Shisa talisman by Yoneko-yaki Pottery . Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan
Yoneko-yaki Pottery produces the most colorful and possibly the most kawaii shisa statues in Okinawa. The workshop is just across the road from Yonehara Beach on the northern coastline of Ishigaki.
Shisa talisman by Yoneko-yaki Pottery . Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan
Shisa talisman by Yoneko-yaki Pottery . Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan
Genki Oba-chan
Okinawan women not only have the longest life expectancy in the world, but the extra years are usually healthy, happy and productive. The reason is more nurture than nature, so eat your veggies, get some exercise, cherish your friendships, and remember to smile.
In the studio – Yuki
A few new images to update Yuki’s model portfolio.
Model – Yuki
Makeup Artist – Summer Johnson
Agency – Casting Office Lona
In the studio – Yuki
In the studio – Yuki
Protecting the Okinawa Rail
The Okinawa Rail ( Gallirallus okinawae ) know locally as the Yanbaru Kuina is a small flightless bird that is endemic to the forests of northern Okinawa.
There are less than a thousand birds remaining on Okinawa, and numerous factors both natural and manmade are keeping the population small.
Various animals kill the birds including jungle crows, mongooses and cats. The crows are a natural part of the forest ecosystem, but mongooses were introduced to try and control the habu snake population, and feral cats are discarded strays and their progeny. Signs are now posted telling people not to discard their unwanted pets, and for several years there has been a program to try and eradicate the mongoose from the northern part of the island.
Protecting the Okinawa Rail
Another common killer of the Okinawa Rail is motor vehicles. The local government has tried to reduce the frequency of accidents by posting warning signs for motorists informing them to slow down, phone numbers if you should find (or be the cause of) an injured bird, and mini exit ramps in the drainage ditches so that the birds can escape.
Protecting the Okinawa Rail
Hopefully these measures will prevent the number of Okinawan rail from dwindling further toward extinction.
The Okinawa Rail
In the studio – Yuki
Model – Yuki
MUA – Summer Johnson
Pentax 645D
HD PENTAX-D FA645 MACRO 90mmF2.8ED AW S
Lighting – Charcoal background. Beauty dish powered by Profoto Pro-7a as the main light. Small softbox as low fill. Medium size strip softboxes on both sides adding rimlight (powered by Profoto compacts). A fifth compact aimed at the background. Strobes triggered with PocketWizards.
Holi Festival – Jaipur, India
It’s always a challenge in photography to try and put the viewer into the midst of a scene with just a single image. Although I shot numerous portraits at Holi, I also experimented a little with movement to try and show the excitement, disorientation, speed and color of the festival.
Holi Festival – Jaipur, India
When you’re out on the streets, Holi is celebrated like a fast paced, contact sport. Bikes swoop in, unleashing a flurry of hands and powder. It’s all fun as long as you don’t mind dozens of extremely excited Indian men smearing you face and hair with paint.
Holi Festival – Jaipur, India
If you’re a woman, you’re probably going to get far more attention that you want, and the mob of hands will invariably stray from your head and shoulders. Depending on your outlook, this can be anything from annoying to a nightmare. The hotels recommended tourists to not walk around on the streets while the celebrations took place.
Holi Festival – Jaipur, India
I was particularly amused by this car full of bright pink bearded men. I hope the driver wanted a new more colorful interior.
Holi Festival – Jaipur, India
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Last night, Gary Sinise performed with the Lt. Dan Band on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. It was a great show. Of course this is partly because there’s a celebrity on the stage, but it was more about knowing the audience and what they enjoy. This means you got huge cheers when they started playing The Who’s Baba O’ Riley and everyone sang a long to classics such as The devil went down to Georgia, Chicken Fried, and of course God Bless The USA.
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band perfom for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa. Organized by the USO.
Gary Sinise on Okinawa to perform with the Lt. Dan Band for the US troops on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Nio Guardian of Tourinji Temple – Ishigaki, Japan
Tourinji Temple, founded in 1614, was the first temple in the Yaeyamas. Two Nio guardians stand on either side of the temple entrance acting as mythical bouncers and warding off evil spirits.
Nio Guardian of Tourinji Temple – Ishigaki, Japan
BAPE Store – Fukuoka, Japan
BAPE (A Bathing Ape) is the ultra cool Japanese clothing brand by designer Nigo. At the moment, you can only buy the clothing in the BAPE stores, of which there are around 19 in Japan and a few overseas. I just read the company was bought by a Hong Kong fashion conglomerate for about 3 million dollars, so I imagine that in the near future, the brand is going to become a lot more popular, and a lot less exclusive.
BAPE Clothing
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 