the Camera Goes Under the Tripod

 

There are times a photographer turns the tripod center pole upside down.

It's a rare occasion when you see RyukyuMike shooting like this but, it happens.

It all started in preparation for making this shot, inside a cave.

Doing some online research, I found an article written by a cave photographer.

He mentioned turning the camera, with flash, upside down for awesome cave photography.

When you reverse the center post on a tripod and attach the camera, it looks like this.

Extend the tripod legs and you can see through the viewfinder and operate all the camera controls.

But, I was in a cave making a low, wide angle shot.

Having a heck of a time with manual settings, operating in the dark I skipped using flash.

Instead, I opted for several different exposures and created an HDR photo.

It did remind me though, that I need practice shooting from below the tripod legs.

Photographers making flower and macro shots do this all the time.

That's not my style of photography but, I'll show you some examples of how else, it can be used.

 Here's one of those old-time print publications, Doc Graff and I were published in.

Recently, I had to email proof of publication to someone.

Well, I didn't feel like running around to find a scanner so, I shot the blasted thing, myself.

Slipping a black background under the subject, is the easiest way to get proper exposure.

If you don't want to use side lighting, from both sides be careful; shadows may appear.

Turn off all lights, set the camera timer, snap the shutter and, get away from the scene.

Magazines and old film photos may want to curl-up on you and ruin the shot.

Just find something to weigh them down.

White background

Black background

Digging through my wallet, I found this photo of the Missus and a younger version of myself.

That was sometime in the last Century when she was the lightweight.  Hah !

Any old film photo, ID card, license, passport, whatever you want, can be digitized.

There's no need to run out and buy a scanner.

 Probably, I should look through the old stuff in my wallet, more often.

It seems like my student ID from NY Institute of Photography has expired.  Oops.

Most of what I learned about cameras came from that school.

Just, I don't think grandpas should have to do homework so, I didn't.

Now, I'm not sure if I got expelled or, just have to ask for a new ID card.

Maybe, I'll write the Dean a letter and ask.

Who knows, they might issue me an honorary degree !

More tricks of the trade in PHOTO TIPS

Ya Hu Hu Hu It's New Year's Eve All Over Again !

The Year of the Snake 2013

 

The Chinese New Year officially starts tomorrow.

That means I get to go out and celebrate New Year's Eve again tonight.

And, I have to practice saying, "Gung hay fat choy" just in case I run across any Chinese people.

There was this snake thing planted at the entrance to the Orchid Show.

It reminded me, I better start researching the Chinese Zodiac.

If you were born in the year of the snake you might be a really smart person.

But, if somebody messes with you they better watch out.  You'll attack them.

Snakes get along well with folks born in the year of the Dragon, Ox or Rooster.

But, they don't mix with Pigs or Tigers.

People who are afraid of snakes should come to Okinawa.

We have a place where you can hang around until you get comfortable with them.

Some people even bring along the whole family and take group portraits.

Snakes really aren't bad once you get to know them.

You can learn all about a snake's personality at Reader's Digest Asia.

That's where I found "Gung hay fat choy" and all the rest of the Chinese Zodiac.

It took me a while to figure out what "Gung hay fat choy" means.

Of all the places, I found the translation at USA Today.

It doesn't mean Happy New Year.

But, Happy Chinese New Year, to you and yours, anyway!

Wildlife Photos: Daurian Redstart in Okinawa, Japan

Here's what happens when you leave the big lens behind and go underground.

The Map It Okinawa Dude and I spent the whole morning shooting photos in a cave.

We just got finished and drove over to the Ginoza Village Office.

Look at that little red bird with the white head.

Neither of us had ever seen anything like it before. Dang, where's the big Sigma ?

Grabbing a camera, I had been using in the dark with an 18-250mm lens, I went after it.

These aren't pretty photos but, they are good enough to get an ID.

Driving back to town, I tell Map It Dude, I know how to identify the bird quickly. 

A friend of mine has a Birds of Okinawa Prefecture Set on Flickr.

The closest thing he had to this bird, was something called  a Varied Tit.

Shoot.  I ain't putting that word on my blog.  My big sister reads this.  And she might slap me.

Being as thorough as possible in researching, I sent the bird's photo to the Bird Forum.

Less than an hour later, I had a positive ID.

The Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroeus) is a species with about 286 birds in the family.

And, they don't call any of them tits. They are Old World Flycatchers and Chats.

What a relief.

Who, in their right mind, would want to go home and tell their Missus they were out with

a camera, chasing tits around the village office ?  

Not me.

Life would be much easier living in that cave!