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Archive for January, 2012

[From the Archives] Japan, November 2007

January 20, 2012 1 comment

From time to time, I will use these “From the Archives” posts to highlight some of my photography from the period before I started this blog in 2009. These photos have been publicly available on Flickr for some time but they have never before been featured on this blog. I hope you enjoy this blast from the past!

JAPAN
Back in November 2007, I took a 2 week photo holiday to Southern Japan. Like many Westerners I had been fascinated with Japan since I was a child – every boy goes through a ninja phase, after all – and I had a growing appreciation for the refined nature of their culture, especially their cuisine. I came to Japan with many preconceived notions, somewhat expecting everyone to be demure, deferential and bowing non-stop, but I quickly realised – of course – that the Japanese are human after all, and a few rowdy nights in izakaya and out on the streets of Harajuku and Osaka quickly put paid to my hackneyed stereotypes. The Japanese people were generally very kind and even inquisitive, and it was a joy to travel through this land, and, barring the occasional instance of having no clue where I was or how to read the signs, I had one of the most perfect times imaginable. I am looking forward to returning to this fascinating land.

Below are a small selection of the thousands of photos I took during my travels through Japan:

Girl dressed for "Seven Five Three" ceremony, Yoyogi Park
Girl dressed for "Seven Five Three" ceremony, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

Parental Encouragement, Yoyogi Park
Parental Encouragement, Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

Tokyo Rockabilly Club
Tokyo Rockabilly Club, Harajuku

Shinjuku Girls
Shinjuku Girls, Shinjuku, Tokyo

Toshogu Shrine Roof, Nikko
Toshogu Shrine Roof, Nikko

Sunset from Kyoto Graveyard
Sunset from Kyoto Graveyard

Heian Shrine, Kyoto
Heian Shrine, Kyoto

House on the Pond in Gardens of Heian Shrine, Kyoto
House on the Pond in Gardens of Heian Shrine, Kyoto

Mini Zen Rock Garden, Roan-ji, Kyoto
Mini Zen Rock Garden, Roan-ji, Kyoto

Entrance to Senso-Ji, Asakusa
Entrance to Senso-Ji, Asakusa, Tokyo

Lanterns, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto
Lanterns, Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto

Himeji Castle
Samurai Castle at Himeji

Itsukushima Shrine by Night, Miyajima
Itsukushima Shrine by Night, Miyajima

Morning at Torii Gate, Miyajima
Morning at Torii Gate, Miyajima

Owakaduni Hot Springs, Hakone
Owakaduni Hot Springs, Hakone

Fuji-San
Mount Fuji from Hakone

Hakone Lake Panoramic (Mt Fuji in Background)
Moto-Hakone Lake Panoramic (Mt Fuji in Background)

Backlit trees and Maniden Roof, Shoshasan
Backlit trees and Maniden Roof, Shoshasan, near Himeji

Incense Smoke, Engakuji Temple, Kamakura
Incense Smoke, Engakuji Temple, Kamakura

Temple Roof Detail, Shoshasan
Temple Roof Detail, Shoshasan, near Himeji

Inari Kitsune Statue, Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Park
Inari Kitsune Statue, Toshogu Shrine, Ueno Park, Tokyo

Temple Gate Detail, Engakuji Temple
Temple Gate Detail, Engakuji Temple, Kamakura

More of my Japan 2007 photos can be found over on Flickr.

More photo goodness on the way…


Hi all,

Happy New Year! This is just a quick note to say that yes, I am still alive, and there is definitely more photography in the pipeline from yours truly in the near future.

At the end of January I am travelling to the Isle of Skye in Scotland for a landscape workshop with David Langan, which, if my last jaunt to Scotland was any indication, should result in some good images. In February I am going on a short city break to Berlin, which is also quite photogenic. Finally, in the next month I will be going on various short work trips to Casablanca, Lagos (Nigeria) and Riyadh so I imagine one or two photos might come out of those locations as well.

I am also toying with the thought of doing some “From the Archives” posts to highlight some of my older, pre-blog-era photography.

So stay tuned, there is definitely more to come.

-Luke

Categories: Photography