2016 has been an great year with a mix of photography and putting in the groundwork for future projects.

Cherry Blossom

The year began with cherry blossom in Okinawa, and a few months later I was whizzing around mainland Japan shooting cherry blossom in Himeji, Kyoto, Nara and Tokyo. 2017 should be another epic year for cherry blossom pics as I run a Kyoto Workshop  in April while the trees are in full bloom.

Himeji Castle and cherry blossom after the rennovations completed in 2015 .

Deer in Nara Park among the cherry blossom. Nara, Japan

Karate

The Karate Masters Portrait Project continues although at a slower pace. In 2016, I shot images for James’ new clothing brand Okinawa Dojo of Life. The Guinness World Record for the most people performing a kata was broken, and Sensei Higa took on the minotaur of Zakimi.

Maeshiro Shusei 10th-dan Uechi-ryu Karate 10th-dan Ryukyu Kobudo

Shintoku Takara 10th dan Okinawa Uechi-ryu Karatedo Kyokai (D.0.B. 10/05/1930)

Marine Life

Didn’t spend much time shooting underwater this year, but have made new contacts with the Churaumi Research Center so it’s been great to document some of their work monitoring the migration of humpback whales. In 2017 I hope to get pictures of other monitoring programs including coconut crabs and turtles.

Humpback whales off the coast of Motobu, Okinawa, Japan

Humpback whales off the coast of Motobu, Okinawa, Japan

Dissection by Okinawa Churashima Research Center of young humpback whale that beached near Kadena, Okinawa, Japan. 19/02/2016

Life on Okinawa

I continue to shoot editorial images of life on Okinawa. Artisans featured heavily this year with photos of shisa makers, painters, weavers, carpenters, and bodybuilders. Photos went into magazines for Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Star Cruises, Action Asia and numerous websites.

Toshiko Taira age 96 Japanese Living National Treasure, Ogimi Village Bashofu Hall, Kijoka, Ogimi, Okinawa

Oshiro Yoshimasa (57) carpenter making weaving loom , Haebaru, Okinawa　大城織機製作所

Woodblock artist Bokunen Naka at Bokunen Art Museum in Depot Island shopping and dining area, Mihama American Village, Chatan, Okinawa, Japan

Naoko Yamashiro creating ceramic shisa at Yachimun no Sato ( Pottery / Artists Village ) in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan

Festivals

Along with the fiery Dosojin fire festival, and the damp  Ohara Hadaka Matsuri the big festival of my year was Onbashira where teams of men risk their lives riding tree trunks down the side of a mountain.

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri, Chiba, Japan

 Let there be light

I shot in and out of the studio and worked with some new gear by Profoto to add  magical light to the images.

Pentax sent me their new camera the Pentax K-1 and one of the images was used for their exhibition up in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Summer in Europe

Spent a couple of weeks back in the UK and France meeting up with friends and family along with shooting imagery in the Lake District, London and Paris. Beautiful weather, awesome museums, and a wonderful time catching up with so many great people.

View from the London Eye ferris wheel overlooking the Thames River and Houses of Parliament, London, England.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Hill Top, home of Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit. Lake District, Cumbria, UK

Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Louvre’s most popular attraction. Paris, France

Woman walking across Millennium Bridge away from St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England.

Sessions

Motobu is surrounded by great locations for family, couple, and commercial sessions. In 2016 I got to photograph many lovely clients and look forward to many more in 2017. Details about sessions can be found here.

Gima Family Session in Motobu

Beau and Lindsay Engagement Shoot. Motobu, Okinawa, Japan. Chris Willson Photography http://www.TRAVEL67.com

Meggan McMains Family Shoot, Uruma City, Okinawa by Chris Willson Photography

Hannah Hooper Yoga、Okinawa, Japan

Favorite image of the year?

This year my favorite shot is the pic of Yuki walking across the Millennium Bridge in London with St. Paul’s Cathedral in the background. Technically it works with the focus, framing and exposure being correct, I also knew that just before sunset direct light on her face  would work. However, it is the little bits of luck with the clear skies, the break in the pedestrians, and the dress billowing that made it all come together.

Hope 2017 is a great year for you all.