NikonGear'23
Travelogues => Travel Diaries => Topic started by: David Paterson on December 09, 2015, 22:14:48
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I recently posted a number of Japanese images using my alternative account and username, dgp02 (why? It's a long story.) Here are a few more, and I will probably post some people pics later.
1) to 3) - Ashikaga, a historic town north of Tokyo.
4) to 6) - Kamakura, ancient political and religious capital of Japan.
7) to 10) - Nagano Prefecture, some 3.5 hours' driving n.w. of Tokyo.
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Great shots! #7 has much charm
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Lovely David and quite a contrast to your usual subjects.
So has dgp02 been put back in the box now, or will you keep him for future undercover projects? ;)
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Beautiful extracts of Japan - one of Mongo's most favoured places on the planet.
BTW - the last image seems to be an overlay of more than one image ???? unless Mongo's eyes are older and more tired than most
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BTW - the last image seems to be an overlay of more than one image ???? unless Mongo's eyes are older and more tired than most
My guess is that it is a reflection from the glass David was shooting through ;D
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Thanks for sharing these very nice images David, Japan is moving up the ladder of places to go each time you and Akira post these kind of images.
Btw, your first image screams for a max contrast, max colors and max sharpness treatment ;D
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Beautiful, evocative images there Dave, especially #7.
It was good to catch up with you while you were here, and glad that you made it back home safely.
Winter arrived a couple of weeks ago!
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Very nice David. Your images brings back memories and stirs a desire to return. (That is the first cross-eyed Buddha I've seen.)
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Ten powerful images. All of them whisper "Japan". Very nice!
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Any particular symbolism with the cross-eyes statue?
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Any particular symbolism with the cross-eyes statue?
Monk in contemplation, gaze fixed but not seeing ordinarily.
Fine imagery by Dave
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Thanks, everyone. I'm flattered by these kind comments but also pleased that images of Japan are so welcome. It is my second home - sometimes I wish it wasn't quite so far away from Scotland - and is the richest source of visual imagery in my experience (and that includes the Himalayas). The entire culture - ancient and modern - is intensely visual - you could do a fascinating book on shop-fronts, or pachinko parlours* or many other aspects of their exuberant built environment. I also find it very interesting and sometimes instructive to visit a secular society which actually is deeply underpinned by a religion - in this case Buddhism, particularly Zen Buddhism. (End of lecture on Japan).
*Pachinko - a game played on a type of vertical pinball machine. Some (many?) adherents clam that even this has Zen qualities and that playing the machine for extended periods induces a meditative, Zen-like state.
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I love the snowfall, it takes some of the rigour and cleanliness from the scene...
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Thanks, Frank; I do like that image myself.
The seated Buddha is the "healing Buddha". If you are suffering pain somewhere, you rub the statue with your hand in the place corresponding to your pain. For example, if you were suffering from headaches, you would rub his head.
Jan Anne is right about two things - the horse image was shot through glass - and the first image looks good when given a bit of strong treatment -
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That boosted image turned out very nice IMO :)
What does the symbol stand for btw? My guess would be "shelter" or "home".
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What does the symbol stand for btw? My guess would be "shelter" or "home".
I also wondered if that might be the meaning but my wife tells me that the character "kin" means gold, or money.
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1) - three girls in Kamakura make fun of an old man
2) and 3) - Priests and musicians at a traditional wedding
7) to 10) - Chinese tourists and others in Asakusa, Tokyo
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For some reason, I totally missed this thread. Glad to know you had a great time in Japan, Dave!
The Chinese letter whose meaning Jan asked about, is indeed gold, but this particular font is a little simplified from the standard one which is like this:
金
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For some reason, I totally missed this thread. Glad to know you had a great time in Japan, Dave!
The Chinese letter whose meaning Jan asked about, is indeed gold, but this particular font is a little simplified from the standard one which is like this:
金
Why is the sitting Budha has crosseyes/blind?
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Why is the sitting Budha has crosseyes/blind?
The cross-eye often symbolizes the spiritual power to smash the evil away. So, people would pray in front of this statue to wish their deseases (which were considered to be caused by the evil) to heal.
