The main shrine for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祇園山笠) Festival during a late night downpour of rain

Yesterday’s photo of this shrine was taken during my morning walk at about 6 a.m. (Yes, jet lag sucks.)

Today’s pic is of the same place about 15 hours later. The rain was coming down in buckets. I came back through the shrine to take a brief rest from the rain, not to take photos, but the lit-up shrine looked too good to just leave without saving an image. I took this hand held with a shutter speed of 1/13th of a second so I’m a bit surprised that it came out without any shake.

Posted on June 22nd, 2013 under Japan. Tags: fukuoka, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600, shinto. Comments: 1

Fukuoka (including Yahoo! Dome) from top of Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk

Sorry for the missing post yesterday. I haven’t been able to access the internet from my laptop until now.

I took a tour of the Fukuoka Dome because no games were scheduled while I was in Fukuoka. Afterwards, I wandered over to the nearby Hilton. You can go to the top (no charge) for views of Fukuoka similar to those of the nearby Fukuoka Tower and save yourself 800 yen and possible crowds.

Posted on June 20th, 2013 under Japan. Tags: aerial photography, fukuoka, Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600. Comments Off on Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome (福岡 ヤフオク!ドーム)

El Capitan Meadow

Although you can see El Capitan in El Capitan Meadow, the views are excellent all the way around so today’s photo is not of El Capitan but is the view west from the meadow. Ryan and I are in there, but with a wide angle lens we sort of get lost in the scenery.

Posted on April 21st, 2013 under Other. Tags: Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600, ryan, yosemite national park. Comments: 1

Ellie (all 6′ 1″ of her) showing that the California Tunnel Tree opening is over 9 feet high

There were once three tunnel trees in Mariposa Grove. One was natural and still exists (the Clothespin Tree). The Fallen Tunnel Tree (AKA The Wawona Tunnel Tree) is the most famous and was the first carved by humans, but it fell in 1969. The California Tunnel Tree (AKA Pioneer Cabin) was carved by humans in 1895 and still stands today*. Getting there involves a short hike from the parking area. You can no longer drive through it like you could a hundred years ago.

When we arrived at 9:30 a.m. there were only about a dozen cars in the Mariposa Grove parking lot and the grove was peaceful. By the time we left at about 11 there were tons of tourists in the grove and a line of cars waiting for parking spaces.

Posted on April 12th, 2013 under Other. Tags: california, ellie, mariposa grove, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600, yosemite national park. Comments Off on California Tunnel Tree, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park

Yosemite sunset

I purchased The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite by Michael Frye as a reference on my recent trip to Yosemite. I’m sure this would be a fantastic guide if you are going to Yosemite by yourself or with other photographers, but none of the suggestions really work if you are with a family–especially with kids. The book primarily tells you when to photograph the key spots in Yosemite. Those times, of course, break down to morning and evening for best lighting conditions.

What those traveling with families quickly find out, however, is that families want to be sleeping and/or eating during sunrises and sunsets–not setting up the perfect photo. We stayed at Tenaya Lodge which was actually about an hour away from the Yosemite Valley so I couldn’t just hop in the car and drive to the valley for sunrise or sunset photos while the family slept or ate, or they would have been stranded without a car.

Today’s photo came just before sunset as we were heading back to Tenaya Lodge to eat. It was the closest I came to a sunset or sunrise photo during our three days in Yosemite. The Yosemite Valley was actually behind me (several miles, no view from here) to the right when I took this.

Posted on April 7th, 2013 under Other. Tags: california, Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 AF-S NIKKOR G ED N, Nikon D600, sunset, yosemite national park. Comments Off on Sunset from Wawona Road