PHOTOGRAPHY
WELCOME
Taken on 12th January 2023 at Kiyomizu-dera Temple (built 1633) in Kyoto Japan. I noticed this masked girl lighting incense sticks, circling the bowl and flapping her hands towards her face, praying, then bowing and taking in the smoke. My camera was set on a four shutter deep black and white setting which can be prone to ghosting if the subject moves but I was after real depth to capture the detail of the 400 year old wood and bowl. I followed her movements from a distance hoping for the money shot, I closed in to avoid another lady blocking my sight and then it happened. She stopped still, looked directly at the camera as if to pose for me, then she kept on going as if nothing happened. I love the direct look in her eyes as if I am almost invading her space, the hand raised, the loose locks of hair and the smoke, which appears to be floating behind her when it is in fact in the foreground. The mask makes her appear more mysterious and the unusual white frilled kimono, which symbolises purity, tells us that she is perhaps a new bride, giving thanks. *Sony ILCE-7M2 F/8. 1/500 sec. ISO-640. focal length 70mm
Shrine Of St. John Vianney - Ars France Sept 2023
Winter afternoon: On any given day at this particular historical Shrine, Kiyomizu-dera Temple (built 1688) You will notice that quite a number of women are dressed in Kimonos when they visit this famous Shrine. Mnay kimonos are hired out and professional photographers are sometimes hired to follow couples around. Groups of friends from all nationalities, mainly Asians simply make a day of getting dressed up and visiting a holy place. I passed a Japanese couple on my late afternoon walk back and the male (also dressed up) had his mobile out taking pictures of this woman. I glanced for a minute and then noticed how strikingly beautiful she was. I stopped for no more than ten seconds, to avoid being noticed or appear intrusive, quickly adjusted my settings, focussed and shot off 5 or 6 shots and kept walking.
A Timeless Land #rural_australia #sunset_australia
COUNTRY KIDS - Corryong - AUSTRALIA
These country kids, (farmer’s sons) photographed at a rodeo in Corryong Victoria, are another breed from city kids. They ride horses, buckjump on young steers, round up sheep, and drink slurpies.
Motoyasu River
Remembering the atom bomb in Hiroshima. The ceremony, known as Toro Nagashi involves releasing floating lanterns in Motoyasu River. Thousands of relatives and visitors gather near the Peace Dome, to remember the lives that perished in this very place 73 years ago. #japan #hiroshima #peacedome
FATHER & SON - JAPAN
After taking a random photo of a statue at a train station just outside Tokyo, I instantly pictured it blended with an earlier image I shot at early morning near Mount Fuji a few mornings previous. Young parents hold their children very dear to their hearts and all have high hopes for them. The Japanese are very close to nature and young familes will always be seen together on weekends and during Summer holidays. This is a beautiful statue of a Father and son hoping for a prosperous future. ..which in recent times has been a hard road to follow with all the natural disasters that plauge this magical country.
#japan #fatherandson #sunset
WINDOW WATERFALL - Melbourne - AUSTRALIA
The National Gallery of Victoria, popularly known as the NGV. This water window was designed by Sir Roy Grounds and built in 1968.
This famous art gallery is Australia's oldest, largest and most visited art museum.
#ngv #melbourne
FEEDING BAMBIE - JAPAN
Feeding a baby deer on the island of Miyajima. The historic island, 20 minutes from Hiroshima city, is home to more than a thousand Sika deer that freely roam the streets.
#miajima #babydeer #japan
FACE DROPS -
Some fun with a backdrop, light, water drops and a flip of the image and they are ALIVE!
THREE RIDERS - AUSTRALIA
Another blended photo, three horsemen, but this time they are riding away from the sunset.
APPROACHING STORM - WAGGA WAGGA - AUSTRALIA
Timelapse photography is exciting, especially when three strikes happen in a 15 second exposure
THE CRACK UP SISTERS - Corryong - AUSTRALIA
The CrackUp Sisters, are the dynamic female rodeo circus clown duo. They are the only known sister rodeo clowns in the world, and it’s their full time job. I snapped them as they casually waited to go out onto the arena to perform their crazy circus routines. I just told them to ignore me as I shot about 20 photos of them..this one was the semi posed shot that caught their eye, as they hired me to travel with them for three weeks on the road when they came across this shot….naturally I was stoked and we became great friends on the road.
#thecrackupsisters
FARRIER’S HANDS - Yackandandah - AUSTRALIA
These farrier's hands are as weathered as the leather chaps he’s wearing. As long as there are horses, this skill will always be a necessity.
#farrier #horseshoe
THE STOCKMAN - Corryong - AUSTRALIA
Phil Cusso, a seasoned horseman gathers some thoughts during the annual Man From Snowy River Festival
#stockman #mfsr
DEER DIARY - JAPAN
I have visited this beautiful shrine many times and never tire of the amzing sunsets and if you get your feet wet, the many deer on the island will almost pose for you.
IBIS IN FLIGHT - SYDNEY - AUSTRALIA
It took some sneaking up and hiding, but I got lucky with this photo.