All posts filed under: Okinawa

Bianca, Essa & Suzanne

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Another location shoot, this time with Essa and Bianca on the beach in Uruma City, Okinawa. Bianca is wearing pieces by Suzanne Somersall Jewelry. More images to come, but currently on the road so will upload more when I return to Okinawa. Horses are somewhat fidgety models, and similar to kids and babies, spend a lot of time pulling faces and sticking out their tongues. In this shot Essa was suddenly tranquil and I could capture the image I wanted. It turns out that horses can either pull funny faces or relieve their bowels, but can’t do both at the same time.

Snorkeling on Okinawa

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Along with the other images from the shoot I thought I’d try and get a snorkeling stock image. The ocean isn’t normally so flat, but it was great to get such a clear reflection. If anyone’s interested, I think the best spots on Okinawa for snorkeling are Sunabe Seawall for the vast gardens of soft coral, Cape Maeda for the easy access and the Blue Cave, and Channel Crevices for its shallow tide pool and interesting rock formations. Just remember that when snorkeling don’t rely on an inflatable ring or an air mattress if you’re not a strong swimmer. There have been numerous cases of mainland Japanese drowning after they are pushed out to sea by the wind, or their floatation device is popped by sharps rocks or coral. Also be careful if you snorkel out past the reef edge and the breaking waves. If the winds change and large waves suddenly appear, you may find yourself unable to get back to shore without going through a gauntlet of churning surf.

Amanda – Beach / Surf Shoot

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Here are a few photographs from an early morning beach shoot with Amanda modeling some of Suzanne Somersall’s jewelry. Beautiful morning light, but in minutes it would transform into scorching summer sun. At that point we retreated to the shade. Amanda had her longboard in the car, so it seemed like to good an opportunity to capture some images with a surfer vibe. You can see more of Suzanne’s Jewelry on her homepage at kirakirajewelry.com

Okinawan Orchids

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The first thing you notice when you arrive in Okinawa are the orchids. They greet you at the airport, then in the hotel lobby, and if you’re staying somewhere nice, in your room. They are also a common gift, when you might otherwise give a bunch of flowers. When people start a new business, move house, or even hold an exhibition it’s quite common to see an impressive display of orchids. If you want to see a large variety of orchids on Okinawa, check out Bios Botanical Gardens in Uruma City or the Tropical Dream Center located in Expo park a short walk from the Churaumi Aquarium.

Fun in the Sun

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Great Photography 101 workshop last weekend. Saturday was all about the fundamentals, looking at how we can better control aperture, exposure and composition, then on Sunday we explored the Yomitan peninsular to practice our techniques. Shirley got this great shot of a couple posing at Cape Maeda. I like the way she’s positioned the couple away from the center of the frame for better composition, and captured the decisive moment as they both smile for their own photograph. And here’s a shot of me demonstrating that you sometimes have to get down to the same level as your subjects. As one of Japan’s most famous diving and snorkeling spots it was not surprising that on a gorgeous day in August there were plenty of people enjoying the water. I took at quick photograph of the scene, and when looking at the image on the computer it reminded of the Where’s Wally books. (Where’s Waldo in the U.S.) I put the full size image up on Flickr, scroll around the screen to check out everyone having …

Adan Fruit in Okinawa

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Adan trees are a common sight along the beaches of Okinawa. They seem to tolerate the salty soils and buffeting winds better than almost any other plant. At first glance, the adan fruit is often mistaken for a pineapple. I don’t know any people that eat it, but it does seem to be a popular treat with the island’s crab population.

Disabled Parking Spaces in Japan

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There are a growing number of parking spaces for the disabled around Japan. In fact, with the exception of historic buildings, Japan seems to be quite accessible for those with limited mobility. Car rental companies usually have a variety of vehicles specifically designed for wheel chairs or even with seats that rotate and lower the passenger. As would be expected the train system in Japan is excellent for disabled travelers. Hotels, likewise, have disabled parking and many hotels have disabled accessible rooms. (I believe it is mandatory for larger hotels.) One thing that some people in Japan have yet to understand or value, is that disabled parking spaces are only for people who need them. Unfortunately, they are used by able-bodied people when car parks are almost full, to reduce the time walking to the front of the store, or when the disabled parking space is in the shade. I’ve seen it done by both men and women, old and young, rich and poor. The repercussions for using disabled parking in Japan appear to be …

Visions of Japan on You Tube

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A couple of years ago I held a small exhibition at Cotonoha Art Space + Cafe. It’s a great place run by American expat Daryl “Michi” Mitchell, and well worth visiting. Hideki, one of  Michi’s friends,  asked if he could make a mini documentary about the event, and it was finally uploaded to You Tube a few weeks ago. I’m aware that my name isn’t spelt correctly at times, but it’s a great reminder of a fun event. A big thanks to Keith Gordon of Ryukyu Underground for the use of his tracks as background music. More thanks to both Michi and Hideki for helping me put on the exhibition and creating the video. You can see more images from my exhibitions in the following video. Music by Eduardo Terre. Prints from the exhibitions are currently available through the website or at Kadena Gift Corner.