However, this particular statue looks different from the "typical" healing Buddha which is the translation of Yakushi-nyorai or Baisajya-guru. It might be simply called that way because of its answered prayer.
I would expect Dave to chime in to tell us exactly where he took the picture of the statue.
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Why is the sitting Budha has crosseyes/blind?
I think Fons Baerken gave the best answer you are likely to get -
"Monk in contemplation, gaze fixed but not seeing ordinarily."
Akira - I had a great time and will be working on the images from this trip for a long, long time.
Later. Wrong again - thanks for all that knowledge, Akira. But I will have to look at my notes to be sure where it was; Kamakura, certainly, but which temple?
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Later. Wrong again - thanks for all that knowledge, Akira. But I will have to look at my notes to be sure where it was; Kamakura, certainly, but which temple?
No worries, Dave. Please take your time and let the notification function of the website do its job.
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I would expect Dave to chime in to tell us exactly where he took the picture of the statue.
Kenchoji. I thought so but had to look at my notes to be certain. (To explain to non-Japanese members - Kenchoji temple in Kamakura is one of the foremost Zen temples in Japan, and one of the oldest.)
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Dave, thank you for the details. Yes, you shot the statue in Kenchoji shrine.
This is the statue of Pindola Bharadvaja. PB is one of the prominent Arhats of Buddha:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pindola_Bharadvaja
In Japan, PB is called "O-binzuru-san" or "-sama" (both the prefix and the suffixes are honorifics) and believed to heal various deseases and wounds when one strokes the statue on the part one wants to be healed. For example, if you have a problem in your right shoulder, you stroke the right shoulder of O-binzuru-sama. Please don't ask me what to do if you have problems in your feet. :D For what is worth, "binzuru" is a phonetic translation of "Bharadvaja" into Japanese, and written "賓頭廬" in Chinese letters.
This image is picked up from the web and not mine. The statue is located right under the main gate of Kenchoji. The main gate is designated as a nationally important cultural property. The white and the wooden plates explaines that he is a disciple of Buddha and his miracle power to heal. The first two Chinese letters for "binzuru" can be seen on the wooden plate.
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I wonder when that image was made - the statue now looks very much more worn from constant touching and rubbing. I needed to rub quite a few its of him myself. :-\
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Dave, indeed the statue looks much more worn in your image. I wonder if they would need to repaint the statue. Wish your problems will at least be eased...
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People shots are incredibly beautiful, Dave!
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Thanks Anirban. I like to photograph happy-looking people when I get the chance.
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I missed this thread, too - distracted by other things. My loss - they are a lovely collection of diverse images, Dave, and a little different from your previous Japan images.
I particularly like the elegant simplicity and colours of #1 (especially with a boost in contrast) and #2. I like the atmosphere conveyed in #7. You seem to have seen a bit of snow on the trip.
The cross-eyed healing Buddha is interesting, more so close up. Judging by his worn out looks, he has been pretty busy.
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I missed this thread, too - distracted by other things. My loss - they are a lovely collection of diverse images, Dave, and a little different from your previous Japan images.
Good to hear from you, Mike, and thanks for the kind comments. It was a very productive trip, in the end, and very enjoyable too - and that definitely includes meeting up with you and Akira again. I hope we three can meet again in Tokyo.
Have a great Christmas and the best of everything in the New Year.
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It was a very productive trip, in the end, and very enjoyable too - and that definitely includes meeting up with you and Akira again. I hope we three can meet again in Tokyo.
Have a great Christmas and the best of everything in the New Year.
I look forward to seeing more of your photos from the trip, and to seeing you in Tokyo the next time.
All the best for Christmas and New Year - maybe a white Christmas!
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I'm looking forward to seeng further pictorial reports by Dave, too.
And, of course, I'm looking forward to the next meet up with you, Mike and any other possible participants who happen to be in Tokyo!
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And, of course, I'm looking forward to the next meet up with you, Mike and any other possible participants who happen to be in Tokyo!
Sounds like an invite for an official NG event :D
Japan has been on my bucket list for ages, going there with my NG homies would make it legendary 8)
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Sounds like an invite for an official NG event :D
Japan has been on my bucket list for ages, going there with my NG homies would make it legendary 8)
Yeah, that'll be a blast!