Focx Photography » Japan

Nakafurano Fields III

Christoph — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:40:25 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/640 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on July 31, 2006 14:36.

Lavender fields, from a 2006 visit to the colourful fields in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan. I believe the fields belong to the Tomita farm. These photos also show two things: cheap and old cameras (here my compact Casio Z-57) produce lower image quality, but that doesn’t mean the photos can’t be beautiful :)

Hokkaidō Autumn I

Christoph — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:05:02 +0000

EX-Z57 , 14.6 mm, 1/250 sec at F 7.
Taken on September 30, 2007 12:31.

An autumn view near the beach, north of Sapporo in Hokkaidō, Japan.

Nakafurano Fields II

Christoph — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:11:02 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/500 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on July 31, 2006 14:34.

From a 2006 visit to the colourful fields in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, Japan. I believe the fields belong to the Tomita farm. These photos also show two things: cheap and old cameras (here my compact Casio Z-57) produce lower image quality, but that doesn’t mean the photos can’t be beautiful :)

Hagoromo Waterfall

Christoph — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:29:12 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/400 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on June 3, 2006 11:12.

The Hagoromo waterfall (羽衣の滝, hagoromo no taki, literally “robe of feathers”) is at the end of a small walk about 10 minutes from Tenninkyō Onsen (天人峡温泉). It’s part of the Daisetsusan National Park and according to Wikipedia Japan Hokkaidō’s tallest and Japan’s second tallest waterfall with a water level difference of 270m. It’s well worth the drive, as the landscape up to the fall is also quite beautiful (see my “Hokkaidō Summer” photo).

Nakafurano Fields I

Christoph — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:00:52 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/500 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on July 31, 2006 14:33.

Hokkaidō summer

Christoph — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:04:01 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/500 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on June 3, 2006 10:31.

A tributary of the Chubetsu River near the Tenninkyō hot springs in the Daisetsusan National Park in Hokkaidō, Japan. A very old photo from the archives, taken with my dear old Casio point and shoot camera.

Spontaneous Vegetation VII

Christoph — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:59 +0000

E-5 , 55 mm, 1/320 sec at F 7.1.
Taken on June 22, 2011 15:22.

Spontaneous vegetation breaks rules. It grows where nothing is supposed to grow, where plants were not part of the plan. It finds chances and uses them without regard for place, context or human intentions. Humans, however, help constructing space for spontaneous vegetation, influence it and are influenced by it in various ways: spontaneous vegetation is therefore also part of our culture, as we are a part of nature.

Spontaneous vegetation: “…defined as all plants that develop without intentional horticultural input, is a characteristic element of the urban environment. It grows at no financial cost, is authentic and is always appropriate to site conditions.” (Kühn, N. “Intentions for the Unintentional: Spontaneous Vegetation as the Basis for Innovative Planting Design in Urban Areas”, 2006), “the de facto native vegetation of the city.” (Del Tredici, P. “Wild urban plants of the northeast”, 2010).

Beautiful Flowers III

Christoph — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:12:41 +0000

E-5 , 60 mm, 1/130 sec at F 7.1.
Taken on June 25, 2011 12:53.

Lately I noticed there are a number of nice flower photos in my library. That said, I had a hard time coming up with a nice context or name for the picture, so I decided I’d go the superficial way and just start a series called Beautiful Flowers. So: here we go!

Spontaneous Vegetation VI

Christoph — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:15:43 +0000

E-PL1 , 17 mm, 1/130 sec at F 4.
Taken on July 12, 2011 17:05.

The interaction between plants and human artefacts is one fascinating aspect of spontaneous vegetation. This also raises the question of how we deal with such “coincidental” art. Do we disregard it because there is artist’s intent? Do we appreciate the beauty in chance? Do we even notice and recognize it?

Spontaneous Vegetation V

Christoph — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:54:48 +0000

E-PL1 , 17 mm, 1/130 sec at F 3.5.
Taken on July 12, 2011 17:03.

Unplanned, unused, useless? These are the places we often overlook but sometimes notice, especially when plants manage to use them and grow against all odds. To spot spontaneous vegetation, we need to re-focus and look away from the points our attention is naturally (or better, socially) drawn to.

Beautiful Flowers II

Christoph — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:21:51 +0000

E-5 , 60 mm, 1/130 sec at F 5.
Taken on June 25, 2011 13:43.

Spontaneous Vegetation IV

Christoph — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:00:54 +0000

E-PL1 , 17 mm, 1/250 sec at F 5.
Taken on July 12, 2011 16:39.

Cracks in the pavement, still unsealed fragments of urban soil: these are the places we often overlook but sometimes notice, especially when plants manage to use them and grow against all odds. To spot spontaneous vegetation, we need to re-focus and look away from the points our attention is naturally (or better, socially) drawn to.

Ukijima Wetland

Christoph — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 07:52:35 +0000

EX-Z57 , 5.8 mm, 1/250 sec at F 4.3.
Taken on September 1, 2007 12:21.

Water reflections in late summer, Ukijima Wetlands, Hokkaido, Japan. I went there in a day trip from Sapporo with some very dear friends and I’d love to visit again.
I shot this photo almost exactly one month and four years ago. Why post it now? Well, one of my favourite photographers and a master of the medium format, threepinner, published a very similar photo of the same spot today!

Spontaneous Vegetation III

Christoph — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 07:41:29 +0000

E-PL1 , 17 mm, 1/160 sec at F 4.
Taken on July 12, 2011 16:47.

This tree grew in the small space between a wall and a building. I find it intriguing to see the workers left it standing when they demolished the building. Location: Nagoya, Japan.

Spontaneous Vegetation II

Christoph — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:58:04 +0000

E-5 , 12 mm, 1/500 sec at F 8.
Taken on June 22, 2011 15:21.

In this series of photos I am documenting spontaneous vegetation wherever I find it.
Various plants and trees are thriving on industrial buildings along the Horikawa in the center of Nagoya, Japan.

Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers

Christoph — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:10:40 +0000

E-5 , 18 mm, 1/640 sec at F 10.
Taken on June 22, 2011 15:04.

The Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers near Nagoya Central Station is certainly one of the cooler educational buildings out there! As you walk by, the view changes and so do the things reflected in the glass.

Camouflage

Christoph — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:46:10 +0000

E-PL1 , 17 mm, 1/160 sec at F 4.
Taken on July 12, 2011 18:34.

This little spider was discovered by chance when I was about to take a picture of the flower – I certainly wouldn’t have seen it from a meter away!

Gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides)

Christoph — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:00:53 +0000

E-5 , 60 mm, 1/320 sec at F 5.
Taken on July 7, 2011 12:50.

I came across this fascinating plant after a long walk in the pouring rain into a small valley near Kisofukushima in Nagano, Japan.

Frog barrel

Christoph — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 09:23:30 +0000

E-5 , 36 mm, 1/100 sec at F 8.
Taken on July 3, 2011 15:52.

Another great piece of pottery from Tokoname, Japan.

Spontaneous Vegetation I

Christoph — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 12:18:14 +0000

E-5 , 60 mm, 1/400 sec at F 8.
Taken on July 3, 2011 15:42.

Spontaneous vegetation: “… is a characteristic component of the urban environment. It occurs at no financial cost, is authentic and is always appropriate to the site conditions.” (Kühn, N. 2006), “the de facto native vegetation of the city.” (Del Tredici, P. 2010). In this series of photos I am documenting spontaneous vegetation wherever I find it.

This plant grew straight out of the road in Tokoname, Japan.