Here's a general article on Natural Landscape Photo Awards, but to tie it in here note that in third place is a japanese photographer--Hoshino Sho. Third place, but still superb. According to "About" on his website, he apparently hasn't been working very long, and see "Galleries" there for what he does. I like his abstracts, but that's just me.
Japan Photos 2024
- Thread starter thomas
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First one is just behind our house. I was trying to start some charcoal and noticed this. If I'd been thinking I would have grabbed a small sprayer and misted the web. Next time.
At a shrine that sets out flowers like this at the beginning of every month.
A small pharmacy that caught my attention. I may re-do this someday so the reflection of the red car is gone. And less strong sun on the road there in front.
I thought I had missed this season, but suddenly saw some of these. It's really sunny today--very harsh light--next fews days might be cloudy, so I may try again.
And whatever this is... Kind of next to the white higanbana just above.
At a shrine that sets out flowers like this at the beginning of every month.
A small pharmacy that caught my attention. I may re-do this someday so the reflection of the red car is gone. And less strong sun on the road there in front.
I thought I had missed this season, but suddenly saw some of these. It's really sunny today--very harsh light--next fews days might be cloudy, so I may try again.
And whatever this is... Kind of next to the white higanbana just above.
Not much today, I cruised about 25-30km south to a small town called Komatsu (yes, like the construction/mining equipment manufacturer, which started there). Saw a small photo exhibit and then explored some streets, some of which were parts of the old 北国街道. First two are the same place.
These next two are also the same place--two very traditional houses that seem to share a kura/倉--I used a 15mm equiv and it's not a wide enough lens to get everything in.
And another, I like the greenery on this one.
These next two are also the same place--two very traditional houses that seem to share a kura/倉--I used a 15mm equiv and it's not a wide enough lens to get everything in.
And another, I like the greenery on this one.
Nothing particularly good today--some old places outside of town. Note the foundations--cut stone (not poured concrete):
These two are the same place, just cropped differently.
Part of an old mud-wattle 'kura':
And this one doesn't really come together properly, but some interesting features.
These two are the same place, just cropped differently.
Part of an old mud-wattle 'kura':
And this one doesn't really come together properly, but some interesting features.
- 14 Mar 2002
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Not mine but a short photo essay by the Guardian on Japan's depopulated 'puppet villages' where handcrafted stuffed mannequins are used to create a semblance of a bustling society.
www.theguardian.com
Fabricating life in the Japanese village of Ichinono – in pictures
Ichinono is one of Japan’s depopulated ‘puppet villages’, where handcrafted stuffed mannequins are used to create a semblance of a bustling society
I was driving, and also went over to the small town of Tsurugi. I was looking for a small waterfall that I'd seen on a map, and otherwise just exploring a little. The waterfall turned out to be a big nothing, but I also went by this place, a local sake brewery (地酒).
If you've even been to wine country, this place is maybe comparable to what would be called 'cellar door' there. First shot is the old building, but to the left of that (which I cropped out) is the big manufacturing operation. Second shot is a detail of the sign, third is just indoors, with a selection of the sake that they produce. My wife says she's gotten some 'kasu' there to use in cooking.
Kikuhime, if you're wondering.
If you've even been to wine country, this place is maybe comparable to what would be called 'cellar door' there. First shot is the old building, but to the left of that (which I cropped out) is the big manufacturing operation. Second shot is a detail of the sign, third is just indoors, with a selection of the sake that they produce. My wife says she's gotten some 'kasu' there to use in cooking.
Kikuhime, if you're wondering.
- 14 Mar 2002
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Nice! Where is that?
The other day, AFP featured Ichinono, a hamlet where puppets outnumber the elderly villagers.
news.sky.com
AFP Youtube video
The other day, AFP featured Ichinono, a hamlet where puppets outnumber the elderly villagers.
Japanese village replaces young people with mannequins as population falls
Fewer than 60 villagers live in Ichinono - where people have attempted to address dreaded feelings of loneliness by stitching together a new population of puppets.
AFP Youtube video
A local place called Edo Mura. They're just meant to show people at work once upon a time--some of the places do seem a little empty, so the mannequins do help. That second shot is in the parking lot, not one of the heritage/preserved buildings.
I have some other pics from there that I'll post later.
This is the second location for these buildings. It used to be in the same area, but up a steep-ish winding road, and the access was not at all good for tour buses (tho the setting was much better and more natural looking).
The buildings were moved to this location some years ago, and apart from the buildings themselves, the area still look comparatively sterile. But it's now walkable from several adjacent onsen, and even the town area.
Actually, over in the town area there's a public bath that many many many many years ago I think some TCC riders spent the night there, since it may have been golden week and there was nothing available from Nanao all thru kanazawa. Was that you?
- 14 Mar 2002
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Yes, that was us. It was an unforgettable sleepless night.
- 14 Mar 2002
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- #217
Looks very interesting! Reminds me of this place right in our neighbourhood:
Travel Article 'Nihon Minkaen'
Nihon Minkaen (日本民家園), the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum, is located in Tama Ward, Kawasaki, and displays minka, traditional Japanese vernacular houses from all over Japan. It was established in 1967 to conserve 'folk houses' from the Edo Period (1603-1868) and holds 25 buildings and other...
The wood pillars in my pics are useless, gaps beneath all of them. I put the jacks in something like 25yrs ago, and there's been some settling over the years (especially with the 1.1 earthquake)--note in the first two pics blocks on the far side with no jack, so loose it had fallen down (now back in place, those are 'before' pics).
We priced having it done, trying to find someone who would just tighten the jacks. Both places wanted to replace everything with new piers and wood (and not that expensive), but then would not guarantee that the bit of bounciness in the floor would be fixed.
So I held my breath and did the readjusting myself, took about two hours, and another couple hours cleanup, laundry, and putting stuff away. And yeah, the wood posts should be removed and the same blocks+jacks put in there. That might be next year's project...
If you look at my pics, years ago I also wrestled big foam panels down there and onto the bottom of the floor--two layers, 8cm of insulation. When we moved in there was nothing.
We priced having it done, trying to find someone who would just tighten the jacks. Both places wanted to replace everything with new piers and wood (and not that expensive), but then would not guarantee that the bit of bounciness in the floor would be fixed.
So I held my breath and did the readjusting myself, took about two hours, and another couple hours cleanup, laundry, and putting stuff away. And yeah, the wood posts should be removed and the same blocks+jacks put in there. That might be next year's project...If you look at my pics, years ago I also wrestled big foam panels down there and onto the bottom of the floor--two layers, 8cm of insulation. When we moved in there was nothing.
- 14 Mar 2002
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- #223
Beautiful! I love that place.
