All posts filed under: Okinawa

Lab Report – Disturbance in the Cosmos

I haven’t offered family portraits in the cosmos fields. I’ve done model shoots in the cosmos, but I’ve usually referred parents with kids on to other photographers. However, in preparation for sessions next year, I decided I’d do a test shoot to work out the best locations and angles etc.  Bear played the role of a small child, and things were going fine, until I thought the pics might look better without the orange collar. Bad idea. Never feed Gremlins after midnight, never call Chuck Norris a sissy, and never remove Bear’s collar. Not unless you have a clearly defined strategy as to how you are going to catch, and then clean the ball of mud and fur, before putting her back in the car. She’s too fast for me, she’s too fast for the camera’s autofocus. In conclusion, from Spring 2015 I will offer family sessions in the cosmos fields. If your children like to roll around in the mud, then run until exhaustion, no problem. They’ll be going home in your car!

Karate Masters Portrait Project – Narihiro Shinjo

Narihiro Shinjo, Uechi Ryu karate master, and younger brother of Kiyohide Shinjo. He has won the kata section of karate championships so many times, James and I are having trouble working out the exact number. Just like his brother he is fast, conditioned beyond belief, and very very strong. He is also a lovely man, and has great control, which is a relief when a foot that could probably pass through concrete flies towards your camera.

Video with the Pentax K3

The Pentax K3 can record FullHD video so thought I’d give it a go during the weekend’s workshop. The above footage is handheld, and sound is recorded with the built-in mono microphone rather than an external stereo mic, but it looks pretty good.  Will have to spend a lot more time learning how to get the most out of the camera’s video capabilities. These moving pictures, however, are an interesting development. In fact, I’d hazardous a guess, and say it’s probably going to catch on.

Here’s looking at you Babe.

A few porky pics, showing the love many Okinawans have for pigs. To be more precise, that love is usually when Miss Piggie is in a bowl of ramen, or a can of spam. I believe the owner of this truck sells “ham”burgers, but I would like to believe it is actually the vehicle of the Hogfather a superhero that saves pigs that are on their way to the Okinawa Ham factory. Not sure what the police pig enforces, but I’ve heard he has no time for squealers, and he’s sometimes described as a bit of a boar.

Unjami Festival on Kouri Island, Okinawa

Yesterday, August 25th, was the Unjami Festival on Kouri Island, Okinawa. It is a time to give thanks to the gods. Wearing wreaths of ryukyu botanzuru (Clematis taiwaniana var. ryukiuensis) village elders lead the prayers and offerings. At 96 years old, Kaneshi Fusae is the most senior of the village elders. Participants and spectators at the festival received some mochi (sticky gelatinous rice cake). After offerings of paper money and Awamori rice liquor at the shrine, 79 year old Toguchi Ayako lead the way down toward the sea. More prayers  as we crossed the little road that rings the island. And then finally, on a bluff over looking the ocean,  Toguchi-san gave the final blessings. Kaneshi-san was all smiles, another festival completed.