Ten images from Japan plus ten more images

[David Paterson]

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.

[Chip Chipowski]

Great shots!  #7 has much charm

[ColinM]

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?

[Mongo]

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

[Jan Anne]

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

[Jan Anne]

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

[Mikes]

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!

[Gary]

Very nice David. Your images brings back memories and stirs a desire to return. (That is the first cross-eyed Buddha I've seen.)

[Anirban Halder]

Ten powerful images. All of them whisper "Japan". Very nice!

[Almass]

Any particular symbolism with the cross-eyes statue?

[Fons Baerken]

Any particular symbolism with the cross-eyes statue?

Monk in contemplation, gaze fixed but not seeing ordinarily.

Fine imagery by Dave

[David Paterson]

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.

[Frank Fremerey]

I love the snowfall, it takes some of the rigour and cleanliness from the scene...

[David Paterson]

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 -

[Jan Anne]

That boosted image turned out very nice IMO

What does the symbol stand for btw? My guess would be "shelter" or "home".