Exploring textures

Texture in nature is sometimes...often times complex and amazingly beautiful. In today's post, I briefly explore the texture on some folliage...a moss covered tree bark amongst the fall colours of shrubbery in Nikko Japan. I used focus stacking with Helicon Focus to achieve the almost unlimited depth of field.

With a tool like the Hasselblad H3D...its perfect to show the textures...in high resolution.The soft, autumn afternoon light is beautiful. Makes a great semi-abstract large print.

Archery anyone?

Just a quick, fun post for today...

When I was in the traditional city of Nikko in Japan last year, I managed to witness an interesting archery event. The participants dressed up as mediaval folks...processing down a prepared gravel road, approximately 800m long

Three targets were set up at regular intervals, and archers on horseback, ride at full speed, and try and shoot 3 arrows at the the 3 targets. Amazingly many are able to hit 2, with some even striking all 3 targets while on horseback.

Lange Owner's Club Lunch. October 14, Tokyo.

As I reported last week, Lange and I had a joint Press Conference in Tokyo to simultaneously launch their Pour le Merite collection - in particular the latest Richard Lange Tourbillon Pour le Merite together with my book.

The very next day, Lange hosted a very special lunch for the Lange Owners Club of Japan. A group of about 25 enthusiasts came for lunch.






The standing area, with the round tables have been transformed into three long tables to sit the guests for the excellent sit down dinner. But first the welcome by Peter Kesselman






Short speech by Lange CEO Wilhelm Schmidt





And Lange presented a copy of my book to the members of the club. I am not able to show the photograph of the handing over by Wilhelm and the President of the Club because of Mr. President requested anonimity. So I will show wrist shots instead of portraits of the participants.

Wilhelm also presented every member who attended the lunch with a unique Lange pin, in sterling silver:





The discussions were active and candid...many wore beautiful Lange timepieces...here is a selection of a few. Begining with the first platinum Richard Lange Pour le Merite Tourbillon delivered in Japan...fresh from the dealer's...





On Wilhelm Schmidt's wrist...a Datograph Perpetual.





On the wrist of a beautiful young lady, and equally beautiful Lange 1 Tourbillon





Apparently quite popular...this one the Homage to FA Lange Lange 1 Tourbillon in honey gold:





I spied an Olympus pen, with the rare Voigtlander 25mm f/0.95 lens...





at work...yes, its the Lange 1 Tourbillon lady's camera...good taste in all areas...:-)





And the youngest member of LOC

Temple Pano from Nikko

Sometimes, one senses the serenity within the temple grounds...here in Nikko's grand temple, the hussle and bustle of an archery competition which is about to start is totally absent, even though I am not more than 200m from the track.

This is a 3 panel panorama, with the HCD4/28. Due to the wide angle format of the lens, I am able to capture nearly 180degrees, and hope I am able to portray the serinity and calm of the surrounding.

Shinkyo - Sacred Bridge, Nikko, Japan

Nikko's Shinkyo (sacred bridge) is part of the reason for its status as a World Heritage Site. The red lacquer bridge crosses the Daiya River, and literally bridges the town of Nikko and the sacred temples.

It is the oldest drawbridge in Japan, and considered by the Japanese as the most beautiful. And sacred. The origins of the bridge are shrouded in mystery, but in its present form, it is said to have been built in 1636.

Spanning some 28m long, it sits 10.6m above the water. Legend has it that the priest Shoto was to climb Mount Nantai to pray for national prosperity. In 766, they arrived at the riverside of Daiya, but could not cross the river because of the ferocious water flow. He prayed, and a god appeared and relased his two snakes, one red and the other blue...which transformed themselves into a rainbow bridge. The Priest and his party were able to cross the river. And when they had crossed the bridge, the he looked back, and the bridge was gone!

Book Launch in Japan: Tokyo Oct 13

On the occassion for the launch of my book in Tokyo, Lange hosted a Press Conference in the beautiful restaurant right in the middle of town, just a stone's throw from Nihombashi. The restaurant, San Pau is the branch of the famed 3 Star Michelin restaurant in Spain, and in Japan it too garnered two stars.





The entire restaurant dining area was removed to accomodate standing room for some 110 journalists who turned up.

The theme of the evening was to showcase the Pour le Merite watches, and of course my book on Pour le Merite. At one corner, a large bicycle chain is linked to the chain of the Pour le Merite...showing extreme difference in size:





and watchmaker in residence Master Watchmaker Wolf:





He deftly demonstrated dismantling of the Richard Lange Pour le Merite Tourbillon...shown above, removing the fusee. He is a young chap...I know his father Frank, who was Head of Assembly in early years of Lange.

Arnd Einhorn, Head of PR...





And the conference starts with the introduction by Peter Kesselman, Head of ALS in Japan:





And Lange CEO, Wilhelm Schmidt introducing my book...





and at the bar later...after a few drinks...

Ryuzu no Taki and Kegon no Taki, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

Nikko is a World Heritage site. I was there recently to take a short break after the launch of my book in Tokyo.

From the Japanese capital, a direct train on the Kegon Limited Express runs from Asakusa directly to Tobu-Nikko station, and another Limited Express called the Kino gets you to Shimo-Imaichi Station, where a local train runs to Tobu-Nikko Station. There is also a Rapid train from Asakusa, but despite its name, it takes almost an hour longer than the Limited Express, and there are no seat reservations. This Rapid train runs like a regular metropolitan subway, stopping at almost every station along the way.



From Tobu-Nikko, one has access to the World Heritage sites - mainly the temples and shrines in Nikko, and to the resort areas of Chuzenji and Yamato.

Today, I will show some photographs of the Chuzenji area. The bus from Tobu-Nikko takes a very scenic, but hairpin turn filled road to the town of Chuzenji. I was told that this route was where they filmed the movie Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift...where the protagonists were racing down the mountain sliding along...

It is about an hour ride. And from the bus station, the beautiful Kegon Falls is about 300m away.

When I arrived at about noon that day, Kegon, which is reputed to be the most beautiful falls in Japan, was shrouded in mist. I would not have known the falls existed as I gazed out from the observation platform if not for the roar of water falling. There is an elevator costing only Y565 that takes one down to the foot of the falls, where the power of the falling water can be observed, and I think perhaps a more dramatic photograph can be taken. But given the thick, heavy mist, I did not take the elevator.

But jumped on another bus to Yamato Onsen, further up the mountains. At Ryuzu no Taki, I decided to stop and go have a look...the view was outstanding. Fall colours had just begun, especially at the higher altitude of Ryuzu. It was Oct 15. And the water falls, known as Ryuzu, meaning dragon head.



And a landscape orientation



I am offering both these as prints in a special limited edition size of 20 in A2 on Hahnemulle Ultra Smooth PhotoRag 308g paper at a sale price. Please email (chongpATgmail.com) to purchase.

I returned to Chuzenji about 4pm, and before catching the bus back to Nikko, decided to go take a quick look at Kegon...and there she was...all 97m of falling water, with many beautiful tributries...beautiful. It was getting a bit dark, so the exposure was 4s, so I lost the texture of the falling water, and it became a misty stream.

Self portraits...not as easy it it sounds...

My attempt at doing some self portraits...with a tripod and GH2...in my room at the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo.

I had some time to spare, and in interviews by magazines and press writing about my book...they always ask for a mug shot...and being a photographer, this is not easy...so I decided to experiment with some self portraits.



Focus is out...I focussed on the wall behind...







I think I need more practice...