Cemetery Flowers

Here's a photo from a pre-digital past.... It's a simple photo of a gardener at Aoyama Bochi. He's flying down hill on his cycle loaded with flowers, a broom and a wooden bucket. I loved the way the it blurred suggesting movement and adding an impressionistic quality (due to a slightly longer than usual exposure).

This may have been taken with my Contax G2 and Zeiss 21mm f/2.8 Biogon T*. It was a beautiful camera that handled superbly and had the most amazing glass, but sadly was sold to finance more modern equipment.

Thinking about hats....

Before the family returned in August, I walked through Shibuya with friends and spent some time taking photos of people passing through. For some reason, I was drawn to people wearing summer hats. Straw hats are one of the most popular styles worn by men, women, young and old to beat Tokyo's summer sun and heat while looking fashionable.

I spent most of the day with two manual focus lenses in my camera bag. However, once my trusty 85mm f/1.4 AI-S Nikkor was mounted, it stayed on my D600for the remainder of the day. You've just got to love the bokeh and sharpness on this classic lens. It's hard to believe that this lens was first produced by Nikon back in 1982 and only retired from production in 2006. I have had the pleasure of shooting with this classic lens since about 1987. Back then I used to shoot it with a Nikon FE2. The 85 balances and performs well on my D600, but I do miss the sound of the titanium shutter and whir of the MD-12 motor drive.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/400 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Bon Odori Taiko in Marunouchi (Part 2 or now for the Ladies)

Here are some of the female drummers that providing the taiko beat for the Bon Odori. I should have moved around a bit more to find a better position and take a few more shots. However, it did seem that from whatever angle, the drummer's stage would have partially blocked my shot. Oh if only I had access to a telescopic boom lift or jet pack!

Nikon D600with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f2.8, ISO 800, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 200 mm, f2.8, ISO 800, 1/125 sec.

Bon Odori Taiko in Marunouchi (Part 1)

At the end of July I took a few photos (a some video too) at the Marunouchi Bon Odori but I just haven't had the opportunity to go through and share some of the better ones. The taiko drumers are the focus of this set. The drummers were rotated in every few minutes throughout the dancing. It was interesting to see the different drumming styles and costumes that the drummers wore.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 170 mm, f2.8, ISO 800, 1/100 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF @ 125 mm, f2.8, ISO 800, 1/160 sec.

In the details or can you believe that this is a storm grate?

I've been going through some of photos I took back in 2009 and thought that this photo was interesting. I've always found that the Japanese are especially good at the small details that make even the most mundane of things interesting. This stormdrain grating in Setagaya near Baji Koen had an unusual pattern. Not sure if it is a bunch of boys kicking balls or a boys kicking other boys heads. The repetitive pattern or tessellation is very Escheresque.

Nikon D700with Nikon 50mm f/1.4G AF-Sf8, ISO 400, 1/50 sec.

Beat the Heat in Marunouchi

At Marunouchi district Bon Odori Festival I noticed these unusual frozen flowers on display. Many others also found these interesting and cool to the touch!

These shots and many more shots that night were taken with my ancient Nikkor 24mm AI F2.0. According to MIR, this lens was produced from 1977 through 1982. The focus barrel on my copy has been a little wobbly since I bought it in the early-90's when I lived in Florida. It is still plenty fast and sharp for such a compact and light lens. The only faster alternative from Nikon is the new Nikon 24mm f/1.4G ED AF-Swhich is well regarded and crazy expensive.

Nikon D600with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4, ISO 400, 1/50 sec.

Nikon D600with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f4, ISO 800, 1/20 sec.

Marunouchi Bon Odori

I swung by the Marunouchi neighborhood with some friends for the evening Bon Odori on the last Saturday of July. I took plenty of photos but was very impressed by the D600's video capability especially by the performance of a late 1970's vintage Nikkor 24mm F2.0 that I was using.

It will take a little while for me to figure out the best way to post videos, and the blogger version seems to be reduced to a sub-standard definition.  A hi-definition version was also posted to YouTube.

Nikon D600with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI