We've been in Japan for almost 2 months now. Actually we live in the northwestern area of Tokyo called Fussa. So far we've experienced a few things that I'd like to share with you. I'll make this short.

Eating in Japan...

My impression of food in Japan is not necessarily a very good one so far. Too many things taste like fish. Not just fish, but fishy smelling fish taste. I think most foods are cooked in the same stinky, overused oil that has been used to cook or fry fish. I hate the smell and I hate the taste. Order a beef bowl (rice and beef), and chances are, it tastes and smells a bit like stinky fish. I have had about 2 meals so far that do not taste much like fish.

Restaurants seem to sell the same foods. It appears that most food joints carry the same foods, though maybe remixed a little. The biggest difference seems to be just how much you want to pay for the same thing. The same beef/rice bowl will cost you 350 yen in a fast food place, and over 1500 yen in a nicer restaurant. Guess you pay for location.

Driving in Japan...

I have come to believe that the Japanese have developed some sort of "force field" around their cars as they drive. It is a pure joy to drive in this country...anywhere and everywhere. The roads are narrow and the traffic is slow, but for some reason it seems pretty hard to actually hit anything with your car. At first glance, it would appear that people seem oblivious about their surroundings while driving, biking or walking, but it is quite the opposite. I think that folks are just so used to the oddities of the road network and are able to adapt with little thought. In that sense, it feels like you just avoid all people and objects by "force field". Even in downtown Tokyo. To put it in perspective, it feels like there is a synchronicity between all people and things, and it all moves in perfect harmony. Really. That's the way it feels. Somehow everything feels timed just right. And that's cool.

Well, it has been some time since I've visited this site and I must say that it is high time I post a journal entry, um...because, oh, well I don't know why.

Anyway, the family and I are about to embark on a journey to a far away, strange land...Tokyo, Japan. We'll be there in early January. As for the photography...I've felt that I've needed a new location and inspiration to continue on, and that is what I'll get in spades from this trip. We'll be there for at least 3 years, so I expect to upload some new stuff. I've garnished a few new friends with the common photo interest and we should be starting a photo "club" very shortly. This should help us all launch out and find new ground to photograph. If anyone has any suggestions or requests, I'll be happy to oblige.

So, that said, nothing else is new photo wise. Baby Bella is now 2 years old and repeating words (some of which she should not be saying, and that's my fault). She is so bright and beautiful. No, really. I'll post some pics of her when we get to JP.

Oh, and a reminder to all. Make sure you back up all your photos on a DVD AND an external HD. I kept telling this to my wife and now...one reformatted lappy later, all her photos from her Nikon point-and-shoot are gone. Bummer. I got her a new 250G external.

Cheers to all. Happy holidays and such.

As an artist, I am always searching for inspiration. It is not always there. Who am I, who are you, what is it all about? So? Well? I'm waiting for the answer. I don't know, do you? Tell me. I will listen to your thoughts.

Till then...

Yep. Been a bit since I last posted and bs'd in the journal. There's a pretty good reason though; my wife and I just had Isabella Grace on 03 October!! Happy birthday girl.

It is so wonderful having another baby again. Never thought I'd hear myself say that, but it's true.

I'll post a couple of pics so as 'yall can meet her.



 

Mood: hmm...
Listening to: ♥
Reading: Stephen King
Watching: Aeon Flux

Toni and I originally wanted to wait until the birth to find out, but due to some extensive ultrasounds she had to undergo the other day, we found out anyway. So, most likely her name is going to be Isabella Grace Bender. Purty, huh?

I'm still stuck down here in Cocoa Beach, Fl with terrible rain and overcast days. I tried to get out and take some pics, but it was difficult and gas is too expensive to just go driving around for hours.

Oh, man, both of my teleconverters are fucked. My 2x only worked fine for the first 5 pics and I guess some screw came loose and now the images are all blurry. The 1.4x was working great until we nearly had an accident in the Tahoe. The D200 was on the back seat with the 1.4x and Sigma 120-300 attached. When Toni hit the brakes, the camera flew forward and dropped to the floor of the truck. There was a pillow there that I thought broke the fall, but the following day, I tried to take pics and the teleconverter was all jacked up. I had to take it apart and bend a metal ring back into shape. It seemed to be just fine, but a few test shots later showed otherwise. The monster Sigma and D200 are just fine tho. Damn that pisses me off. Oh well. These things happen.

While out on the road today I ran across a great local photo book by Clyde Butcher called Florida Landscapes. I was a bit inspired to take similar type photos. However, they were taken with a large format camera and those type photos are damn near impossible to create with a DX digital. I can mimick some of this in P/S. I like how some of the pics were underexposed. Better still there were some great shots of lightning over the Atlantic.

I'd really like to get back out if the weather clears so I can get some candids of the locals selling fruit and such on the side of the road. Maybe even get some of the bikers and store owners. There are some great faces out here.

Well, that's it for now.

Chow.