Children's Day

Today in Japan is Children's day. Funny, because my mom told me every day was children's day when I was a kid, and although I didn't believe her then, it starting to make sense now.

Well, I woke up early this morning, the volunteering schedule having stayed with me. So with both my wife and baby asleep, I went for a jog, which proved to be very easy; I guess the hard efforts of the last few days have had a positive outcome for my physical condition. After doing some computer work, showering and cleaning, I took my son out for a walk, stopping by Costco for some shopping. As today was a national holiday, it was obviously packed, but not unusually so considering the circumstances.

But when I got back, sleep go the best of me and I went for a nap. When I woke up, my wife was leaving with my boy, so I hit the streets for the shot below, and then the computer to create a first version of the video I'm preparing relating the work we did in Higashi Matsushima. Here is the first version, which is aimed at people who will follow in our footsteps. It's an informational video if you like.

Families with sons in particular fly these carp
streamers up until May 5th; the black one is the
father, the red one the mother, and the blue one is
the son. As the family gets bigger, more are added

Day 5: Mission Almost Finished

Well, our worked in Higashi Matsushima is done. The day went by as the others, with yakitori and homemade tempura as added bonuses. I'll write more once I'm home, and we leave with the feeling of an unfinished work (because it's gonna take years) well done.

On this last day, it was reassuring to see many new groups of volunteers come out to help the people other than the 35+ families we assisted. While we can't fix the whole situation, I know that we had a clear impact in the lives of the 10+ families we personally helped.

It's 6:30 on the day of our return, time to get breakfast.

Day 4: Generous People

Day four saw my team being split in many occasions, which allowed me to work and talk with different people. The work for me was essentially the same, and as everyone is getting used to work needed, new solutions are discovered and efficiency improves.

Of course the families we help vary alot, some with kids, others way past retirement age. But one thing that doesn't change is their gratitude and generosity. Even if they've lost so much, they always offer us refreshments

We were told not to accept presents, but we believe that refusing them would hurt their feelings. From a Japanese point of view, most of them are probably feeling guilty for having complete strangers, foreigners on top of it, come and work for free.

Today a woman brought us cola, energy drinks and hot tea during the day. In this case it was almost too much, but if you accept it once, it's impossible to decline later.

Tomorrow is already our last day. Of course I look forward to seeing my family very much, but I will be sad to leave. Even if the work is a little hard and not particularly intellectually challenging, it's never difficult to pick up my shovel or gloves and dig some sludge up. I mean, what do I have to complain, really?

Day 3: My Name Is Sludge

Day three continued as it had ended yesterday, although I was quite more refreshed after buying some kid puzzle foam mats to sleep on. We left camp earlier, hit less traffic, and since we already had a list of houses to go, we could get around to work quicker.
My half of the team started up at the house that we couldn't finish yesterday, while the other half cleared, as best as they could, a shed in which the sludge hadn't dried at all. As Marty suggested, the authorities should tell the residents to open their doors and windows to facilitate the dry-up.
We finished those in the morning, broke for lunch, and then attacked another house where we had to tear the floorboards and remove the mudcake under. As we gained efficiency with experience, and because we didn't have to bag it, we finished that house in 2 1/2hrs, just in time for the 15:30 official cut-off time. The owner let me take pictures, which I'll use to make a time-lapse video.
Much to the surprise of the relief organisers, we've basically finishedthe original list they gave our group. But I'm sure they'll find more stuff for us to do.
Well, as the picture shows, time to get clean.

Day 2: Close Encounter of The Third Sludge

Traffic and a bit of unpreparedness delayed us in the morning but we arrived early enough to do some work.

Our 30-strong group was divided into three teams and off we went. Our team's morning tasks were pretty simple, removing furniture, including a piano, and clear, from a garden, the 4-5cm layer of clayish dark mud that came with the tsunami.

In the neighbourhood where we worked the water came about one-meter high. We saw little earthquake damage, even the first home that didn't look that new nor strong.

After breaking for lunch, we got our first real assignment, ripping floorboards in order to remove the layer of sludge that got into the foundation of a house (see the picture). The team was happy to get some real work and we got down to business. The young couple looked a little bewildered at first, but when they realized we knew what we were doing and that most of us could communicate in Japanese, they relaxed and assisted us well.

We didn't have time to finish all rooms before the oh-so official 3:30pm finish time so we'll need to go back tomorrow, if the operations aren't officially called off because of the rain. As you can deduce, there's a bit of red tape, but less than in regular-life Japan.

We're heading back to camp, where we'll clean up before heading out to eat. Dinner is gonna taste good tonight.

Day 1: Ze Drive

We're currently driving through the mountains in Yamagata prefecture, and a long drive it is. We left Osaka at 6:30 and save for a few service area stops, we've been going non-stop.

Marty, a harrier friend from Iwakuni, is not only driving this HHH car, but he's also entertaining us, mostly at my expense by saying my name in a comical French accent.

