August/September/October entries 8月/9月/10月のエントリ

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:32:42 +0900

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

It’s always great to get out to the Goto islands and this past week I had the chance to spend a few days there with my buddy Chris. We camped for two nights at the lovely beach of Takahama. I’d have to say going in early September was the most pleasant, weather-wise of all my journeys to this special place. Swim season ended almost a month ago for the masses but I have to say I have never experienced such ideal conditions in the sea as we had this time. It was like being in Hawaii with warm - not hot temperatures and a cool breeze blowing continuously. In 3 days we encountered maybe 5 other souls who partook in the pleasures of off season swimming.

It was the first time for me to rent a car as in the past it was bus or bike to get around. Rental fee was ¥6,000 / $65 a day and it was money well spent. Chris handled the driving and I navigated as we covered most of the island’s interesting sights. Click the link below for more shots.

MONDAY, AUGST 17, 2009
It was a fun week of with old friends hitting the beaches, catching up on old times and enjoying the most exciting event in Nagasaki - the SHORONAGASHI procession through downtown. This is the annual parade of boat shaped floats to honor those who have passed away in the previous year (see the August ’08 entry for more pics). It’s certainly very noisy as the floats are pulled down the streets by family members and friends who throw packs of firecrackers all along the route. As the floats reach the end of the line, a few crazed individuals gallantly defy the numerous policeman lining the streets and quickly try to detonate whole boxes of crackers on the ground or most amazingly on top their heads while running from the officers. A few shots below will further enlighten.

My vote for MACHO MAN STUNT OF THE WEEK.

This would make a great post card - same guy in all 3 shots.

MACHO MAN #2

#2 FLAMING OUT

Nearing the end of the route

It’s been a long rainy season this year so didn’t hit the beach until August. My first trip was to an island 90 minutes from downtown by car called OSHIMA. Great place to swim, fish, enjoy the best micro brew around and above all - cycle. We also made a trip south of the city to WAKIMISAKI beach, once the mecca of the seaside crowd. Sadly this no longer seems to be the case. Some of the old beach houses have been destroyed by typhoons over the years and haven’t been rebuilt. It’s still the best place to go if you like big waves. Personally, I prefer the quieter coves of the Sanwa area which offer crystal clear waters and great snorkeling.

Little surfer dudes -- Johnny and Shaun

View from the observation tower

Steve’s diagonal take

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2009
This month marks a few notable anniversaries. Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. I have only 6 or 7 photos from the whole event which was photographed by my brother in law. He took a lot of shots on my camera but tragically the film, three rolls, was lost in the mail from the lab in Hong Kong. These few shots are from his camera and remain the only precious images of that event.
HAWAII 1984 - KING KAMEHAMEHA HOTEL, BIG ISLAND

The second of these anniversaries, August 9th, marks the fifth year since the passing of my little sister Sue. August 9th is also her birthday. She lost a 20 year battle with multiple sclerosis. On my last trip back home I came across a family album and found a few very old shots from our golden years. She was in so many of my dreams last week as I reflected back on many of the good times we shared.

MOM, SUE AND DANNY
SAN JUAN, PEUTO RICO - 1974 - ABOARD THE CRUISE SHIP MARDI GRAS

DONALD, LIONEL, SUE, DANNY AND WES
TICKFAW RIVER TUBING “TRIP” - 1979

April /May / June entries 4月/5月/6月のエントリ

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:10:28 +0900

the wedding
I’ve been back in Japan for a week now and have spent most of my free time going through the more than 750 images I’ve taken for this blessed event. I was still shooting cherry blossoms in Japan a week after the event. This is going to be the most enjoyable project I will have ever worked on. There a so many great shots - the lovely couple - beautiful friends and family - everybody looked SO MONEY! VIsit the GALLERY section above to see my first collection of images. More to come later.

Friday, May 22

It’s been a hectic month since my last post. I’ve been so busy working on the wedding shots, with school and took a little vacation during the Golden Week holidays. Here are some of the images from that time.

First flowers of spring in Unzen

Wild SHAKUNAGE flowers in the mountains of Kuroki

SHAKUNAGE and the URANOMI waterfall in Omura

Rooftops of Miyajima temple

Miyajima from above

Four wonderful ladies who took my first ever photography class

Tuesday, June 9

Today my thoughts are concentrated completely on my dear friend Donald D’Antoni, who passed away five years this day at the very young age of 51. He was my oldest buddy and we grew up together in the Gentilly Woods neighborhood of New Orleans. It wasn’t until high school that we became good friends and in the summer before our senior year we formed a life long bond that was cemented around our early weight lifting days. So today, as I have for the last 5 June 9ths, I remember my buddy at the gym by having the most intense workout of the year. His spirit is still so strong inside me as it will always be. This week I also began the daunting task of writing the backblog to our 1980 Europe trip that Donald was part of, THE adventure of our lifetime and began on June 6th, 29 years ago. I close this with a shot from the tail end of that journey.

Donald and I - AESU farewell party, Madrid 8/80

January/february/march entries 1月/2月/3月のエントリ

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:12:22 +0900

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009
I’m off in a few short hours - going home for the big wedding! Don’t think I’ll have time to update this site while I’m in New Orleans so check back in mid April for all the latest photos and info from the wedding and other events during my stay.

