End of Autumn

As previously mentioned, I haven't shot the colors of fall so much, too busy with this or that in past weeks. Apparently, with the quick drop in temperatures, the colors were very nice this year. However, one theme that I have been attracted to is the end of the colors, when only one or a few leaves are left on a tree. I haven't shot tons of them, but the subjects appeals to me, perhaps as it represents the end of one part of my existence, my free, pre-child life. Of course with a child a new spring will come forth and I look forward to it, although, as is natural for someone in my position, there are still doubts in my head, not that I can do much about it.

Anyways, enough introspections, here are some shots, two of which I took this afternoon.

Return on Kameraoke

Through Facehook, I learned that one of my shots was chosen by the people as one of the best in the Kameraoke contest last week. I'm pretty happy as most of the people present were photographers or much interested in the subject. It came a bit as a surprise though, as the picture was not so well located I thought. But I guess it left a strong enough impression that people enjoyed it.

As with the case of many great pictures, the subject is a little irrelevant. Here, the Tempozan Ferris wheel is just a means to show two components of design, color (red) and line. The support leads the eye into the picture, finishing near an imaginary point dictated by the rule of thirds (something the ancient Greeks discovered), bringing us close the other strong line. If you remember, originally, I took pictures of the attraction to include in the wheels category, but when I got this shot, it was the lines that took over and entered in the contest as such.

What I really like about this shot too is that it is not clear exactly what the subject is. Sure, it is a Ferris wheel, but many people have likened it to a space station or even a planet with a sun coming out of the horizon. Conceptual photography can be very challenging to take, but then again, that's the fun part.

Random Cellphone Shots

I take quite a few pictures with my cellphone but rarely think about getting my MicroSD card out, put it in a SD adapter, insert it in my D40, then plug the camera to my computer; OK, actually I'm lazy. Anyways, here are some random shots taken since last year. Click on the pictures to see larger and enjoy.

Monkey See...

Nikko, Japan

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2009 scary Halloween costume

We're going this way!

Sayonara party (but he came back!)

Cute shoe left on the curb

Chernobyl t-shirt

Found at the Hotel California

Light at the end

Arashiyama station

Pyramid watermelon for $800+ 

My main man, Totoro

Random temple

Kazuo 'Big Hair'

Vitamin C!!

Nakanoshima Renaissance Illumination

Today was the Kameraoke 5 party, but my wife and I didn't stay too long as she didn't like the smoky smell. Cafe Absinthe doesn't stink for regular people, but when you're 37-week pregnant, things are different. All the shots were very nice, I wish I could tell you who won. I think that if one of my shot had been better positioned, it would have stood a chance, but regardless, the spirit of the event was fun, and I certainly had lots of it shooting for it.

After, we went along the Midosuji street that is illuminated these days. It was pretty nice, but not as much as the lights around Nakanoshima. We walk a great deal, certainly more than the daily 3 hours (!) my wife was prescribed by her doctor. I had little expectations, but I actually enjoyed myself quite a bit. My wife and I got to go on a date together, something we've had little time in the past few months (and a lot is my fault...); we had some decent food (I tried some Russian food, which was good but it would have been better in an actual); and my wife was kind enough to let me take quite a few snaps. Here are some of the highlights, no pun intended! Click on them to see larger files.

The main entrance, shot from the side

I liked the Avatar look on this one

Who cares about the illumination; feed my belly!

My wife liked when the pink showed in the back

This is Osaka, where are the Tigers!?!

Gotta love puddles

Different tableaux were shown successively

Columns like candy canes: yummy!

I liked the lines

They even had a skating rink!

Return of the Giant Rubber Duckie (famous B-movie)

Patterns, patterns, patterns

Intended Consequences: Photos by Jonathan Torgovnik

Today I headed out to the Kyoto University of Art and Design to see Jonathan Torgovnik's exhibition entitled Intended Consequences: Rwandan Children Born of Rape. During the genocide that happened in the African country in the '90s, numerous women were systematically raped and many of them, since HIV/AIDS carries, have born children. Photojournalist Torgovnik travelled there to report on these people and has since started the Foundation Rwanda NGO to provide education for the children, support for the mothers and call attention to the consequences of genocides and sexual violence.

The exhibits consists of portraits of the mothers and their children shot in various locations in Rwanda, usualy at their home or nearby. Some look away, some manage a smile, some have tears in their eyes, and some look right through the viewer. The perfect technique of Torgovnik goes a long way to create strong emotions in the viewer. While you can easily most of the shots on the internet, seeing the large reproductions in its glorious quality makes some of the shots look almost alive. The faces of Stella & Claude, Katherine & Eugene and Bernadette and Faustin will stay with me for some time.

If you are interested in photojournalism and/or in social issues, please do make the effort to see the exhibition, whether here in Kansai or when it will travel to other shores. It is a must-see, and you can encourage the artist and his foundation by purchasing the book of the series, which contains interviews with the subjects.

I leave you with a shot of Stella and Claude. I do not own the right to this picture, only Jonathan Torgovnik does. I hope he will not mind that I use it to promote his dedicated work. Mr. Torgovnik, if you wish me to remove this picture from this blog, I will do so gladly and promptly.

Kame, Yuma & ...

Kame and Yuma were kind to allow me to show you some pictures I took of them. Well, Yuma said only the cute ones, and I hope these apply. We shot the pictures at their place, and I brought a large black cloth as background for some of the shots. It wasn't perfect, but it worked out fine (especially considering the price I paid for it; I love DIY and cheap cloth is easily available in Semba). We mostly shot in their bedroom (futons out) as it is the brightest room in their apartment, and we shot a few in their living room as well.

The B&W aren't true BW, they're tri/quadtones. They looked nice on PS, but I'm unsure elsewhere since in Aperture they look a little washed out. Perhaps it's due to the fact that I saved them in CMYK, as I will print them for the happy family. Let me know if they look horrible on your end!

Photo Shoot Outtake

Yesterday I visited my fellow capoeirista Kame and Yuma to take portraits of them. It wasn't the first time I was shooting them, actually Kame was one of the very first capoeirista I took pictures of. But this time the shots were of a different kind, as Yuma is 8-month pregnant.

It was a very friendly shoot, and Yuma felt very comfortable exposing her belly, even if in general Japanese can feel a little shy in many situations. When doing portraits, it is very important that models feel comfortable with the photographer, and of course working with friends is quite helpful. Always compliment them and with digital cameras show them results throughout the shoot, as they may give suggestions with shots and will let you know what they like and don't like. You may be the photographer, but they are the client and final judge!

I hope they will allow me to put some pictures on here. Until then, here's a picture I took returning home by bicycle.

It's Here

Thank you Costco Japan. This is going to pay for a box of diapers or 4!

Shot by my webcam...

Autumnal Neighborhood Walk

It had been a while since I hadn't gone shooting in my neighborhood just for the fun of it. I didn't really get the chance to shoot the autumn colours this year, so I sort of focused on that. But as you can see below, I also shot other stuff. All shots at 20mm, because I can!

End of the Photo Exhibit

Last night I went down to the SoHo gallery to check a new photo exhibition. All the shots are flowers, but the shots were very well executed with some very creative angles. Not your average flower pictures...

After, I did a quick stop in Den Den town to check out used lenses and then made my way to the Shinsaibashi Blarney Stone to pull down my 'Bicycle Diaries' exhibition. I did so reluctantly as apparently it got some warm comments from the punters. But the next exhibition by a young illustrator whom I met at the opening party (and introduced to the manager, that's how she got her shot!) should be very interesting as well. If you live in Kansai, I strongly recommend it.