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Thank You

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I started this blog on November 16th, 2008. One year later, there have been 187 posts, 247 comments and quite a few visitors. In fact, the numbers of views has risen from 25 in  the first month to 6889 in October. It’s been a pleasure sharing my various adventures and misadventures with you over the past year. I’m glad that some people out in the world wide web have found them informative, interesting or amusing.

Not sure what the next 12 months will bring. Hopefully I’ll visit some beautiful places, meet some interesting people, learn a few kanji, and take a couple of really good photographs.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Chris & Pu blog

Polite Protests

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Yesterday afternoon I took photos at  a large protest rally held in Ginowan City. Around 20,000 people attended, with various speeches discussing the relocation of Futenma Air Station, the plight of the dugong, the noise from F-15 jets and the presence of U.S. bases in Okinawa. It seemed that many of the speakers wanted their concerns to be heard by President Obama who will visit Japan later this week.

I got some shots of the large crowds and a few of individual protestors.  I met up with fellow Brits Simon and Dave  for a chat,  then a reporter for The Okinawa Times came over and asked our opinions on the protest. It’s difficult to give a spur of the moment answer to such as complex question, it’s even harder to do it in your second language with which you lack nuance. Basically my response was that it’s a complicated situation, but I hope there will be a positive outcome for all parties.

In today’s Okinawa Times there’s a little piece about the views of 3 serious English men. Will be interesting to see what President Obama has to say on the issue.

Okinawa Times- November 9, 2009

Fashion Photography

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A few weeks ago I spent the afternoon shooting with Eboh a fashion photographer based in Okinawa.  I don’t normally shoot fashion, or do much studio work so it was a fascinating experience.

The setup was relatively simple. White seamless background, that was blasted with light from two strobes. The main strobe was a large beauty dish positioned in front of the model and about 2 meters high. A silver reflector was used to bounce a little fill light up.

The three strobes went to a single Norman battery pack which was then triggered by a Pocket Wizard.

Norman 2000D Battery Pack

I used my Pentax 67II with a 165mm LS (leaf shutter lens). The leaf shutter lens allowed me to use flash synched at 1/250 of a second rather than 1/30 of  a second. A flash cable connected the leaf shutter lens to a second Pocket Wizard which triggered the strobes.

Pentax 67II 165mm LS lens Pocket Wizard

The model for the shoot was Nikki who did a fantastic job. Eboh took a variety of images with different outfits and poses. I would watch Eboh work, and then we’d switch and I’d take a few shots.

The film was processed and then another friend, Photoshop guru Annya, helped show me the basics of crafting the final image. (It turns out the Photoshop can do far more than my usual dust removal and cropping.)

Fashion shoot with model Nikki Wright and photographer Eboh Ajeroh

Fashion shoot with model Nikki Wright.

Eventually you end up with a final image, or a version of the final image before you start tweaking it again. Many thanks to Eboh, Nikki, and Annya!

Kadena Market Day / Foster Craft Show

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This month I will be at two bazaars on Okinawa. I will have a wide selection of prints including the larger limited edition prints (that are also available through the website) and some smaller open edition prints.

Kadena Market Day

November 21, 2009 at  Schilling Community Center  10:00 – 15:00

F0ster Craft Show

November 28, 2009 at  Foster Community Center  10:00 – 16:00

There should be many fantastic vendors at each event, so If you’re in the area please drop on by and say hello.

images

Christmas 2009 Print Orders

If you are planning to buy a print through the Travel 67 website please place your order before December 10th to ensure that the item will be with you (or the recipient of the gift) by December 25th.

 

Into the Mist by Chris Willson www.travel67.com

Lego Legion

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I have been slightly obsessed recently.

I knew the photograph I wanted to take, it just took me several months to get it right. I had to assemble a suitable cast, find the right angle, create even lighting, and control the depth of field. To onlookers it may have looked like a grown man playing with toys, but this was a serious undertaking.

Finally I got the shot I wanted: a Lego Legion.

Lego Legion

Goodbye Honda Sports Cars

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In 2005 Honda ceased production of the fantastic NSX super-car. In December 2008 the company announced that plans to produce a new generation NSX had been cancelled.  In the same month Honda also announced it was leaving F1 racing.

Honda - once a manufacturer of great sports cars

This summer Honda ceased production of the S2000 sports car. This was another truly great sports car, and that’s not just my opinion,  it was ranked number 1 three years in a row on the BBC’s Top Gear Survey (2004, 2005, 2006).  Honda no longer make a true sports car. The company’s Japanese website still carries the above sketch of  two Honda S-cars on the homepage, but it’s just a little sad that, when it comes to sports cars, nostalgia seems to be the only thing that remains.

On the bookshelf: A Camera, Two Kids, and a Camel: My Journey in Photographs

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I was given one more photography book for my birthday. I hadn’t mentioned it already as A) it came by sea so only arrived recently, and B) it has a few more words than most photography books so I had to sit down and read it.

The book is  A Camera, Two Kids, and a Camel: My Journey in Photographs by Annie Griffiths Belt, a National Geographic photographer who has managed to juggle her career with two kids and a camel. (Something you don’t even see at Cirque Du Soleil.)

A Camera, Two Kids, and a Camel by Annie Griffiths Belt

A Camera, Two Kids, and a Camel by Annie Griffiths Belt

It would perhaps be best described as an illustrated autobiography. The author talks about her life as a National Geographic photographer and there were several interesting facts or pearls of wisdom along the way. These included:

“Assignments in those days (early in her career) averaged three to six months. No assistants. No shot lists. No excuses.”  Photographers were sent to a place after a five minute phone call and then it was their job to find the story behind that city or region and to photograph it.

Interpersonal skills are one of the keys to being a travel photographer. Being able to change a NO to a yes. Convincing strangers to not only let you photograph them, but to let you into their home.

Access. Go where other can’t, won’t or fear to tread.

Enjoy it. You are probably doing one of the best jobs in the world.

AIBO

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Sony AIBOs

I was just making a print of this AIBO shot. AIBO are  Sony’s autonomous robot dogs, and are fantastic pieces of engineering. In this photo there is an AIBO ERS-111 (silver) and an AIBO ERS-210 (gold) with the special AIBO pink ball which they can play with.

AIBO was discontinued in 2005 as a cost cutting measure. It is a shame because AIBO was a great flagship product for Sony.  AIBO remains however  as a fine example of synergy between  high-technology and “kawaii” cuteness.