sorafoto

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

mountain and lake
2007-12-22 06:00:00
renowned for its splendid views, temples, waterfalls, and hot springs, Nikko also has a majestic lake surrounded by what appear to be dormant volcanic mountains. in fall, though the hillsides do not burn with the flame of maple leaves as in other parts of the country, there is a comfortable mix of reds, oranges and yellows that definitely gives that autumn aura. also well-worth the journey here is the cascading waterfalls a five-minute walk downriver from the southern tip of the lake. the whole experience is so overwhelmingly popular that the otherwise 1-hour journey takes anywhere from two to three hours during peak season.
More About: Mountain , Lake

waterfall and leaves
2007-12-21 06:00:00
renowned for its splendid views, temples, waterfalls, and hot springs, Nikko also has a majestic lake surrounded by what appear to be dormant volcanic mountains. in fall, though the hillsides do not burn with the flame of maple leaves as in other parts of the country, there is a comfortable mix of reds, oranges and yellows that definitely gives that autumn aura. also well-worth the journey here is the cascading waterfalls a five-minute walk downriver from the southern tip of the lake. the whole experience is so overwhelmingly popular that the otherwise 1-hour journey takes anywhere from two to three hours during peak season.
More About: Waterfall , Leaves

wish and tree (nikko, japan)
2007-12-19 06:00:00
after people get their fortune (omikuji) from a temple, they tie it onto the branches of a tree or other object outside; legend has it that when the fortune paper wear saway, it will comet rue
More About: Japan , Tree

field and history
2007-12-14 06:00:00
i have been living in japan now for over 5 and a half years and yet, i know so very little about its history. i should confess that, actually, i had never been really interested in pursuing knowledge about what had transpired at a particular place in ages past, prior to my coming to japan. in high school and junior high, i would become interested in certain periods of time, or in certain people's lives-- but not so much about places. now, however, i find myself wishing i had paid more attention in history classes, or that i had read more about asian history. kamakura is an amazing city-- and should you ever visit japan, i implore you to spend a day walking around and listening to its history. a great narrator by the name of Lady Bouchier is perhaps the best guide to follow; her book, originally published in 1918 entitled "kamakura: fact and legend" provides a glimpse into two other worlds. the first, retelling kamkura's historical setting, unfolds as the backdrop...
More About: History , Field

lotus and shrine
2007-12-13 06:00:00
ueno park, on the northeastern part of the yamanote line in tokyo. in springtime, so many people come here to drink sake under the cherry blossoms and talk about whatever is on their mind.. later on in the year, the lotus flowers blossom, filling the air with a delicate scent. in late fall and early winter, their dried leaves still fill the ponds where they grow
More About: Shrine , Lotus

smoke and incense
2007-12-12 06:00:00
smoke and prayers wisping to heaven...
More About: Smoke , Incense

stroller and dog
2007-12-11 06:00:00
...so, if i had taken a photo of a cat, i should take a photo of a dog, right? i suppose the main difference between the two species is that cats simply don't put up with nonsense. try to dress up your cat, and, should they be in any way displeased, i'm sure they will rebel, or at least look at you with scornful eyes. dogs, on the other hand, seem to sigh and take whatever you give to them-- they will let you dress them up in people clothes, or let you place them in a kiddy stroller and ferry them around without a care in the world.. ...wait, that doesn't sound so bad, does it?
More About: Stroller

temple and cat
2007-12-10 06:00:00
i saw this cat and just had to take a photo;he seemed more of a temple guardian of sorts than a mere kitty, really. it's weird. i suppose that many people must have a particular idea in mind when they take a photo; everyone asks me what kinds of photos i take. and, although i have been asked this question dozens of ties, i never know how to answer it. most recently, when one of my coworkers asked that question, i pondered for a moment and said: "time." i am still unsure why i chose that particular word, but: i guess that's what i enjoy photographing most-- those small fleeting moments in time when something happens; something about the situation captures your heart or mind. i hope to be reviewing my photo database over the new year break-- i have been thinking of compiling a "temple animals" section or something similar; still don't know.
More About: Temple , Temp

path and temple
2007-12-09 06:00:00
when i was out exploring on my bike one afternoon, i decided to venture to komyoji temple in kamakura. i had been there a few years back, during the summertime, and had taken a few photos of the cats and other animals there. it struck me that i had gone there at two very different times in my life: the first was when i was so giddy about having come to japan; i would go to kamakura and chat with my dear friend N on the phone while the salt-laden sea breeze tingled my lips. N lived in Boston at the time, and every time that i called her i could close my eyes and feel as though i was just on the opposite side of the harbor or something--instead of being on the opposite side of the globe. this past time, when i revisited komyoji, these memories flooded back as a part of a waking dream-- and i could feel the sunlight as though it was summertime '02 again; i had reached for my phone to ring N, chat with her for a while-- when i realized that, as she wasn't on the other side of ...
More About: Temple , Temp , Path

jizou and daylight
2007-12-08 06:00:00
i had wanted to retake my photo of these darling jizou statues during the daylight, so that you would be able to see them in a little more detail :-)
More About: Daylight

gate and temple
2007-12-07 06:00:00
i love "door" shots, but seldomly find the right way to frame them the way my mind's eye sees it. ah, but isn't that the very trick of being a photographer vs. being someone who likes taking pictures? (?) (taken at meiji jingu shrine in tokyo)
More About: Gate , Temple , Temp

shadows and trees
2007-12-06 06:00:00
should you ever find yourself in toyko,i strongly advise strolling through yoyogi park during a lazy sunday afternoon-- the sunlight seems to curl and meander its way through the myriad of branches like a waft of smoke
More About: Trees , Shadows

