Ice Rock Garden and Leaves HDR

Here is a view of this natural sight again- when the stone in Hondoji's pond seemed like a Japanese rock garden, surrounded by pebble-like, textured ice. This magical memory of winter still gives me a good feeling, even now.

Drops

Sometimes the simplest things are best- I spent ages looking at and trying to capture these strands of straw and the drops forming on them. It's a kind of 'tiny universe' all of it's own. Sometimes the simplest things are best- I spent ages looking at and trying to capture these strands of straw and the drops forming on them. It's a kind of 'tiny universe' all of it's own. Look through Flickr and you'll see the delicacy of water-drops are a popular subject. Like any beauty, they are momentary and stunning. In many cases, the photo may be all that remains of them.

Temple Snow Scene

What I love about the snow is how it transforms everything. There is a sense of fantasy to the place, of fairyland come to life. The rich colours here are typical of the D300's photos, which loves a varied, contrasty scene. Later on, I'll post an HDR version.

Cabbage-Flower in the Snow

This flower stood out from the snow, despite looking something like a cabbage. I suppose, seen another way, it resembles a rose!

Tears of Compassion

This image may have a strong impact on the Buddhist faithful- the melting snow seems something like compassionate tears. I believe this represents Nichirin, a famous Japanese 'prophet-monk' who helped rescue the nation from a Mongol invasion by calling them back to faith and away from a merely formal or superstitious type of religion.

This was held to bring forth the divine winds or 'kamikaze', that suddenly rose up to push back the Mongol ships that were approaching. As such, though a seemingly divisive figure at the time, who at one point was actually banished to an island by the rulers, he is now widely loved and fondly remembered.

Cat-Prints

I may have been the only human in the garden, but I definitely wasn't the first being to visit that day. These were cat-prints, left by one of the many logers there (for some reason, wild cats are to be found in Japanese temple gardens- maybe something to do with catching the temple mice before they eat the rice, from years gone past?)

Ice Rock Garden and Leaves

I liked the scene so much, I tried to capture it from every-which angle.

Rock Garden on Ice

... but this scene impressed me the most- the pond was transformed into what looked like a rock garden, the shadows of trees making a gravelluy appearence and the stones jutting out all the more clearly.

One Leaf in Snow

The first thing I noticed was the snow on little details, like this leaf...

Hondoji Pathway

Just yesterday I was lucky enough to have snow and also a day off, so I whizzed off to Hondoji temple, camera in hand. It was fairly early in the morning and I was the only one there, so I could tread the freshly-fallen snow in pure silence.

Droplet

Small is beautiful- in this case, a frozen droplet of melting snow.

School Snow Fields

My school looked especially different. The lull in sports made the place so much... quieter.

Narnia-Like

Like something out of Narnia, this friendly, mythical dog-like being guards the shrine in the winter snows.

Snowy Guardian

Just a couple of days ago it snowed here- something that only happens a few times a year, if at all. This was taken in Suwa Jinja, where everything was transformed by the white blankets.

New Year's Kimono

Nothing can welcome in the new year like a kimono, a splash of colour on this evening.

Kimonos in Kashiwa

One of my favourite "Kimonos in Kashiwa" photos. the colourful menu in the background is typical of Kashiwa, also known as 'little Shibuya' for it's funky styles. Somehow, the vividly coloured kimonos are the perfect match.

By the Crossing

Coming of Age Day is only once a year, but a time when there is a sea of kimonos throughout Japan. I took this and other photos in Kashiwa City. Thanks to the girls for being such great models and their spirit of fun!

Washing Hands

New years is a time for prayers for good fortune in Japan. Here a family wash their hands as they go into the shrine.

Warm Reflections

Using the D300's vivid colour mode, I captured this sunset reflection on an ancient rock. The colours aren't really quite like this, at least seen with the human eye; but who ever said that what we see is any nearer to reality than our wildest fantasies?

Prayer

One of the lightening-bolt-shaped prayer flags so common in shrines in Japan. Yes, I like simple and with the low aperture of the 35mm F/2 this is what you can get. What's your prayer for the new year?