Hitoshi Oyakawa, 8th dan Shorinji-ryu.
Hitoshi Oyakawa, 8th dan Shorinji-ryu. Photographed on 1st September, 2014 at the Budokan in Naha.
Hitoshi Oyakawa, 8th dan Shorinji-ryu.
Hitoshi Oyakawa, 8th dan Shorinji-ryu.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
On Sunday 17th, Fukagawa Hachiman Festival reached its peak. Festivities began with blessings from the Shinto priest outside the shrine.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Dozens of mikoshi were carried through the streets, the participants getting soaked by far more bystanders with buckets of water.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
As with yesterday, it was great to know that the Pentax 645Z and lenses are properly weather sealed. The camera was splashed several times, but there were no issues.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
However, there were some professional water soakers that I needed to stay clear of. Numerous member of the Tokyo fire departments were there to drench the groups with water.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
There’s weather sealing, and there’s being hit by a firehose sealing. I wasn’t going to test the latter.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
My goal therefore was to try and get in close to the groups without getting soaked,
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
or crushed underfoot by a team of mikoshi carriers.
Fukagawa Festival, Tokyo, Japan
And a bit of video
Everything’s good. 6-month check at the Kobe Kanagawa Eye Clinic in Shinjuku
While in Tokyo, I’d stopped by the Kobe Kanagawa Eye Clinic in Shinjuku for my 6-month eye check after Lasik.
First, I did a standard eye test. I could read the bottom line with my right eye, the second to bottom line with my left eye, and the bottom line clearly with both eyes open.
My eyes were then checked by the doctor, and I was given the all clear. Awesome.
I can go back to the clinic if I ever have any concerns, but that was the final regularly scheduled check-up.
To learn more about my experience with Lasik just click on the Lasik in Japan tab above.
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, Tokyo
Fukagawa Festival a.k.a. The Water Throwing Festival held at Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine, Tokyo. Participants throw buckets of water at mikoshi (portable shirines) as they are carried through streets in one of the great Shinto festivals of Tokyo.
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, Tokyo
Not everyone chooses buckets of water, there were plenty of kids with their super soakers happy to join in the fun. These are shots from the Saturday, the day before the main festival. Going a day early allowed me to get a feel for the festival, work out the angles, and prepare myself for the following day.
Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, Tokyo
Fushimi Inari Shrine , Kyoto
Exciting news regarding workshops. I’ve set the dates for the fall Fundamentals Workshop, and for the first time there will be a workshop on DSLR video, a workshop on Advanced Off Camera, and a 7-day Kyoto workshop in the spring.
Aslo don’t forget to join us for Trevor William’s light painting workshop next month.
Click on the Photograph Workshops tab above for more details.
October 4 & 5 , 2014 – Photography Fundamentals Workshop with Chris Willson
October 10 & 11, 2014 – Light Painting with Trevor Williams and Chris Willson
October 12, 2014 – Advanced Light Painting with Trevor Williams and Chris Willson
November 1 & 2 , 2014 – Photography Fundamentals Workshop with Chris Willson
November 8 & 9 , 2014 – DSLR Video Fundamentals Workshop with Jonathan Galione
December 6 & 7 , 2014 – Photography Fundamentals Workshop with Chris Willson
December 13 & 14 , 2014 – Advanced Off Camera Flash with Pete Leong & Chris Willson
March 30th to April 5, 2015 – Kyoto Workshop with Chris Willson (& special guests)
To book a place on a course please email chris(at)travel67.com I will send you a paypal request for the class fee. Payment secures your place on the course.
Tsuguo Sakumoto 9th dan Ryuei-ryu
Tsuguo Sakumoto, 9th dan Ryuei-ryu, coaches the Japan national team and three-time World Karate Champion. Photographed on September 1st, 2014 at the Budokan, Naha.
Tsuguo Sakumoto 9th dan Ryuei-ryu
Tsuguo Sakumoto 9th dan Ryuei-ryu
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Along with portraits I needed to get some images of groups dancing at the festival. There are several areas where they dance, but I based myself at the largest venue where hundreds of spectators watch the event from terraced seating.
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Organizing a press pass meant I could get much better images than shooting from the terraces, but even press are restricted to where they can go so not to impede the dancers or spoil the view for spectators.
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
I shot hundreds of images between 6pm and 9.30pm, but nearly all the best shots came from a period of about 10 minutes during twilight just after the floodlights came on.
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Overall a great festival. If you’re ever in Japan between August 12 to 15, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Yoshitaka Taira, 10th dan World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu)
Yoshitaka Taira, 10th dan World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) was the first sensei I photographed for the Karate Masters Portrait Project. At that time, we only took a simple head shot and a single pose of them in their favorite stance. More recently we try to get a much wider variety of images, so when I saw Taira sensei at the seminar last week, I asked if could get a few additional shots of the project.
Yoshitaka Taira, 10th dan World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu)
Yoshitaka Taira, 10th dan World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu)
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Some portraits of the young men a Awa Odori, Tokushima. Standard modus operandi: Pentax 645Z with 90mm lens. Shake reduction within the lens useful to maximize sharpness without a tripod.
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Awa Odori ( Awa Dance Festival )
Koei Teruya, 10th dan Goju-ryu karate.
Koei Teruya, 10th dan Goju-ryu karate. Photographed at the Naha Budokan Sept 1st 2014
Koei Teruya, 10th dan Goju-ryu karate.
Koei Teruya, 10th dan Goju-ryu karate.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 