Kanjiru Me: The world through my lens

Doggie Diner

2008-06-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things about living near San Francisco is that you'll always see something unusual or interesting.

For more about the Doggie Diners and these K9 busts visit here.

Cheers!

Eikoh Hosoe

2008-02-25T05:43:00.000-08:00

Kamaitachi #8 by Eikoh Hosoe

"To me photography can be simultaneously both a record and a" mirror" or " window" of self-expression... The camera is generally assumed to be unable to depict that which is not visible to the eye. And yet the photographer who wields it well can depict what lies unseen in his memory."
-Eikoh Hosoe

WonderCon 2008

2008-02-23T23:53:00.001-08:00

Well, he's Gumby dammit!

Gumby

Their were quite a few colorful characters here at WonderCon 2008 in San Francisco. This was my first comic convention and it was not completely what I expected.

I viewed some presentations from Pixar, Disney/Walden Studios and Marvel Studios. WALL*E and Ironman look great. WALL*E looks to be the best picture Pixar has ever made IMHO.

Daleks running security was a bit unnerving.
(Me thinks government outsourcing has gone too far)

Fat Momma from the first season of "Who Wants to be a Super Hero" reality show had a booth. She was very good-natured and more than lived up to her appearance in the show.

Lou Ferrigno was one of the many celebrities signing autographs for their many fans. You may know him as the "Incredible Hulk" and more recently as the neighbor on the show "The King of Queens". For a guy that has lived the life he's had and at the age of 57, he looks great! Again a real personable type, warm and friendly.

And of course people come dressed as their favorite characters...

Elvis isn't dead . He's been moon-lighting as a stormtrooper!

And a young lady dressed as Lum a vintage Manga character were just a few of a cast of many.

Cheers.

Checkin' out the flea market

2008-02-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

Went to the flea market near the local JC. Thought I'd take a few pics but people wouldn't allow it. A lot of nervous faces. Items may be hot, eh?

Well here are some shots I did take...

Toy Robots 4 Sale

Used Shovels

Cheers.

Shot from the bridge

2008-02-08T15:57:00.001-08:00

Ships in the fog.

It was a sunny day with the fog clinging to bay today. I grabbed this shot while driving over the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

Cheers.

Mac World 2008

2008-01-19T01:38:00.001-08:00

It's the new year so it's time to go to Mac World.

Mac World was held at the Moscone Center as it always is but was partly in the new building instead of the East Wing of the main exhibition center.

There were quite a few small vendors. More than I've ever seen in all the years I have attended.

Here's just a few pics:

A bedazzled MacBook

A typical Mac User with an atypical hair style

The extremely thin MacBook Air

USB drives

MacBook Airs as art

Cheers.

Everyone has raingear...

2007-12-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

...even the dog!

A rainy day in the city.

Cheers.

Happy Holidays to all!!!

2007-12-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

Santa in Harajuku!

Peace.

Commuting

2007-12-21T10:49:00.001-08:00

The stuff you see while stuck in trafic...

The ferry building clock tower at the Port of San Francisco.

Cheers.

Poetry and Prayers at Meiji Jingu Shrine

2007-12-16T19:24:00.000-08:00

The things people say,

Whether good or ill,
Surely can all profit us
If we but listen well.

This verse is written in the traditional 31-syllable form and is one of 30, 000 Imperial poems written by Empress Shoken.

A visit to Meiji Jingu like many shrines and temples you'll find find prayer placards hung by patrons. Many prayers are for happy lives, passing an exam, healthy babies, etc.

Prayer placards

Sayonara.

Jet Lag

2007-12-15T15:31:00.001-08:00

It's been a little over a week since I've gotten back from Japan and I'm almost over my jet lag!!!

I'm still going through images; editing and adjusting them.

A shrine near Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Torii in Shinjuku

Samuraii Chop!! is one of the many great bands I saw perfom in Yoyogi Park near Harajuku. I found a video of them performing posted on Youtube for you to enjoy.

Samuraii Chop!!

Cheers!

And the final count is...

2007-12-06T00:00:00.000-08:00

...2,254 images shot in Japan. Now the sorting and editing begins.

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa

Heading home

2007-12-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

Oh, inner peace.

This is the state I hope to be in during my trek home.

I spent my last day in Shibuya, Asakusa and Shinjuku.

Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo.

Some new stunning architecture being built in Shinjuku.
Sayonara.

Prayers and Weddings

2007-12-02T06:10:00.001-08:00

Young lady writing a prayer

I spent the day in Yoyogi-koen and Meiji Jingu Shrine. This is the most gaijin I've seen in one place. There were many weddings happening as well as young ones in their Kimonos and Haori Hakamas.

Wedding procession

Happy family with son in his Haori Hakama

The Nod

2007-12-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

Santa's Helpers

After spending a bit of time here in Japan I've noticed something. Do you know the "nod"? It's a head nod of recognition between one person of color and another in the USA. Here in Japan many American Gaijin (foreigners) regardless of race will do the nod to other Americans. What do you think that means?

Cheers!

A day in Ueno

2007-12-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

I'll start this post with someone I met in Ueno. Genki is trying to protect this monument to peace and remembrance of the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. He fears the new caretakers at Toshogu Shrine will remove it. I'll try to get more information in a future post.

Here are some images of fall in Ueno-koen and Toshogu Shrine.

Cheers!

The Colonel

2007-11-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

They have KFC here in Japan too.

The Colonel is present in Yokohama in his festive Xmas garb!
Cheers!

Almost a 1000 images...

2007-11-29T05:35:00.002-08:00

Ferris wheel in Yokohama

I've shot about 1000 image now. It's been taking a lot of time to sort and edit them with my limited hardware.

Here are some of my images of small statues that represent lost children (still born). There are thousands here at the temple at Kamakura.

We also went to Disney Sea Tokyo. This Disney theme is based on port cities from points around the world real and fantasy.

Sayonara!

Cupids and Nutcrackers

2007-11-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

While at Yoyogi-koen we came across a fellow dressed as this...

Is he cupid?!

An Apple store display in Shibuya has nutcrackers listening to iPods. Christmas is here in Japan too.

I'm having a great time here in Japan with Noriko and her sister. Do I really have to come home?

Some of the first images of Japan

2007-11-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

An aspiring front man for a band playing in Yoyogi-koen (park) in Tokyo. The band is Samurai Chop!!, great music, check them out at http://www.geocities.jp/yoppengar/

The Great Buddha at Kamakura in Kanagawa.

The First Few Days...

2007-11-26T08:28:00.001-08:00

A few days and nights in Japan and things are great. Getting a lot of great images.

I've been to Harajuku, Yoyogi-koen park, Kamakura, Shibuya and Tokyo Disney Sea resort/park.

Images to come soon...

Cheers

I've Finally Arrived

2007-11-23T17:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm here in Japan. Kanagawa to be more precise.

I met a fellow Usefilm.com photographer Yutaka (http://www.usefilm.com/photographer.asp?ID=16971) at the airport.

That was very kind of him.

I'll be going to Harajuku to shoot the Cosplayers and getting some more warm clothes today. It's samui (cold) here!!

Cheers!