“The nail that sticks up is certain to be hammered down.” — Japanese Proverb
“You can’t be brave if you’ve only had wonderful things happen to you.” — Mary Tyler Moore
“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.” — Rudyard Kipling
“A modest man, with much to be modest about.” — Winston Churchill (description of Clement Atlee)
One of the major attractions that we looked forward to on our trip to Japan was a visit to Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion. The original strcuture (Kinkakuji), a Zen Buddhist temple, dates back to the 14th century, but unfortunately it was destroyed by arson. The temple was reconstructed and opened to the public in 1955. It is a beautiful, gold leaf-covered building oriented so the reflection in the surrounding water enhances its beauty.
Looking at the photo of the entrance below, one might think it was raining, but these were “sunbrellas” which proved very popular in Japan.
Throughout our trip to Japan in 2015, I was taken in by the architectural elements that were so different from those found in other places I have visited. The very intricate designs incorporating contrasting and complementary materials were very creative as evidenced in this roof detail on a building at the Golden Pavilion compound.
Here is yet another example
Of course the main attraction was the Golden Pavilion itself…
which had some of its very own interesting roof detail in the form of a golden bird.
There are, of course, other interesting things to see on the compound grounds. The photo below shows a coin toss venue where guests try to get the coins in the metal cup which they hope will bring them good luck. The symbolism of the statues was not clear, but one might intuit that they are religious in nature or at least cultural/spiritual.
The guide explained that the 500+ year old tree below was pruned to resemble a ship and if a bit of imagination is employed, one can imagine a large main sail and perhaps the bow of a ship pointing straight toward the viewer. If you look carefully, you might be able to see the wooden superstructure supporting the branches in the front.
Perhaps a clearer rendering can be seen HERE:
This mound (Hakuja-zuka) in Anmin-taku pond is home for a stone Pagoda.
Naturally a major tourist site such as the Golden Pavilion would have a souvenir stand to offer remembrances for sale. Pictured in pretty gold and red garb were visitors from Bali.
We mustn’t overlook the religious and spiritual mission of the Golden Pavilion. Fudo Hall is an area where visitors can light incense, ring a bell and ask for blessings.
The Golden Pavilion is one of those world renowned places that is hard to resist and as such, visitors (including me) seemed compelled to take large numbers of photographs.
This may be bit like pointing out my blemishes after I am dressed and ready to go out, but in an effort to share my photography experiences, I want to have full disclosure. As we returned to Yosemite Village, I noticed that the light was turning very picturesque so I hurried to the meadow to see if I could capture an artistic image of Half Dome.
As noted a number of times in my Year of Yosemite series, there were significant rains prior to our visit. A number of large puddles formed in the meadow and several photographers were trying to find the “ideal” location from which to capture a “perfect image” of Half Dome.
The picture above is one of my attempts. I was working under a couple of handicaps with my lack of experience being a major issue. I had a new camera that I had used just a few times prior and I am not sure I felt comfortable with the metering mode I was using. One of the photographers standing next to me had a variety of neutral density filters which would allow him to take a longer exposure and/or cut down the glare from the puddle. I do not own a set of filters of any type at this point, however I do plan to purchase a polarizing filter in the near future.
Another problem with the photo above is my choice of vantage points. After looking at this photograph now, I think perhaps I should have moved back just a bit to include more meadow in front of the puddle. I think that might have set off the reflection just a bit more.
Nevertheless, I do like my attempt to portray Half Dome in an artistic light, but it is only an “average” picture in my opinion.
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.
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Meta Data – Day 198 YOY – Year of Yosemite
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Capture time: 7:10:02 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/1000 sec @ f/3.5
Focal Length: 6mm
ISO 250
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS
“A great future doesn’t require a great past.” — William Chapman
“All of us are smarter than any of us, and when you throw in the us that came before, the opportunities multiply.” — Seth Godin
“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.” — James Russell Lowell
“It costs a lot of money to look this cheap.” — Dolly Parton
“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
See previous STATUS QUOtes HERE
When confronted with such a recognizable landmark such as Half Dome, most photographers are anxious to get the definitive picture. There are two approaches to this task. One, which is not recommended and sometimes scorned by more experienced shooters, is called “Spray and pray” which refers to taking many, many photographs from all different angles and places hoping that the ideal picture will appear somewhere in the grouping.
A more polished method would encourage the photographer to carefully study the scene, understand models of composition and choose their captures selectively. I try to embody the more conservative, polished method. While using this approach, I attempted to compose a vertical shot (above) as opposed to YOY Day 196 which was horizontal. I also wanted to include more of the foreground to use as a leading line drawing the eye towards Half Dome.
I normally prefer a horizontal landscape as opposed to a vertical, but I do find the composition above interesting and at least partially successful. NOTE – The light was changing quickly as the angle of the sun was becoming sharper.
What are your thoughts? (Leave them in a comment)
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.
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Meta Data – Day 197 YOY – Year of Yosemite
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Capture time: 7:07:13 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
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Nikon D3300
“No advantages in this world are pure and unmixed.” — David Hume
“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” — Camille Pissarro
“The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave.” — Thomas Jefferson
“I’d rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.” — Dorothy Parker
Thousands and thousands of quotes served since 2011
Let’s face it, alligators look prehistoric. I am sure many people who have seen an alligator in its natural habitat has thought about the reptile-prehistoric animal link. They naturally look like something out of a monster movie. Of course they are not quite the same size as Godzilla was rendered to be, but there is one alligator in Florida that is pretty big. I mean this one is much bigger than most gators!
Watch the video below to see whether or not you agree that this gator is a relative of Godzilla; there is a family resemblance IMHO.
Yesterday’s YOY 195 post showed a webcam picture of Half Dome that was taken from a spot very near to where I took the picture above. Of course my photo isn’t as dramatic because of the lighting and weather conditions present during the webcam shot.
Standing in the meadow, this seemed to be an “obvious” capture. I had no idea that there was a webcam nearby and it is tempting to say that “great minds think alike,” but anyone standing in this expansive, grassy area looking at Half Dome would be tempted by their artistic sirens. So snap away I did!
Do you have a question about our visit to Yosemite? Ask it in the comment section.
See previous Year of Yosemite (YOY) posts HERE. If you want to read the introduction to the YOY series, CLICK HERE.
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Meta Data – Day 196 YOY – Year of Yosemite
File Name: 0276.NEF
Capture time: 7:06:21 PM
Capture date: June 7, 2016
Exposure: 1/50 sec @ f/14
Focal Length: 40mm
ISO 100
Nikon D3300
“The sweetest of all sounds is praise.” — Xenophon
“We are all just broken vases trying to keep the flowers alive.” — Matt Baker
“The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next.” — Abraham Lincoln
“You know you’re getting old when work is a lot less fun and fun is a lot more work.” — Joan Rivers
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