Just Imagine

Something else I've been experimenting with on my new camera is black and white. I've never really gotten into this before, but being able to see the result on a clear viewfinder has made it so much more accessible. The simplicity of black and white appeals to me, just as does having only one thing in focus. Less can be more in this information-laden age.

Poolside

Where would the summer be without a pool? It's getting a little late in the day, but as the sun slowly disappears, it's safe to dip in and enjoy the surrounding reflections.

Home Sweet Home

Finally, I made my way home, where the sunset was there to be enjoyed. Hear more about all of this on my PerfectFutures blog.

Fields and Trees

The rich colours of the soil and trees somehow relaxes me. The fertile earth makes all kinds of life possible- so simple, but so full of life. Of course, breathing in the fresh air and smells of spring make for an experience you just can't get at home, at least not without smell-o-vision.

Tranquil Shrine

Everywhere you go, you can find small sacred sites, most of them still being quietly used. Wherever you find them, there is also tranquil nature.

Prayers in the Wind

Even the prayer-books were left, their pages fluttering around.

Abandoned Shrine

There was this disused shrine amongst the trees, too. It had just been left there, forgotten.

Sun in Bamboo

The bright sun filtered down, much cooler in the shade of the bamboo.

Tree Trunk in HDR

I found that in the bright light, HDR photos come out the best. It was amazing to chance upon this upturned tree-trunk, catching golden light in the murky woods.

Local Walks

Recently, I've been enjoying more and more walks in the local area.

Toshogu Shrine Pagoda

The whole place exudes the mystery of a long-forgotten world, something you feel more in the quiet nearby temples that few people go to.

Toshogu Shrine Detail

The level of detail is incredible, which is why it's so famous.

Toshogu Shrine

The holiday also took me to Nikko, where I went with Glen. The gorgeous Toshogu shrine was incredibly photogenic!

Tama Zoo Butterfly

... Not to mention this butterfly.

Asakusa Artist

Interestingly, the two places came together in the paintings of this old man.

Views of London- Sunset Over the City

London has, from it's very inception, been dependant upon the flow of trade along the Thames. With the relative cheapness of water-borne transport, this hasn't changed much, a fact compounded by the expensive nature of innovations in water-transport such as hovercraft and hydrofoils. So what you are seeing here is a scene that hasn't changed much for centuries. and in terms of the sunset itself, for millenia.

I don't see London so much as a place to see the contrast between new and old, to the extent that Tokyo is. I see it more as a land of continuity, where even very old things are restored to be still useful in today's world- A tale of two cities!

THE END

Views of London- The Gherkin

The Gherkin, or the Swiss Ree Tower, whatever you call it, is quite a unique sight. I'd been waiting ages to get a good glimpse of this mysterious building, yet as it is designed to be unobtrusive, it always seems to be hiding behind something near it, so it's as if the closer you get, the further away it seems. I managed to find this angle, though, which also shows how it fits in with much older buildings. What I like about it is that unlike so many unoriginal modern buildings, it's an experience to behold.

Views of London- The Lion

A Trafalgar Square lion. Puchinka's big brother, if you will. What once guarded an empire is now nothing more than a toy to be clamboured on by kiddies- The meek will inherit the Earth!

Views of London- Puchinka

And here we have the cat that my mum calls Puchinka. Nothing to do with the Japanese gambling game by a similar name (pachinko), but a beautiful Persian cat. She likes to come and hang around at the house, even climbing in our third-story windows! The name came from our distant background in Russian culture and the fact that she looks a bit like a snow-princess.

Views of London- Local Rose

Here's a local house in Camberwell- well a local rose, at least. Walking by in the early morning, I was struck by the attention people pay to their gardens, brightening up the street with them.