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2009
Can’t believe last night was my first time going out this year in Nagasaki. The occasion was a special one - a farewell party for Tatsuro and Melody, who are off to Nigata later this month. It lasted nearly 6 hours - food, drinks, games and unforgettable performances by many made this a great evening. We’re gonna miss you guys! Click the link below to see photos from the party.

“T” and Mel

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009
Back once again to Tara dake, this trip was with Mark, Johnny, Brittany and Masa - all who were making this trek for the very first time. It was a beautiful day and all enjoyed this most interesting but challenging trail.

Once again at the water hole
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2009

On Sunday I kicked off the month with my first hike of the year. We climbed Tara Dake, which is an hour drive from Nagasaki. It’s an unusual hike as the view from the top is nothing special but the variety of terrain encountered along the way is certainly very interesting. We were pleasantly surprised at the peak when we saw all the trees covered with Silver Frost (muhyo). Temperatures were expected to be very mild but the northern areas were well below freezing. A great hike, 6 hours in all and I’m still very sore as it is the toughest trail in all of Nagasaki.

The group pausing for a water break along one of the numerous streams

Frosted trees - always a magical sight

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2009
CHRISTMAS IN LOUISIANA 2008
The end of December and early January were very special this holiday season as I spent a wonderful 24 days with my family and friends back home. It sure seemed to go by so quickly . The highlights were of course Christmas Eve and Day, our New Year’s Party and finally Marie and Keith’s wedding shower. Once again we enjoyed the lighting of the bonfires in Gramercy, Louisiana, held every Christmas Eve. After returning home we exchanged presents - we can’t wait until Christmas morning like most people!. Lots of great gifts for everyone.
New Year’s Eve was one of the 2 or 3 cold nights of my stay so we were forced inside for most of the night. No problem as the LSU Tigers were playing in a football game that night which was very entertaining ( we won 38-3 against Georgia Tech). Just before midnight we all went to our front yard to witness the ringing in of the new year. In New Orleans it’s a tradition to set off fireworks just before midnight. It seems each year the home fireworks displays get bigger and better - our street looked incredible and the fireworks lasted until 12:30 or so.
On January 3, the wedding shower was held and it was a very fun party for all. It won’t be long before the wedding ceremony now - just over 2 months. I’ve put together a lot of photos from the trip including: xmas eve, our trip to the Abita Brewery, the French Quarter, babysitting the cutest 2 year old - Madie, the shower and just goofing around the house. Click link below to see. Enjoy!

Madie in the park

At the wedding shower - gift time

Another shot at the shower

october/november/december entries 10月/11月/12月のエントリ

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:40:50 +0900

Wednesday December 24, 2008

Just a short note here to wish everyone a happy holiday season and all the best in the coming new year. Here are some shots of Christmas in Louisiana: the traditional bonfires along the Mississippi River and the Celebration in the Oaks (xmas lighting in New Orleans City Park).

sunday, november 30, 2008

The last day of the month and it was a beautiful day to get out and explore the Nakagawa area of town as the ginko trees have changed to their beautiful yellow fall color. Later in the day and once again with my new hiking buddy Tatsuro, a hike was in order. This time we traveled to south Nagasaki and hiked the highest mountain in the city limits, Hachirodake, 589 meters/1932 feet.

A gingko tree halfway through the fall transformation

Tats and Nagasaki in the background

Heavenly rays pour through the clouds over the tiny islands of south Nagasaki

saturday, november 22, 2008
As colder weather makes its way in, the colors in the mountains fade to brown as the transition to winter begins. Although it’s out of season for photography, the pleasant weather is a good reason to journey up the trails. This week I was very fortunate to have the time and energy to hike on four days. Here are a few shots.

My buddy Tatsuro surveying the all brown landscape of Unzen

Self portrait facing the volcano in Unzen

Late afternoon view from Kotonodake, a mountain in my neighborhood

saturday, november 7, 2008

It’s been a productive week as I’ve added a few new updates. In the BLOG section an entry on the Kyushu National Parks was finally started. Not much info but lots of pictures. I’ve finished the Utah ’02 blog. A new section called STUDENTS, originally intended just for the bad ones will also feature my best students in time.

TUesday, november 4, 2008

This past holiday weekend I went on a hiking trip with some old mountain friends and two new ones. We went to the spectacular Kuju National Park in Oita, Japan. The fall colors were everywhere and fantastic views to match. On our way back home we stopped at the Yumei Ohashi - a new suspension bridge that spans a lush valley filled with waterfalls and magical views. What a great weekend! Here are a few shots. Click the link below to see them all.

thursday, october 16, 2008

I’ve posted a new gallery titled Rural Nagasaki. It has mostly scenes of coastal areas but also some shots of flowers and village landscapes. These were mainly taken in the summer months and early fall. I hope to add more shots from this fall later.

Fishing boats in Mogi Harbor　茂木

August/SEPtember entries 8月/９月のエントリ

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:57:25 +0900

This is the first entry to a new part of the web site. I’ll post update info as new albums, blogs and photos are added. I’ll also try to post a picture of the week - either something new or something old I’ve dug up from my massive collection.