[emlee] Mar/Apr 2010 Japan trip

[Zichar]

#3 is particularly striking for me
Initial thoughts went the same way - why not more contrast - but that's probably my own style trying to impose itself lol
You're right, this is much more appropriate; it is in sync with my own understanding of the subject: cold, chilly, mist, fog, faraway, distance
:thumbsup:

 

[soulFLY]

#3 last one of Fujisan
This one is from Owakudani. It was our first day, just touched down in Japan, travelled to Hakone, met with tons of local tourist as it was a holiday, and the weather was freaky cold, hence we did not enjoyed ourselves fully then. Had wanted to go eat the black egg, but my wife was not dressed for the weather and could not step out of the station. Took this while she stayed near the heater.

Perfect! ! !

:heart::heart:

 

[emlee]

#3 is particularly striking for me
Initial thoughts went the same way - why not more contrast - but that's probably my own style trying to impose itself lol
You're right, this is much more appropriate; it is in sync with my own understanding of the subject: cold, chilly, mist, fog, faraway, distance
:thumbsup:

thanks, you spoke my mind. this is indeed not my typical style. thanks for liking it too.

Perfect! ! !

:heart::heart:

you are too kind. i think still can improve. but i am at my limit.

 

[emlee]

#7 Red Tori
Tori means bird, so it literally means bird gate? I have never been so close to such a big one before. This one is at the foot of a hill, in the lake, very interesting.

#8 Climb, I did not.
I'll be honest, I dont know how to shoot this. I saw these trees and thought they are very nice, and the mood was very calming. But I dont know how to shoot it to express that emotion. This is a poor attempt.

#9 Off to school, to school
Not much of a shot, but this picture brings back very strong memories of the Japan trip. Guess it's the buildings on the side, the road, the signs, everything. On the right is Hakone Hotel, where we stayed. $$$, but very big and comfy room. Fond emotions arising just thinking about it.

 

[soulFLY]

#7 Red Tori

Envious! :bsmilie:

Nice strong composition and love the tones here.

Wish that the tree leaves on top right does not move that much....hmmm...


#8 Climb, I did not.

i reckon i understand why you find it hard to compose this, space limitation i assume.

well, i would say the perspective is excellent. a great scaling between the tree and the staircase.

nice use of the sepia tone...grats.

 

[emlee]

Thank Thomas for your kind comments. The tree had to move, the wind was bloody strong that morning, bordering hurricane level wind. The trees sheltered me from the harsh elements.

#9 Cedar
There are a row of cedar trees lined up along the road towards the Hakone Checkpoint museum. This was a pass where all leaving the capital has to be checked.

#10
Girl doing up her hair in the bus. I quite like the back of her neck catching the light. The back of a woman's neck is considered very attractive, that is why the Maiko/Geisha leaves part of the neck unpainted, shaped along the hairline.

 

[emlee]

#11 Water steps
The rivers in JApan tends to have these stones lined up at various levels. It appears to be breaking the water flow, perhaps to slow it down to avoid too much erosion caused by the river. (I think). This is Asagawa at Hakone YUmoto, again.

#12 Twins
This is the same bridge in the earlier picture of Hakone Yumoto. Can you spot 2 twins crossing the bridge?

 

[lkkang]

now your picture framing is nicer liao :thumbsup:

 

[night86mare]

#3 last one of Fujisan
This one is from Owakudani. It was our first day, just touched down in Japan, travelled to Hakone, met with tons of local tourist as it was a holiday, and the weather was freaky cold, hence we did not enjoyed ourselves fully then. Had wanted to go eat the black egg, but my wife was not dressed for the weather and could not step out of the station. Took this while she stayed near the heater.

i much prefer this to the first shot. the first shot doesn't work for me because of the nature of the layers. the idea is great, but the layers are not near horizontal, which spoils the composition somewhat with slashing diagonals that go downwards towards the right.

 

[night86mare]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4520908662_34ccee6812_o.jpg

i would crop this to a more squarish format. looks like 2:3 now, crop this to 3:4, and clone out those moving branches, which is a very easy job, and this will be even nicer.are you sure this is entirely symmetrical?

 

[night86mare]

on second look, after making sure that the gate is in the centre, 6:7 seems like a more viable format with more efficient use of space.

 

[Fallenphoenix]

the red gate is a keeper!

 

[smokeput]

nice capture of ur jpn trip u had there

 

[2evans]

The #7 Red Tori is a keeper for sure. Can you clone/heal the tree out of the photo?

The series is great, and thanks for posting.

 

[emlee]

i much prefer this to the first shot. the first shot doesn't work for me because of the nature of the layers. the idea is great, but the layers are not near horizontal, which spoils the composition somewhat with slashing diagonals that go downwards towards the right.

thanks. had to work with limitations while on cruise ship.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4520908662_34ccee6812_o.jpg

i would crop this to a more squarish format. looks like 2:3 now, crop this to 3:4, and clone out those moving branches, which is a very easy job, and this will be even nicer.are you sure this is entirely symmetrical?

on second look, after making sure that the gate is in the centre, 6:7 seems like a more viable format with more efficient use of space.

never tried 6:7 format before. did not know there is such a format. will give it a try. seems everyone finds the branches distracting.

the red gate is a keeper!

nice capture of ur jpn trip u had there

thanks Fallenphoenix and smokeput. Still tons of images to process and so little personal time lately.

 

[emlee]

now your picture framing is nicer liao :thumbsup:

thanks. I did not use the sfotware you recommended as it only worked in Windows. instead, I found the proper way to put a line around the frame, hence it is more even. I try to keep all the workflow within photoshop as I save as web version, it is not good to re-open the files and save them again. the quality will drop. If I have time, will try to find a way to make nicer frames like yours.

 

[giantcanopy]

#11 Water steps

The abutment of the slow silky water in the foreground against the man made concrete buildings in the background makes it look contrastingly disassociative and yet the more interesting!

ryan

 

[nins45]

Great shots! I am also scheduled to go to Japan this year. Just want to ask what lenses you brought, even though it was not a photo trip.

Thanks!

Nino

 

[emlee]

The abutment of the slow silky water in the foreground against the man made concrete buildings in the background makes it look contrastingly disassociative and yet the more interesting!

ryan

wow, I hadn't thought of it like that. thanks for your comment/ analysis.

Great shots! I am also scheduled to go to Japan this year. Just want to ask what lenses you brought, even though it was not a photo trip.

Thanks!

Nino

I brought along a 17-40 and a 70-200. You'd be surprised that tele lens was used more often in big landscapes, whereas 17-40 had limited use, except for buildings and cityscape. When are you going?

#13 Shrouded
Where the clouds/fogs are, that's where one is supposed to see Mt Fuji. Had to make the best use of what the weather threw at me on trips.

 

[happydog]

#11 Water steps
The rivers in JApan tends to have these stones lined up at various levels. It appears to be breaking the water flow, perhaps to slow it down to avoid too much erosion caused by the river. (I think). This is Asagawa at Hakone YUmoto, again.

#12 Twins
This is the same bridge in the earlier picture of Hakone Yumoto. Can you spot 2 twins crossing the bridge?

nice shot. Love your no. 7 best.

For #11, was this handheld or with tripod. What cam and len was used for no. 7 and 11.

I like your Hakone Yumoto pic.. nice. bring back lot of memories.. was there last Sep but did not have the time to go on the pirate ship.

P/S : the black egg look different but taste like normal hard boiled egg.