Arimatsu
Feb, 2018Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
In 2013 I took a job as professor at a Japanese University in Nagoya. This was an incredible experience for someone like me who loves to take photos. A Japanese friend of mine took me to the Shibori festival in Arimatzu, a part of Nagoya famous for its tie-dye textiles and pottery. The clothing these men were wearing is testimony to the tie-dye tradition of this city, where merchants from all over Japan came to purchase these materials.Time
It was 2 p.m. and Arimatzu was bustling with people watching a parade, or the many presentations of hand-made puppets that were in large "floats" with no proper wheels. These men were pulling out 4 meter high floats that contained musicians and the dolls that either danced, painted or bowed. You can see how heavy this float was by their strained faces.Lighting
Along the coast of Japan, it is common to have rather overcast weather that causes the light to be less than optimal for taking photos. But in this case, because I took a close up, the light was fine. The Japanese are unbothered by cameras and close up photography which was my advantage here.Equipment
Since 1985 I have always had a Nikon camera. While in Japan I was using a D60 to take this shot without tripod or flash.Inspiration
In Japan inspiration is around every corner. When a group carries out a difficult task, such as hauling such a heavy weight for the purpose of making the crowd happy, they wear a Hachimaki to give them energy. They were amazing to watch as was the crowd that cheered them on.Editing
I do little if any post-processing.In my camera bag
I love the versatilty of the wide-angle lens 18-105. I also love my primary lens! My new love.Feedback
To get shots like this, I would recommend going to Japan during the spring and early summer before it is too hot. Then in the autumn. Look for festivals, or visit shrines. Japan will not disappoint you.
