Any time I think of Japan, and to a greater extent Asia, I cannot help but think of food. Not because I love it or hate it, but because it is frequently unrecognizable to that kinds of foods I normally eat. I love cheese and meat lots of vegetables with a little...
Japan
Somewhere in KamakuraJapan travel stories
15 Steps to Understanding Japan, part 1
ITKT fans can expect a whole lot of Japan in the coming weeks as I have just returned from tour that included Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama and Tokyo. The trip was a bit of a whirlwind but mostly reminded me how much I love visiting Japan. Moreover, I visited Japan as part...
Public Bathing and Communing with the Stars in Japan
I have taken many, many baths in my lifetime. And I have been naked among strangers more than once. Yet somehow - despite having dressed in kimono and eaten root vegetables ground into powder and refashioned as jelly noodles - taking a dip in the public bath seemed...
Mysteries Revealed: Bowing in Japan
Now several days into my Trip into Japan and from the 14th floor overlooking Tokyo's Bay, It turns out there is more to bowing in Japan than simply greeting one another. There is an etiquette that gets taught to young Japanese. Here is the breakdown as it has been...
Camera Talk: Parting Shot
If I timed this right, this will be my final Camera Talk for the year 2009. The Christmas and New Year Holiday seasons keep everyone pretty busy and I'm fairly certain no one wants to read a complicated camera lesson at this point in time. So, here's a simple...
Camera Talk: Here a Tripod is a Must
Take a second of your time when shooting a treasure discovered during your travels. Yes, a full second, that's what it takes sometimes when you are trying to capture a sharp photo in difficult lighting. Museums, caves, art and sculpture exhibits, anything that...
Camera Talk: Camera Flash
Natural light is always the best choice when using your camera outdoors. Camera flash is always my last resort for eliminating harsh shadows, but sometimes it's the only available solution. Had this Queen been modeling for me, I'd have used a reflector board...
Camera Talk: Consider Where You’ll be Traveling
Many people ask which type camera or lens they should buy and I always answer them with a question or two. What is your level of experience and what type of photography are you interested in? The truth is a disposable film camera can capture an award winning photo for...
Camera Talk: Be Patient
Catching these eco-tourists kayaking alongside a mangrove stand and the birds in flight was no accident; it was planned. Standing on a bridge over the river, I saw the egrets perched in the trees. I didn't bother taking a shot because, to me, it just wouldn't...
Camera Talk: Traveling Without Your Camera
Even professional photographers get caught without a camera, sometimes. Sometimes it's intentional, other times: batteries go dead, you left your SD card in the computer at home, or, just didn't bring a camera and that's when things happen. An opportunity...
Camera Talk: Going Wide-Angle
Landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes and sunsets lend themselves to the use of wide-angle lenses. This photo was shot at the Dragonboat Races, an annual event in Nago Okinawa, Japan. My intent, here was to capture the crowd, sky and clouds and the three dragonboats...
Camera Talk: Tourist Attractions in Reverse
Anywhere in the world you travel, you'll come across a crowd. They are at every major tourist attraction with their cameras in hand, clicking away trying to make postcard-perfect photos. What few of them realize is, they are not making best use of the available...
