Tayuu in Kyoto

In general, it hasn't been a very productive year for my photography. However, here's a shot from one of the most interesting photo events of my 2014. This is the tayuu Kikugawa, and I was only able to get this picture - on my phone [sigh] -  because I was spending the day helping John Paul Foster, geisha photographer extraordinaire. I was helping him with his lighting and backdrops as he had a very limited window of opportunity to work with this particular tayuu. For the best geisha photography I'm aware of, here's John's website and blog. Here's hoping 2015 sees me out with a camera more often ...

Cherry Trees in Autumn

Another one from Yawatashi, another empty bench ...

Autumn Walk

I haven't been able to get out much with the camera this autumn and I've missed the peak colours, and the crowds. These are the cherry trees at Yawatashi, a good place for an early morning walk with the local cats.

Downtown Osaka

Approaching Autumn

Trees holding hands & turning leaves ...

Fish

Wooden Beams

Bows & Arrows II

Archery in Kyoto ...

Link to previous archery shots: Bows & Arrows I

Sumo

Hirakata

Oasis at Dawn

Haven't been out with the camera for a while so here's one from the archives ...

Cherry Blossom

Village Doors

Temple

Too much pink lately? Here's some B&W ...

Blossom in Kansai

A photographer chimps his shot under the cherry trees ...

Taken on a cold, overcast, grey, windy late afternoon ...

The Philosopher's Path

Cherry blossom in Kyoto, brings out the photographers ...

Used a neutral density filter, which let me get a long exposure ... but resulted in some weird colour shifts ...

Roof & Shadows

Kyoto Paparazzi

When you see photographers lurking on the corners of Gion, huddled in the alleyways, it can only mean one thing ...

 .... Geisha and Maiko are around ...