couple and park
2007-12-05 06:00:00
fall in tokyo comes in a subtle way-- as the winds gradually coolen, curling through the avenues and parks about the megalopolis, it seems that the gingko trees are first to awaken and take heed, turning their leaves into daffodil petals, then to the most brilliant gold-- Tokyoites soon flock to the various parks around the city-- yoyogi, shinjuku gyoen, meiji jingu, ueno--to see what they can
More About: Couple , Park

temple and crowd (asakusa, tokyo)
2007-12-03 06:00:00
?????? sensoji temple at night -- on google maps
More About: Tokyo , Temple , Crowd

festival and temple (asakusa, tokyo)
2007-12-02 06:00:00
taken during one of the numerous festivals held at sensoji temple in asakusa -- on google maps
More About: Tokyo , Temple , Festival

yoyogi and leaves?(harajuku, tokyo)
2007-12-01 06:00:00
autumn leaves at yoyogi park in tokyo ????????
More About: Tokyo , Harajuku , Leaves

tree and gyoen garden
2007-11-30 06:00:00
i thought this kid was so funny-- trying to buckle this mighty tree
More About: Garden , Tree

crane and pond (harajuku, tokyo)
2007-11-29 06:00:00
a Japanese crane in tokyo
More About: Tokyo , Pond , Harajuku

couple and picnic (shinjuku, tokyo)
2007-11-28 06:00:00
an older couple has a picnic lunch at shinjuku gyoen
More About: Tokyo , Couple , Picnic

leaves
2007-11-25 06:00:00
i love fall.. especially the texture of crinkled leaves
More About: Leaves , Aves

harajuku girl and photographers
2007-11-24 06:00:00
so i ended up getting a little behind in writing comments for photos... sorry about that! i ended up posting a number of images from harajuku this week; i hope that you enjoy them! one of the neat things about seeing the different cosplay (costume-wearers) people in harajuku is how foreign tourists can't take enough photos! it's really odd: many tourists will be wearing awkward grins (like grandparents reacting to nipple piercings) but forget their mixed emotions long enough to snap a few dozen photos. i will be posting a few photos in the future on their reactions-- i try to take photos of people taking photos. it's weird. but i find it so interesting that people give me faces with such contempt and bitterness when they find my lens following them-- even though they feel it completely fine to follow around these cosplay people.
More About: Girl , Photographers , Harajuku , Hara

red leaves and waterspouts
2007-11-20 06:00:00
autumn colors with asian-style gutters, kyoto japan
More About: Leaves , Waters , Aves

leaves and temple
2007-11-19 06:00:00
red leaves in front of nanzenji temple, kyoto, japan
More About: Temple , Leaves , Aves , Temp

wedding and kimono
2007-11-18 06:00:00
should you go to meiji-jingu shrine in tokyo on a sunday, you will probably have the chance to see a few traditional Japanese wedding processions.
More About: Wedding , Kimono

cameras galore
2007-11-16 06:00:00
...though, before they leave the temples, everyone takes photos of the kids: proud parents and relatives; random strangers; tourists. the sheer numbers of photographers at the busier temples transform them into glittering spectacles appearing more as press interviews than the solemn atmosphere they normally exude. (day 8 of 8)
More About: Cameras , Galore

mother and daughter
2007-11-15 06:00:00
and then: it's all over for this year. the childrens' small shoes gradually become larger, along with their stride; the 3- and 5-year olds have to wait a year before they return in kimono to the shrines. the 7-year olds, however, will return in thirteen years, on the second Monday in January to celebrate Seijin no hi-- "Coming of Age Day". (day 7 of 8)
More About: Mother , Daughter

generations
2007-11-14 06:00:00
another amazing opportunity that shichi-go-san offers is to see three generations coming together as a family to celebrate this transition in age. i have found that one of the largest differences between Japanese and American culture is the large number of family-oriented festivals and events in Japan-- events aimed at bringing the family together. as, traditionally, Japanese society has been extremely important, this is not very surprising; however, what does surprise me a little is the strong effect that modern times have had on the Japanese. as prices and living expenses have risen, more income has been necessary; consequently, many workers have moved to the large cities (like Tokyo and Osaka) to get the high-salary jobs. this has led to a surge in the number of commuter marriages: mom or dad lives in Tokyo; dad or mom and family live in a rural area. where families have decided to try and stick together, a commuting time of between 60 and 90 minutes (one-way) is often viewed as ...
More About: Generations

running and kimono
2007-11-13 06:00:00
after finishing the visit to the shrine, many kids seem to feel as though that, as their "duties" are over, they are free to play and run around. more mounds of gravel are made. (day 5 of 8)
More About: Running , Kimono

water and kimono
2007-11-12 06:00:00
prior to entering a shrine, it is tradition for people to purify their hands by washing in a stone basin near the entrance. during shichi-go-san , children are taught how to use the ladles and wash their hands. often, the young three-year-olds are too short to reach the top of the basin; their parents must lift them up so they can manage. (day 4 of 8)
More About: Water , Kimono

kimono-clad kid being a kid
2007-11-11 06:00:00
..and, like all children, these kimono-clad youngsters get tired. they get restless. they want to play. the grounds of meijijingu shrine are covered with gravel pathways; kids of all cultures seem to be entranced by these Little stones-- they squat and meticulously pick through stone by stone until they find a particularly unique one. excitedly, they jump up, show their parent sand/or grandparents-- and plop down, repeating the process over and over again. or instead, they build small mounds of gravel. mounds attract the attention of other kids, who run over and want to have their own small mound of stones nearby. i always have a chuckle at the parents; it also becomes immediately clear of what kind of parent they are. some parents immediately scold their children; they tug at their child's arm, tell them to drop the dirty rocks. i always sigh when i see these parents; they tend to be the ones talking on their cell phone while they admonish their child-- and tend to nitpick and...
More About: Kimono