Takeshita Dori Cotton Candy or Sweet Messy Fun!

Today in Harajuku on Takeshita Dori, I passed a group of women with rainbow colored cotton candy (or fairy floss) from the Totti Candy Factory. Although I'm not a fan of this sugary confection, I definitely can see the attraction. Looks like sweet messy fun!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/4000 sec.

Enoshima in January (Part 2)

I took quite a few photos on this trip to Enoshima in January. There's a lot to see and do on this little island. It was just after the New Year's holiday period, and there were still quite a few people making the trek to Enoshima Shrine. Perhaps for a late hatsumode (first shrine visit of the new year) or perhaps they were just out enjoying the fine weather on Enoshima? The lovely Samuel Cocking Garden is located at the base of the Enoshima Sea Candle (lighthouse). Although it was January they had an amazing display of tuplips.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/60 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/125 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 400, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/500 sec.

Enoshima in January (Part 1)

Still trying to catch up on my photos from earlier this year. This week I am revisiting our family day trip to Enoshima. Kamakura and Enoshima are about an hour-and-a-half by train to the south-west from Shinjuku (on the Odakyu Line) or Tokyo Station (on the JR Tokaido Line). This first set includes our visit to the Iwaya Caves, a lucky shot of a Tobi (or black kite), and the Enoshima Shrine Okutsumiya temizuya (or shrine fountain).

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 1600, 1/160 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 100, 1/1000 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/40 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f4.0, ISO 400, 1/60 sec.

Dreaming of Winter

Earlier this year back in February, the family took our annual ski trip. This year we went to the Iwappara Ski Area. The snow this last winter season was not as good in past years, but we got lucky and arrived there with fresh snow!

Nikon D600 with Nikon 24mm f/2.0 Nikkor AI @ f8, ISO 100, 1/250 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 20mm f/2.8D AF @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/320 sec.

Back to the New Year!

Earlier this year, there were a lack of post to this blog. Only two posts were made from the start of January til the end of February. For those few that wonder, it's not that I didn't take any photos... I just didn't make the time to post them. Anyway, I'll stop with the excuses and post some photos from earlier in the year.

The first flashback is to the mid-January and a New Year celebrations at my childrens' school. Although it's an international elementary school in central Tokyo with English as the main language, they have a strong cultural program that includes incorporating many Japanese customs. Just after the New Year, they hold a Omochitsuki (or Mochi-Pounding Ceremony). The children helped plant and cultivated the rice that is used in this ceremony, and participated with parents, teachers and other school supporters throughout the day.

One of the visual highlights of the day is the lion dance. Although Chinese in origin, the Japanese have incorporated as part of their New Years celebration as well.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

The embedded EXIF data for this photo is wrong, when I mounted my manual focus lens I forgot to switch it from my 24mm f2.0 to the 85mm f1.4. Opps.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S @ f5.6, ISO 100, 1/200 sec.

Nikon D600 with Nikon 85mm f/1.4 AI-S a> @ f2.8, ISO 100, 1/1250 sec.