Pittock Mansion (Portland, Oregon)

After walking what was advertised to be a two-hour trail in Hoyt Arboretum (and actually took about 20 minutes), we headed over to Pittock Mansion for the view.

Posted on July 13th, 2014 under Oregon. Tags: buildings, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, Oregon, portland. Comments Off on Pittock Mansion

Osaka Castle

Posted on June 11th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: buildings, castle, clouds, japan pictures, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, osaka, skywatch. Comments Off on Osakajo

Gwangju’s Speakeasy

If you ever find yourself in Gwangju, you may notice that socializing can be rather difficult. This is especially true if you can’t speak Korean and are by yourself. Unlike Japan, where I can walk into any establishment and quickly make friends, Korea can be rather isolating. Menus in restaurants and bars are designed for groups, not individuals, in Korea. Seating is designed for groups. If I walked into any normal pub in Korea, there was no place for me. Nor would anyone attempt to communicate. People simply don’t go out by themselves.

I read online about Speakeasy, drew a map, and headed out. The neighborhood was a long bike ride from where I was staying on the CNU campus. However, even after finding the general area, I couldn’t find Speakeasy. Eventually I did, but it wasn’t easy. Nor was it the second or third time I visited. The streets surrounding it are a maze. Maybe if you have GPS it won’t be so bad. In any event, Speakeasy is a place you should find if you are in Gwangju.

Posted on May 28th, 2014 under Korea. Tags: buildings, directions, gwangju, map, Nikon D600, signs. Comments Off on Speakeasy in Gwangju

himawari (ひまわり) houses

While riding my bike back from Kofu to the onsen I was staying at in Kai (Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan) I came upon these houses in the dark. The street was somewhat busy for that time of night as it is the main thoroughfare (yamanotedoori or 山の手通り). I took a long exposure and let the headlights of the passing motorists light the scene for me.

Posted on March 14th, 2014 under Japan. Tags: buildings, flowers, kofu, night photography, Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR G lens, Nikon D600, sunflowers. Comments Off on Japanese Sunflower Houses

Photomerged panorama of Gwangju, South Korea during the blue hour from Chonnam National University

Many times last summer I wanted to go out and take some photos, but the weather wasn’t willing. Even when it wasn’t raining cats and dogs, it would usually be so hot and humid that I would have a hard time breaking away from the corner in my apartment that had AC. But on my last night in Gwangju, Mother Nature was merciful. The rain stopped so I headed to the roof of my apartment building to take these four photos which I finally got around to merging together.

Posted on February 26th, 2014 under Korea. Tags: blue hour, buildings, gwangju, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600, panorama, photomerge. Comments Off on Gwangju blue hour