Selection of photos from Kyoto ft Harvs

This is long overdue but better really late then never lol so...Here are some pics from my trip with Harv. These are the only photos I have of the trip as all of them are at home on the home comp. I only had these ones cos they happened to still be on my SD card in my camera. Anyway, there from Kyoto which i think is one of my favorite places in Japan. It gives you a feeling of the real 'old japan' and is a good change from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Everything here is way more chilled out and life is more relaxed. The architecture of the old buildings and shrines are really nice too. We were also lucky to come in Autumn, which makes for some epic pics :P

We stayed at traditional Ryokan which is a type of traditional accomodation. With futons and tatami mats. Wish I could show you guys pics but there all at home.

The front door and garden

This was a random stream we came across while walking down a footpath. Was a nice surprise to find something so natural and scenic

A side entrance to a Shinto Shrine

Man and his dog praying

The winding road

We also visited the Bambo groves. The path we walked along stretched for ages and we were completely surrounded by very old bamboo










Im heading back to Kyoto for 4 nights on the 22nd of March just in time for cherry blossoms! Hope to get some nice pics of Sakura!!

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Hello from Hakuba, Japan

Hello everyone! and welcome back to my blog lol. I know I have neglected it but Ive been so busy. I haven't touched it since before QLD. Anyway hope everyone has been well.

Thought Id tell you guys what I have been up to. Well we pretty much snowboard everyday and go out on friday and sat night. Had a white xmas and it snowed on NYE which was a first for me. The place we have is pretty comfy, its a massive house with 10 rooms. Its like a big lodge, we have our own room and kitchen, bathrooms etc are shared. It worked out to be only 20$AUD a night, we got a 50% discount for extended stay. We started shopping and cooking our own meals too cos eating out kills you wallet so bad. Weather has been mostly pretty cold compared to melbourne lol. Its normally around -2 but over night has hit -10. One night we were walking home from 7/11 and it was -7. You can tell its cold when you cant feel you face ahah.

Ive starting applying for jobs so hopefully I can stay longer ;P and this cant be a post without pics so here are a couple randoms:

A post marker across the street, no idea what it says


Just like my house at home there is no houses opposite ours, just a carpark. There is a shuttle bus that passes here every 10 mins that takes us to the ski resort. Its only 2min ride but who can be fkd walking uphill lol



This was after a huge snow dump. It snowed for 2 days straight day and nite and was like a total of 70-90cm snowfall. In some areas now there is measurements of snowfall to date and some sections are 3m worth of snow above the ground.

A snowman some guys staying with us made before NYE. It has Asahi cans for buttons lol. Btw snowman is buried and looks like a giant mound of snow now cos its snowed pretty heavily since.



Anyway, we going to go check out Matsumoto Castle tommorow so ill take some pics of and chuck em up here when I get time. Ill try take random snaps of cool/crazy jap stuff and keep you guys entertained.

Peace take care:)

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NGV HDR styles

Just thinking about it now I have been out at least once a week to take photos. Pretty good going consistently learn heaps and keeps the skills sharp.

HDR version of the fountain

Another HDR

Should do more B&W


Across the street

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Random Street Art

Some random pieces that I liked.

A picture reply to my last post lol..where is the love?


Organised chaos


These are so cool, clean and simple

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Random Shoot

Friday night got home from work and had no money to go out and was bored. So decided to go on a random shoot with Ben and Lee. Lee's blog is here: http://leeodon.blogspot.com/ . Was a cold night and we were out till 3-4am and now im sick which sucks balls but I guess its what we do for what we love. Here are the results

This pic is from the Bulla Rd exit while we wanted for Lee to finish training and meet up with us. ISO200, f/13, 25sec @26mm




This area was a shipping port. A security gaurd spotted us (three shifty looking characters with tripods) and called another security guy who came down in a van that looked like and ambulance lol. He told us we were on private property which was a load of shit cos we were on a public road looking through the fence. We were on the correct side of the fence cos the other side of the fence has $5000 admission fee (trespassing fine) if caught. He went on to say blah blah you cant be here, blah blahh I should confiscate your cameras blah Australian customs would be all over your ass's blah blah I should call the police blah. Finished my can of V and we left. Ended up here:


HDR...

..again..

...and again!

Then went to an old spot where we used to go when I still had the 180sx




Love how HDR allows details in highlighted and shadow areas to show through. Love the detail of the rust.



Another HDR..

..and another. We fought for the pic of the dead star fish as it started to rain and we needed the shot before we ran for cover to the car. All three of us were there with tripods in about a 1m^2 area, was pretty funny.. was yelling "BEN! get your tripod out of my frame!!!" and was yelling at Lee "Oi stop lighting up my photo!!" he was using auto timer where there is a warning light flashing every second LOL good times:)

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Keilor Hotel Shoot

Earlier last week I got the opportunity to do my first ever paid work! Was tagging along with Ben just to learn and gain some experience but getting a bit of cashola on the side was a bonus. Me and Ben shot the Keilor Hotel where the photos will be used for advertising and promotional purpose such as brochures, menus and on their website. We started shooting outside where it was windy and overcast meaning the clouds constantly covering and opening up made it difficult as we were constantly changing settings. After getting comfortable with the conditions we started getting more consistent shots.

Established 1849



















































Sun came out for the marquee shot which was nice. They are gonna build a Chapel out the back so you can get married after you get blind drunk lol. Here is Ben's handy work, first 2 pages of the menu with a selection of our photos on the second




Also scored free lunch which was the perfect chance to go all out agree? lol Rib eye with garlic prawns ...why not?! Might be shooting closeups of food soon too so stay tuned for that.

Thanks Ben for the gig =]

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