@TuttleBooks
I just finished Japan Journeys: Famous Woodblock Prints of Cultural Sights in Japan by Andreas Marks. This is mostly a picture book, featuring about 200 Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e / 浮世絵). Artists include Hokusai (北斎), Hiroshige (広重), Utamaro (歌麿), and Kunisada (国貞).
The prints include a brief description and some historical context. They are arranged by location.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I have a couple of critiques/recommendations should anyone want to do something similar.
The first is that some, if not many, of the ukiyo-e are too small. The book is inexpensive (under $20 for a hardback and all in full color), but I would have preferred a larger book, both in terms of page size and length, so that the prints could be seen in more detail. Some of them are stamp size, and they all should have been at least 8″ on the short side.
The second is that I would have liked to have also seen modern photos of these places, even if the places look radically different today. I’m imagining something like what I’ve done here and here.
April 14th, 2017 | Tags: book review, books, ukiyo-e | Category: Japan | Comments Off on Japan Journeys
Tower of London actors in period costume
Throwing it back for this Thursday to that time I built a time machine and went back 600 years to the Tower of London.
Seriously, though, the actors are the best part of the Tower of London these days–very fun performances in excellent costumes.
April 13th, 2017 | Tags: Nikon D500, Tokina AT-X 11-20mm F2.8 PRO DX, tower of london | Category: London | Comments Off on TBT
This was an excellent snorkeling spot somewhere in the ocean between Sayulita and Puerto Vallarta. Sayulita Entourage was the name of the company we went with. Highly recommended.
April 12th, 2017 | Tags: mexico, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D750, pacific ocean, photomerge, sayulita mexico | Category: Other | Comments Off on Islas Marietas
応援団 for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (広島東洋カープ)
If you ever go to a baseball game in Japan, you want to sit in the oendan (応援団). This is the cheering section, and it’s way more fun than anywhere else, even though they are the farthest from home plate. These are the cheap seats but also the fun seats.
On this hot and humid day in Hiroshima the cheap seats were sold out so I was forced to buy a seat near third base. The views were better, but the best part was that the kind, little, old Japanese lady next to me used her fan on me the entire game like I was her son or something.
April 11th, 2017 | Tags: baseball, hiroshima, Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Lens, Nikon D600 | Category: Japan | Comments Off on Carp fans
@Kvelertak
April 9th, 2017 | Tags: AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G lens, concert photography, kvelertak, metal, Nikon D500, roskilde festival | Category: Denmark | Comments Off on Maciek Ofstad of Kvelertak @ Roskilde Festival
霊泉 鶴の井戸（櫛田神社）
At the well of the crane in Fukuoka you can partake from the holy springs on the grounds of Kushida Shrine. The sign says that your first drink will give you perpetual youth, your second drink will give your family perpetual youth, and your third drink will give your friends perpetual youth. I don’t remember if I pertook, but if I did, it hasn’t worked.
April 8th, 2017 | Tags: fukuoka, kushida jinja, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, shinto | Category: Japan | Comments Off on Holy water @ Kushida Jinja
