Autumn has come early...

...for this blog. As interest is waning, so will my photography posts...

Mo ee terru!!!

It's On Fire!!!

Just a little hint that Autumn has come to Japan.

Mo ee terru!!!

This is a raw image, still smoking from the camera. Stunning fortune today. Guess someone at the Japanese Weather Control Center knew they owed me one. I did them a bunch of favors at the beginning of summer by using my Washingtonian Rain Maker powers. I swear Japan HAS weather control.
If you've got $1500 burning a hole in your pocket, and can handle a 9 hour economy seat, get your hot crossed buns to Tofukuji. Track 10, from JR Kyoto Station. One stop. Do it.

Sold... American!

Made my first sale today. A friend decided he needed a few altered memories of his visit to Osaka, and got a few bunnies as well. Figure the bunnies were for his new lovely wife. Congratulations Chris and Kris! Glad you found homes for the bunnies.

Echo.

Echo. Echo.

My Life as a TV Show

Funny the thoughts that spin in an Amerikan kids head. Most recently (moments ago actually) I thought about asking Paul Allen if he would let me photograph some of his really expensive Chahuli Glass to use as stock photograpy. Now if this were a TV show, it would be a perfectly plausable thing for the down and out young naieve photographer to do. And Mr. Allen would of course say yes. Then he would ask about the portfolio that I happened to have, and then find my real art good. Then he'd pay me a lot of money for one of my real pictures.

The Rich Man says, "How about I buy one of your photographs, Rob, and you won't have to do all the stock photography work."

Yeah, right... So, then the fantasy just sorta spins off from there. I thought about sending all of my old bosses photos, and telling them how my life has turned out better due to the inconveniences of quitting/being semi-fired/loosing the chance because the company can't afford the pay-off to the temp agency. Maybe I should, and maybe I'll remember to do it when I return to the US. Something like that did work before. My renewed friendship with Mike Daisey (of _21 Dog Years_ fame) was a result of one of these "'Vengence' is bessed served with a cherry on top" ideas.

In his blog he said, "As geeky and dorky as this story is... I think I was hurt by his departure and his silence, and it took me a year and a half to figure that out, but I am terribly thankful that I did, because, as they keep telling us whippersnappers, life is short."

So, life is short, and I might as well do the things that I feel, though silly or fruitless, they don't hurt anyone, and moreso, they actually do something nice for them. I won't expect any favors, and if Karma exists (which I'm quite happy for it not to), maybe I'll get a few points that will be repayed in this lifetime.

Tabun. BeeMeeYo...

Picture of the Dime - Byodoin Temple, Japan

This is the famous temple that can be found on the back of every 10yen coin. Quite old, and hasn't been repainted in years. Went today. Man it was tough getting up early. I was even an hour later than I wanted, and I almost went back to bed. But, I proved a point to myself. Photos rely on light, of course... But they really need GOOD light. That is light that creates shadow and depth. I got the bulk of the photos between 10am and 11am. If I'd taken them between 8am and 9am, They might have been better. Although, I'm quite happy with the B&W's that I'm getting. Enjoy.

More and More...

Just Updated my Submissions to Better Photo on the Portfolio Blog... These same photos are, of course on my JaR Imagery site as well. I've had some requests recently for copies for Backgrounds. Please feel free to just post these as your screen Background. Robert's Photographic Portfolio
P.S. Yahoo and MSN suck for uploading photos, so disregard that crap about my photos being elsewhere...

Stonemonkey Gets The Big Prize - G'don'ya J!

I've decided to restart attempts to get kudos from other photographers. My friend and cohort Jason G just got a 2nd place award from Better Photos. It's a really good site, and has a lot of great photographers. I myself have only gotten an honorable mention... oh well... :)

Jason's Award Winning Photo

Rob's Honorable Mention

Give Me Ninja!

"The Ephemeral Ms. White" by Lecram Sinun

Found a great sketch on line while surfing other blogger sites... Read the sketch it's really funny... By the way, the rest of his blog's pretty cool too. (also, I renamed his sketch, sorry LS, just sounded like a better title for my blog post)
Sketch

More to love!

101k! YES!

BOO!

A moment of Vanity

Autumn Suddenly

Yes, it is most definately Fall. Wen't for a ride today, and hardly broke a sweat. That is to say, I was riding at my usual pace, but the temp was perfect. It's nice, I like Autumn in Japan. They say it's their best/favorite season.

Bo Peep

Cos-Play is a national passtime for many young women in Japan. Strangely enough, they're fairly reluctant to strutt for the camera. Once a girl told me in class that it's a form of rebellion. Many feel that the cutlure treats them like useless pretty girls, rather than smart women. So, they dress accordingly to make a point. Which of course is lost on the recipients of the statement.

Addended 10/25/05
Ms Bees Knees said...Cos-Play? What does that mean? I thought they were Harajuku girls like in that Gwen Stephani song. Or is that something different?

Nope BK, you have the general idea though. I figure (cuz I've only been to Harajuku once) that there's two flavors of ladies there. One is the Harajuku Girls of Stephani fame. Those are the ones who are putting on Tokyo Modern Fashion/Post School Girl Style. The other is Cosplay (pron: kosupudray). Costume Play is similar to what you see here. They dress themselves very Holly Hobby, or similar to their favorite Manga (J.Comics) Characters. For boys and girls, by the way... There's a similar area in Osaka called Ame-Mura (America Town) that has a lot of Cos-Play types. So it's not restricted to Tokyo (or Osaka for that matter) Hmmm...TMI I think at this point.

Ready, Set, Go Home...

Doing photography, and teaching in Japan has been an astounding experience. I'd been shooting pictures in Japan for about two years, when the interest really took hold again. This adventure I'm on has been amazing, and I'm very much planning on making it last as long, and in as many places as I can. A friend commented recently that I have become "seasoned" since he last saw me. And the same could be said about him (and his lovely wife) as well. I'm glad people can see the change that I feel. Now that it's time to head back, I'll have only memories of this time. Even though there will be more events like this in my life, I'm sure that this will remain among the most significant. But, of course, I've said that every time... Oh, well.

Golly.

This was my favorite image during the summer. My new favorite is Eternal Coy Eternal.

As I'm ramping up for insertion back into reality, I've been surfing my history. After an unfortunate loss of memory upon the transition between post university, and real life, I took more precautions to reatain my memory. Then, had a close call between post Mac and Japan life, but with the help of the Tuck retained said memory. Now, as I was reviewing these memories, I came upon an image I never completed. I have a vague memory for what it was for, but it's a curious artifact from my past. Enjoy. I've watched an entire season of Alias in one week. Apologies.

Looking Up

Ya know, I keep looking up. People always say, "keep your head up." I tell ya, my neck's really getting a kink in it today. It does lead to a nice photo now and again though. Send some love.