Beyond the Tamagawa: July 2010

Sunday, July 18, 2010

A little fatherly advice

Good god man! I believe this image has been manipulated! It is no longer a 3 dimensional scene with sound, wind, smells, and living things. Grandpa never did things this way. Then again, this catches the moment and the feeling for me.

Dad was advising the little fellow where he could ride and where he shouldn't.

Ookayama, Tokyo.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Surprise at Ookayama station

Friday, July 09, 2010

Weekday shoppers

Serious business

I believe this young lady considers shopping serious business. Either that or she is wondering why the idiot is sitting around taking photos of people doing nothing more than walking down the street. I have no answer for that.

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Okonomiyaki served here

And I assume smoking is permitted inside. Don't know how the okonomiyaki ( a pancake-like food made of flour, cabbage, and other ingredients from seafood to bacon and cheese) is, but just the looks of the place makes me want to eat there regardless of any smoking.

When I was in high school, I found a photography book in the library about Japan. This was no ordinary Japan photo book as there was little in it that would would have been identified with the stereotypical Japan. As I recall, there were seascapes, landscapes, and other types of photos, but no temples, no shrines, no festivals, no geisha, and no shots of the intersection in front of Shibuya station. I was disappointed.

I wish I could recall the name of the book for I'd love to see it again. It comes close to my view of Japan. I don't think of the country or its people as weird, uniquely unique, Zen-like, or anything like that. It is a country, a people, and a culture that differs only by degree---when it does actually differ---from other countries. Just like every other country and culture on earth.

I no longer bother much with the typical "Wow, it's Japan" photos. I try to photograph things which for some reason interest me, or represent something to me, or perhaps I just like the colors, tones, shapes, or light. Perhaps disappointing for anyone looking for photos of Kinkokuji Shrine (though some are here), but those types are readily available anywhere. If nothing else, I will amuse myself with an expensive hobby.

(Since I am occasionally asked, I generally use Nikons: D300, D70s, or borrow my wife's D40. I occasionally use an old Olympus OM-1 for film, as well as Oly digicams, and a now sadly deceased Oly 35ED rangefinder.)