We're still probably at least two hours away from our destination, our final time depending on traffic and the state of the road in the deeply affected area.

I'll sign off with the picture taken taken in the mountains.

It Is Time.

Well, it's time for me to leave my comfortable nest, my wife and son, and get dirty. Especially considering since they're both running some fevers (nothing too serious, rest assured), it's not easy to do. But this is something I feel I have to do. The reasons are many-fold, and I guess it boils down to this: Japan has given me so much, and I wish to give something back.

Someone posted this on our secret group in Facebook (some members are going even if their families or workplace are against it), and I wish to share it with you:

Why we go.
There's a scene in "The Blues Brothers" where Jake and Elwood pick up dry white toast, four fried chickens with a Coke, ...and one more of their old band members. They're getting the band together (and so are we). The man can't leave work, can he? Responsibilities! He can't leave his wife and family, can he? Yes, he can. And his wife (played by Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul), understands.
What is the point of this message? Just to suggest that if you're in doubt about your reason for going, consider that "You are doing this for your family." Not for your company (to hell with work); rather, for family. Family comes first, work does not. 99 times out a 100, to live for your family means staying right with them no matter what. That one other time means: GO, get the band together, and protect the society in which your family is trying to reside. We do it for our families.

Lucky for you, I have found the way to post picks directly from my cell phone, so I will try to post something everyday of our trip. Our message is one of reconstruction and hope, don't expect anything else on here.

Well, I need to wake up in less than 7 hours. Of course there was a SNAFU tonight, but it's gonna alright. Here's perhaps a song that resumes well my thoughts, and here are the first two pictures of the trip.

I got more than I bargained for when I offered to do a
Costco run for the group, more than half my luggage is
food for volunteers; GOMA & JRS and The Holy Grail
will keep us entertained on the 12-hour drive.

My cellphone wallpaper for the trip

Big Trip

In less than 72 hours I'll be traveling to Tohoku, the area devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. I'm part of a 30+ people team who are traveling there to help with cleaning up. Don't worry, we'll be at a safe distance of the power plants that are on their way to melting down.

As mentioned before, we go there to give a hand, and hopefully, loaded with construction equipment as we'll be, we'll be allowed more than just moping floors and so on. I'll be one of the official documentarist of the expedition, but don't expect devastation and crying children pictures from me. We go there to help and I plan to bring images of hope back, as well as tips for others interested in doing similar work. I may be able to upload some shots during the trip, but I can't guarantee anything.

Well, I leave you with a shot taken last Friday. I can't decide if I like the color or B/W more.

 

 

Good Friday

I'm not particularly religious, if anything I'm not egoist but egotheist, i.e. I believe in myself. However there is definitely something religious about this shot, and thus I decided to wait until today to post it. For those who think I'm a little early, remember that Japan is ahead in time compared to North America...

Textures

Digital photography opens many doors in the realm of creativity. Of course there is a debate wether some of those endeavors can still be considered photography. From my point of view, it depends purpose. In the realm of photojournalism, something I really respect and like to shoot, then there should be basically no alterations. Then again, even with film, the choice of film and adding of filters will alter the final result. What about exposure and white balance adjustments with digital photography? In these cases, is using post-production really affecting the final result to the point where it should be rejected? Many publications have decided that it is fine, and I agree with it. But it is a Pandoras box as the line is hard to draw.

In the case of commercial and art photography, I believe anything goes, the power of the image prevails. Although we tend to have the view that photography should reflect reality (whatever that is), photographers have been manipulating theirs images since the beginning. With film, in addition to choice of film and filter(s), development, dodging and burning, multiple exposures, choice of angle and lens and cropping, to name just these, have altered reality to fit the artist's vision. Sometimes there is backlash, like people complaining about some images being quite different from reality (cheap target, I agree, but most clients ask for it, don't be shocked). But think about it, do we feel cheated when a painter's image doesn't reflect reality? What about Chopin's Funeral March, is it a "real" representation of a funeral?

No. It's in an interpretation. And art, in the widest sense of the term, is also the interpretation of a feeling an artist wants to express.

With this in mind, digital photography and post-production does allow you and I to alter an image to convey meaning and feeling to our audience, even if it's an audience of one. Recently a technique that's been getting exposure is the use of textures. Basically, you super-impose two or more pictures and then use masks and blending modes (Photoshop terminology) to create a new image. A few photographers/artists employed these at this year's Fotografika exhibition and I used it myself last year.

Today, when I was out, finding textures was my aim. I leave you with some recent use of textures, and two that I shot today. Instead of buying some 'texture packs' on the internet, I strongly encourage to get your own: this way, your images will truly be unique.

Kazuma and some grass

Tomoko's daughter was born '11.4.8;
the texture is from a Goma concert

Anything can be a texture; let your imagination run wild

Flattish subjects work best; don't worry too much about
size since layers usually are not the main subject