Kyoto – Stuck in Customs
10
Mar 2023 : Friday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Nikon D3S, Travel

The Lamps and the Sakura

Daily Photo – The Lamps and the Sakura

Sakura is the Japanese word for the Cherry Blossom. I don’t know if I can explain how crazy the Japanese people are about this yearly bloom! For one thing, every local newscast has a big “Cherry Blossom” report that has in-depth descriptions of exactly where the trees are blooming in the country and upcoming predictions. The wave sweeps across the island of Japan and rich graphics cover the screen like a cold front, assaulting the countryside.

I took this photo with the Nikon D3S. Back then I’d recently taken to carrying two cameras with me. I’d take the Nikon D3X with me, and it’s usually attached to the tripod. This is the one that I used for 90% of my landscapes. While I carry that, slung around my neck and shoulder, Chewbacca-style, was the Nikon D3S, which I use for people shots, DOF shots, and videos. Nowadays I’m much more minimalist. I think the advances in mobile photography have very much helped that, and the “pro” cameras are way better handheld than they used to be.

This was taken at F/1.4 with a 50mm prime lens. The shutter was 1/8000 and the ISO 200.

The Lamps and the Sakura

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2023-06-01 23:06:01
  • CameraNIKON D3S
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time1/8000
  • Aperture1.4
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length50.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

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14
Feb 2023 : Tuesday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Sony A7R 3, Travel

Kyoto Closing up Shop at Night…

Daily Photo – Kyoto Closing up Shop at Night…

I was walking up and down the tiny streets one night, getting snacks and sake in different places while taking photos. Most of the places there are quite tiny, as you can see here in this image. Everyone is super friendly and it’s easy to make friends, especially because the Japanese people are some of the nicest people in the world!

Kyoto Closing up Shop at Night…

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2018-01-30 03:21:07
  • CameraILCE-7RM3
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/40
  • Aperture4
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length27.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

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25
Nov 2022 : Friday
filed under  Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Kyoto, Travel

Autumn Gardens in Kyoto

Daily Photo – Autumn Gardens in Kyoto

This came from a single RAW file, which was actually the case with over half my HDRs I processed from Japan. Changed times from the old Nikon 7 exposure days!

Autumn Gardens in Kyoto

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-07 17:27:46
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time1/750
  • Aperture3.5
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-2/3

Comments
31
Aug 2022 : Wednesday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Nikon D3X, Travel

Treetop Temple

Daily Photo – Treetop Temple

A treetop temple silently rests with warm lights as a cool evening falls around it.

Kyoto, Japan
TreyRatcliff.com

Treetop Temple

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2009-09-29 03:54:08
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time8
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length19.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
19
Jun 2022 : Sunday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Nikon D3X, Travel

Found Kyoto

Daily Photo – Found Kyoto

I just stumbled across a few images from Asia that I don’t think I’ve shared before. It’s quite awesome when that happens, although not quite as awesome as finding some money in that jacket you haven’t worn in a while. That’s always a good excuse to go spend your newfound wealth on something super unhealthy. Mmmm… donuts…

Found Kyoto

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2022-06-20 00:04:19
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time30
  • Aperture8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length19.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+2

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10
Mar 2022 : Thursday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Nikon D3X, Travel

The Fine Art Site

Daily Photo – The Fine Art Site

I’m knee deep in a redesign of the Fine Art site and it’s been a lot of fun to see how we can reimagine it for the new Web 3.0 era while retaining some focus on the physical prints which are just as important. While that’s ongoing, here’s one of my favorites from Series 1. It was one which I loved seeing produced at 2.5meters across. It’s like you can step into it and I love that… even more so when up close because the whole thing almost envelops you.

The Fine Art Site

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2023-06-01 23:06:02
  • CameraNIKON D3X
  • Camera MakeNikon
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture11
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length14.0 mm
  • FlashNo Flash
  • Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
  • Exposure Bias+2

Comments
11
Aug 2021 : Wednesday
filed under  Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Kyoto, Travel

Kyoto Swimparty

Daily Photo – Kyoto Swimparty

I’m usually too busy in these cities to go for a swim, since I’m running around with my hair on fire taking photos. I often think, gee willickers, I should really have a swim and a relax. But I almost never do! If I have a little extra time, I try to hit the gym, which I enjoy more than swimming. Now that I think about it, I don’t really like swimming much at all. But I do like playing in the pool with my kids!

