Hiroshi Takamiyagi is the founder of Goshukan Ryu Karatedo which combines Okinawa Shuri-Te Karate with Wu Zhu Quan (Five Ancestor Kenpo). The origins of karate came from Chinese emissaries so this combination is in many way taking the art form back to its most traditional techniques.
Nobuko Oshiro, Kyoshi, 8th dan Okinawa Karate-do Shorinryu, Taishinkan Association in the sugar cane fields of Sashiki Town, Okinawa, These shots were possible because of a high speed flash system that I was able to purchase with the money that came from supporters of the project purchasing a book, print or digital file. It allows me to sync a powerful flash at shutter speeds faster than 1/125 sec. I can now freeze movement without the ambient light blur normally associated with these images. 1/2000 sec at f / 4.0 ISO400 The crew: Yuki, James, Oshiro-sensei, Chris, Bekka.
Shooting a client and the 2015 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. This was shot with the Pentax 645Z and 90mm lens. I used the Priolite M-PACK1000 HotSync flash along with a white beauty dish for light. The HotSync system is designed for shooting flash while using fast shutter speeds, but it also works at standard or slower sync speeds. In this image it was 1/20 f16 ISO100.
Last Friday we photographed Yonamine Kousuke at his dojo in Sashiki Town, Okinawa. Lovely man. Yonamine san has developed techniques and even a kata that use a walking stick as a weapon. Once he demonstrated how easily it could be used to hook a limb or bludgeon an opponent, it was clear it would be very effective.
Placing the subject in the shade on a sunny day can lead to bright catchlights in the eyes that reflect the entire scene before them.
Camera Strap You don’t need to advertise to the world which brand and model you own via your camera strap. A plain generic strap is a safer option. Pacsafe Strapsafe100 is easily removable with locking carabiners, but can’t be cut by thieves. Extra Memory Cards I recommend SanDisk as a solid reliable brand. You don’t have to buy the most expensive card if your camera is not shooting 4K or rapid bursts. Use the widget on the SanDisk website to see which card they recommend for your camera. Mini Tripod Small, light, cheap. Throw it in your backpack and it may just save the day when you haven’t packed your big tripod. (You can also use it to mount your off camera flash.) The Gorillapod is a design classic. Spare Battery Unless your shooting with an all mechanical film camera, you’re going to be using battery power. Get a spare so you don’t run out of juice. Polarizing filter The world looks better when it’s polarized. Less glare, bluer skies, greener vegetation. Get a pair …
Quick portrait of an Okinawan woman shot with the Pentax 645Z, 90mm lens, and natural light.
The less well known track by Survivor. Interesting to see just how shallow the depth of field is when shooting with the 645Z and a 90mm macro lens at f2.8 and the minimum focusing distance of 0.413m.
My images of Richard and his R2 on the front page of The Guardian website and a 10 image “The Big Picture” photo feature. Always nice to make both the subject and the client really happy, and have a great time doing it as well. http://www.theguardian.com/travel/gallery/2015/dec/13/me-and-my-droid-in-pictures And page 67 of The Observer Magazine.
On April 3rd 2015, I moved into the new house. I was well aware that it would need some renovation work. Inside was mainly cosmetic and could wait, but the outside needed immediate work. Some of the drains at the house had been detached by previous typhoons. Leaks had occurred where water pooled up on the balcony and flowed in through air vents. Other water leaks had been caused by air vents missing hoods. In Okinawa rainy season is May to early June. It’s wet but the rain is falling vertically. However in July, August and September there are typhoons. If you have an ocean view, you are going to get hit by the full force of the wind and horizontal rain. The first job was to buy a power washer and clean the dirt off everything within reach. This enabled me to reveal any cracks in the concrete and assess the problems. Most homes in Okinawa are built out of reinforced concrete with a core of steel rebar. They are strong and able to withstand …
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 