Winter Hokkaido

[colourfulfaces]

#32

 

[kcevangelion]

Very nice series!

Wanted to go but no budget this year
Can share how much you spent for this trip?

And more photos please

 

[LifeInMacro]

Thank you for your comments. Japan is a great place for photography all year round.

Last pic before i flying back to Singapore today. Will post more when i am back in SGP.

#19 - Kushiro, Tsuruimidai. Watching performance.

Wow! This is way cool!!! Good job.

 

[kong xii mi]

#18 - This shot was taken when the crane was flying very low above me. It was a large bird with wing span up to 2.4m when fully extended.

[/QUOTE]



errrr.....i mean this, guess it did not do a 'bomb' !!
Nice shot.

 

[jhs2669]

NiCE SHOT !
Sharp & Clean. :thumbsup:

 

[kong xii mi]

"Bombs away"??

As i did not drive in Kushiro so the nearest feeding ground will be Tsuruimidai which is about 40 mins away by their bus and it is also much nearer to the cranes but take note that there are only about 4 buses a day that runs from JR Kushiro to the different feeding ground. 200mm should be able to get the crane to fill up 3/4 of your view finder.

If you are driving, then you can go to the Tsurui Ito Tancho Sanctuary then Tsuruimidai then coming down to Obihiro. If you are coming from Lake Akan, then you will probably pass by Akan International Crane Center & Tancho Observation Center.

Are you visiting Abashiri for the drift ice? I strongly recommend that place.

Just found out that there is a bus service from Lake akan to Kushiro and will stop at the crane centre. will do more homework tonite on the schedukes.

On 6 & 7th mar, i'll be at Abashiri for this drift ice cruise and Utoro (overnite) for the ice walk next morning. Been tracking the ice floes forecast, some days ok, some days less ice. if there are significantly less ice, i'm considering skipping the cruise. Praying that there is enough ice around to do the 'walk' - dunno when will be the next time to do it.
Can you share more on the drife ice cruise, and the ice walk if you did it. thanks.

Waiting for more pics from you. :thumbsup:

 

[colourfulfaces]

#18 - This shot was taken when the crane was flying very low above me. It was a large bird with wing span up to 2.4m when fully extended.

:bsmilie: haha did not really think about that. Was busy clicking away. Luckily no "bomb".



errrr.....i mean this, guess it did not do a 'bomb' !!
Nice shot.[/QUOTE]

NiCE SHOT !
Sharp & Clean. :thumbsup:

Thanks

 

[colourfulfaces]

Just found out that there is a bus service from Lake akan to Kushiro and will stop at the crane centre. will do more homework tonite on the schedukes.

On 6 & 7th mar, i'll be at Abashiri for this drift ice cruise and Utoro (overnite) for the ice walk next morning. Been tracking the ice floes forecast, some days ok, some days less ice. if there are significantly less ice, i'm considering skipping the cruise. Praying that there is enough ice around to do the 'walk' - dunno when will be the next time to do it.
Can you share more on the drife ice cruise, and the ice walk if you did it. thanks.

Waiting for more pics from you. :thumbsup:

Yes there is a bus from Lake Akan to Kushiro but it will be a very long journey.

As for drift ice, you need to be lucky to see the really big drift ice. Most of the time it is either bad weather or no drift ice.

I did not do the ice walk.

Will post photos of the drift ice soon.

You can also do fishing at the frozen Abahsiri Lake.

 

[colourfulfaces]

#33 - Drift Ice. Managed to see only a small portion of the drift ice. It seems the ice has melted. :cry:

#34

#35 - The ship cutting thru the drift ice.

#36

 

[colourfulfaces]

#37 - Tried some tilt shift effect using photoshop. Something similar to what bro Bryan took using the actual tilt shift lens. His shots are definitely much better than me.

 

[Lolrence]

#20 - It was a unique experience to see the penguin up close.

#21

#22

They look like they are having a parade! :bsmilie:

 

[colourfulfaces]

They look like they are having a parade! :bsmilie:

Yes, it is a penguin parade where spectators can see them up close but still cannot touch them. :bsmilie:

 

[colourfulfaces]

#38 - Another tilt shift effect on the Ishiya Chocolate Factory.

#39

 

[colourfulfaces]

#40 - Snowshoe walk. It was very tough as snow can reach kneel level at some areas even with the snow shoe.

 

[adorable]

#15 - The dancing crane of Japan. I saw about 20 photographers armed with at least the 70-200mm to 300mm F2.8 shooting these dancing cranes when they mate.

#16 - Managed to capture these crane "dancing". A rare sight for me.

they are free roaming?

 

[colourfulfaces]

they are free roaming?

Yes they are free roaming. You can see these crane in some other areas of the marshland.

 

[colourfulfaces]

#41 - The hut.

 

[colourfulfaces]

#42 - Going up to Mount Hakodate.

#43 - Close up. This is uncropped using 135L

 

[kong xii mi]

Yes there is a bus from Lake Akan to Kushiro but it will be a very long journey.

As for drift ice, you need to be lucky to see the really big drift ice. Most of the time it is either bad weather or no drift ice.

I did not do the ice walk.

Will post photos of the drift ice soon.

You can also do fishing at the frozen Abahsiri Lake.

#33 - Drift Ice. Managed to see only a small portion of the drift ice. It seems the ice has melted. :cry:

#34

#35 - The ship cutting thru the drift ice.

#36

so sad, the ice breaking and melting away. past 2 days report, no ice around shore, only further away at sea, dunno whether if i hav chance to see any.

i only schedule to take the ice cruise at Abashiri, so will not go to the lake, maybe if time permits i will visit the drift ice museum.

i've also changed my itinery to go from 'south to north' ie Kushiro, cranes viewing, lake akan. and will go to the akan crane centre as suggested.
thanks for the help.

 

[colourfulfaces]

so sad, the ice breaking and melting away. past 2 days report, no ice around shore, only further away at sea, dunno whether if i hav chance to see any.

i only schedule to take the ice cruise at Abashiri, so will not go to the lake, maybe if time permits i will visit the drift ice museum.

i've also changed my itinery to go from 'south to north' ie Kushiro, cranes viewing, lake akan. and will go to the akan crane centre as suggested.
thanks for the help.

No problems. Enjoy your trip and take lots of photos.