Kyoto Swimparty

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-07 01:45:38
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time64
  • Aperture13
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-2/3

Comments
3
Aug 2021 : Tuesday
filed under  Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Kyoto, Travel

Midnight Through 1,000 Gates

Machine Elves… Machine Elves Everywhere!

Here’s a clip from the recent Joe Rogan podcast with Michael Pollan about his new book called “The is Your Brain on Plants.” Back when I named the new company “Machine Elf” it was a super niche word only known to a few that have ever seen them or at least heard about them. Anyone out there know Rogan or Pollan? I’d love for them to see some of our Machine Elf creations at https://the-machine-elf.com/ Oh, and be sure to check out the full podcast on Spotify, it’s always a good watch/listen.

Daily Photo – Midnight Through 1,000 Gates

If you’re ever in Kyoto, be sure to come adventure around this gate area at night. It’s pretty busy during the day, but at night it’s almost empty. It’s also a great time to pick up Japanese girls, if you are into that. I’m not into that at all. They can be very distracting while you are trying to take photos.

Midnight Through 1,000 Gates

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-07-21 13:36:41
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture6.8
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length45.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
24
May 2021 : Monday
filed under  Camera Gear, Japan, Kyoto, Sony A7R 2, Travel

Red Gates in Kyoto in the Evening

Great video on psychedics with Jordan Peterson

The words below are from the YouTube description:

Dr. Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., is a professor of neuroscience, psychiatry, and behavioral science and director of the Psychedelic and Consciousness Research at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is the author of over 400 scientific research publications and has trained more than 50 postdoctoral research fellows. He has been a consultant to the National Institutes of Health and numerous pharmaceutical companies in the development of new psychotropic drugs.

Dr. Roland Griffiths and I discuss the research with John Hopkins University. We spoke about how he got into psychedelics and convinced ethic committees to approve such research, why he chose the scientific path, specifics about his studies with psilocybin, transformations of cancer patients with family members, the impact of psilocybin in existing institutions, the ongoing studies he is performing with long-time meditators and religious leaders, how the integration of psilocybin into society may look and more.

Daily Photo – Red Gates in Kyoto in the Evening

The best time (for me) to visit these red gates is around sunset and into the evening. It’s open all the time, but there are hardly any tourists there at night. It’s great to walk around the 1,000+ gates and find different compositions and different sorts of lights… It makes me think of all the Japanese anime shows I’ve ever seen for some reason.

Red Gates in Kyoto in the Evening

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-09 07:00:10
  • CameraILCE-7RM2
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/15
  • Aperture10
  • ISO125
  • Focal Length18.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

Comments
19
Oct 2020 : Monday
filed under  Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Kyoto, Travel

New Peak Design Goodies on Kickstarter – I bet you didn’t think they would make this!


That clever team has come up with something I’ll probably use even more than all their cool camera and bag gear – this slick case and mounting system for your phone and a bunch of accessories to go with it! I’m actually pretty good when it comes to using my phone… I’m not on it all the time, but I’m still on it quite a bit. I’ve tried a few mounting systems, but they all seem a bit janky as if they were designed by someone that might possibly be a bit insane. Well, when you watch this video, you’ll see how they have thought about this system in the same kind of 360, detailed manner as they did their bags, camera straps, and everything else they make. I know you’re wondering if it will work on YOUR phone and the case will if you have the iPhone 11 or 12 or a Samsung S20. For everyone else, or at least most of you, there is a Universal Mount… that’s one of the cool things about joining the Kickstarter community there because you can get into all the design discussions to see what models will be officially supported. The community there is incredible because you can ask any question (and they will answer), and you can provide any sort of feedback or ideas they have. This is probably one of the reasons that Peak Design makes such incredible products… they really listen! Go see now at Kickstarter.



Check out the Kickstarter here.

Daily Photo – After the Photo Walk in Kyoto

Just after we finished the big photo walk, I decided to take a few photos of this cool temple at dusk before sunset. It’s always a bit awkward after photo walks because a few people end up hanging around as long as they can. I don’t mind it, really, because I’m a super-nice guy! But I don’t always know what to say after the official thing is over… I am just kind of taking photos by myself, and I kind of feel the need to explain to them what I am doing… so it is kind of hard to turn off that mode, you know?

After the Photo Walk in Kyoto

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-06 01:33:46
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time45
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length45.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-1

Comments