Talisa in Purple
Model – Talisa Galarza
Makeup and Hair – Mallika Sharma of Glam Girl Sharma
Pentax 645D Pentax 150mm
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.
Talisa in Purple
Mud Festival – Kin Town, Okinawa
The Mud Festival in Kin Town is the biggest even in the annual calendar for locals. There are various food vendors, and a performance by Ryujin Mabuya, but the highlight is a field the size of a swimming pool that has been flooded with about 20 centiemeters of muddy water. There are some swings, rubber rings, a slide, and various floats for the kids to play on. It doesn’t take very long before every child is covered head to toe in a layer of brown sludge.
Mud Festival – Kin Town, Okinawa
Mud Festival – Kin Town, Okinawa
Mud Festival – Kin Town, Okinawa
In the Studio – Amanda
Model – Amanda ‘Hamilton’ Perez
MUA – Summer Johnson-Makeup Artist
Pentax 645D
HD PENTAX-D FA645 MACRO 90mmF2.8ED AW S
Lighting – Grey background. Octabox powered by Profoto Pro-7a as the main light. Small softbox as low fill. A medium size strip softbox on both sides adding rimlight (powered by Profoto compacts). A fifth compact aimed at the background. Strobes triggered with PocketWizards.
Okinawa Woodpecker / Noguchii gera / Sapheopipo noguchii
Shawn Miller and I went out to Yanbaru very early this morning for a birdwatching tour with birder and wildlife artist Ichiro Kikuta. Ichiro has just started offering guided birding tours, either 2-hour dawn tours from 6AM to 8AM, or all-day tours. He can speak some English, is very personable, and has a huge wealth of knowledge about Okinawan wildlife.
Shawn and I specifically wanted to see the Noguchi-gera, the rare woodpecker that is endemic to the subtropical forests of northern Okinawa. Ichiro knew where a pair of the woodpeckers were feeding their chicks, and guided us to the nest. We spent a couple of hours photographing this particular bird, while Ichiro identified other species of birds we spotted or heard.
Ichiro can be contacted by phone at 090 6867 3160 or email at kikuta-ichiro@mbp.nifty.com
2-hour dawn tours are ¥6,000 per person. All-day tours for one to four people are ¥¥18,000 (1p) ¥24,000 (2p) ¥30,000 (3p) ¥36,000 (4p).
9th Dan Uechi Ryu master Kiyohide Shinjo training with Sanchin jars.
Okinawan karate has several training techniques that are designed to strengthen and condition the body using simple everyday objects. Sanchin are heavy jars that are gripped with the fingertips. Makiwara is a striking post the top of which is often wrapped in leather or straw. It is similar to a boxers punching bag, but with a smaller target.
10th Dan Shorin-ryu Karate Master Sokuichi Gibu training with makiwara
In the photo below Gaja-sensei demonstrated how a simple bucket of stones was used for fingertip conditioning. He thrust his hand in so hard and fast, the force sent some stones flying out of the bucket.
Uechiryu Karate 9th dan Takehiro Gaja – Fingertip Conditioning
Here’s a short clip showing a few different techniques by various masters including Kiyohide Shinjo.
Leia Heider Model Portfolio – On Location
For Leia’s portfolio we shot both in the studio and out on location at the beach. A couple of simple natural light shots with the sun giving some nice backlighting on the hair.
Leia Heider Model Portfolio – On Location
Pentax 645D
The U.S. price for the Pentax 645D has just dropped a massive 1800 dollars. This may tempt some to jump from full frame 35mm to something a little bigger, it also could be seen as an indicator that a Pentax 645D II is on its way. Rumors are it could be 60 megapixels, a larger sensor (although not FF 645), and priced significantly higher than the original 645D.
Pentax 645D at B&H for US$6996.95
Pentax 645D at Amazon US via Adorama
Joe the Farmhand
Joseph was always the second strongest kid working on the farm. The other boy was the son of Jonathan and Martha Kent.
Taj Mahal – Details
It is said that God is in the details. Once you’ve got your wide angle establishing shots, step in close and take a few pics of the smaller things .
Taj Mahal – Details
Taj Mahal – Details
Taj Mahal – Details
Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi ryu karate.
On April 30th, I took portraits of Kiyohide Shinjo. He is a 9th-dan Uechi Ryu karate master and a nine-time all-Okinawa kata and kumite champion. He dominated karate to such an extent he was known as the Okinawan Superman.
Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi ryu karate.
Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi ryu karate.
Shinjo-sensei has conditioned his body to be able to withstand huge blows without sustaining damage. He can smack his knuckles, fingertips and toes into pretty much anyone or anything.
Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi ryu karate.
Shinjo sensei put on his serious face for the portraits, his whole body tense and ready to strike. I’m pretty sure opponents who witnessed this face were just about to lose their fight and quite possibly consciousness.
Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi ryu karate.
This was the second time I have photographed Shinjo-sensei, the first time was in 2006. Read my Island Icons interview with Kiyohide Shinjo for Okinawa Living Magazine.
TRAVEL 67 : Chris Willson Photography 