The ghost of 'lectricity...
When I Grow Up...
Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 4 December 2006 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Its quite a common pastime for university students to pay a substantial amount of money and parade around the city for the day in the full costume etc. Its quite rare to see girls as young as this however (she was 13 according to her escort) paying for the priviledge.
@H.O: Thanks so much H.O. A really nice post from you today mate...very atmospheric, youve really captured that early morning vibe. Anyone who hasn't yet seen H.O's blog take a look...theres some great stuff on there, shot with an interesting variety of cameras.
@badala: Thanks so much badala! I have the subject to thank for this one!
@MnX: Thanks so much MnX! nice subway post from yuo today...Ive a fascination with subways/trains (if you hadn't noticed). Nice stuff...oh and will the gotham series make a return? I hope so!
Manuela Photography from Hainburg (near Frankfurt/Main), Germany
Captivating, keep on!
4 Dec 2006 9:22am
@Manuela Photography: Thank you so much Manuela! beautiful macro from you today! Keep it up too!
@emarquetti: Thanks emmarquetti!
@Sarah: Thank you Sarah! you visit is most appreciated. keep that gator away from your Sadie!
Fallenargo from North Bay, Canada
Great expression in the eyes! The cropping really accents it.
4 Dec 2006 1:52pm
@Fallenargo: Thanks falenargo...love your stuff. How much of your shots were taken in Madagascar? Your posts are a wonderful window into a place Id love to visit.
@Addey: Cheers Addey. very intiguing series youve got going on right now...my guess is 'superman?"
Colour blind from Tokyo, Japan
OMG this is fantastic again!!! Darren and I just went to the U2 concert and saw Maiko but we weren't allowed to take cameras in so I was spewin!!!! I thought of your photos when I saw the three of them walking by. Damn the copyright laws!!!
4 Dec 2006 3:35pm
@Colour blind: Thanks man, bet it was a blinding concert ne? shame about the camera rule...you could always use the trusty keitai in those situations!
Jenny from Manchester, United Kingdom
Wow, fantastic detail.. I see you have the 'upgrade' of my camera - hehe.
4 Dec 2006 4:24pm
@Jenny: Hi jenny. your eye series actually gave me the idea of this in post processing. I really love the clarity you manage to get with your macro and as I mentioned on one of your posts, your lighting is wonderful...must be the overcast english skys! anyway..thank you again!
@Shuva: hey shuva. Great tea plantation shot mate! beautiful!
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
Interesting crop. Viewed at small size, these eyes are pretty much life size, which is an odd effect. Not exactly beautiful, which is fine, but open to possibility and interpretation.
Thanks for the answer yesterday and your story which made me laugh out loud. I'm glad I wasn't too wide of the mark, and that you didn't feel the need to throw yourself off the roof (!). And thanks for the reference to Moriyama Daido. Fascinating and inspiring work.
4 Dec 2006 6:51pm
@Damon Schreiber: hehe...that day did bear some fruit though...post Moriyama/caffeine fix. results to follow 2 posts from now.
@Craiger: Thanks Craiger!
Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia
It is a great photo. But why do young people pay a lot of money to walk around in traditional dress?
4 Dec 2006 9:47pm
@Chris Sullivan: hey Chris. Thanks for the comment. As for your question, I guess the geisha/maiko is symbollic of Japan, yet an almost unattainable vocation for the vast majority of women. The kimonos themselves are incredibly expensive and the makeup requires professional application. The reaction these 'geisha for a day' girls get is incredible, Its akin to the kind of reaction you'd expect if Tom Cruise sauntered through the city.
Darren from Tokyo, Japan
Great photo mate. I went to the U2 concert lastnight and the band brought 3 Geisha from Kyoto out on stage and their eyes look just like the ones you captured. Just imagine if it was the same girl.
4 Dec 2006 11:55pm
@Darren: Cheers Darren. U2, cracking band. Nice candid from you today!
@Mommith in Chief: Cheers man and good to see that third image in the illustration series from you!
Daniel from United States
Graphic enough to grab my attention, but left me unmoved. I'd like to see the face, not just a pair of eyes.
5 Dec 2006 3:04am
@Daniel: Cheers Daniel. I mulled over the full portrait shot but felt this was more effective. Although undoubtedly a beautiful subject, the capture really didnt do her justice, hence the crop.
Kelvin Chan from New York City, United States
Firstly, I do like the cropping. Just the eyes staring back is very intense and the details are there. However, I agree with Daniel above that it got my attention, but I feel it's flat. A bit more contrast and saturation (you can usually go to +20 without harm) would give more depth to it, darkening the make up and the creases. Also, a bit sharpening would give the picture a more solid feel. The eyes could also use some bumping up of the levels. I always do that for my seagull eyes.
5 Dec 2006 3:40am
@Kelvin Chan: hey man, thanks for the advice regarding saturation and post processing. Its an area in which I'm still finding my feet so feedback such as this is most appreciated. Im used to the old fashioned hands on non-digital stuff so bear with me. Thanks again.
Martin from a small village in Lower Austria, Austria
Great! This shot is really amazing.
6 Dec 2006 9:22pm
@Martin: Thanks again martin...the subject was stunning so I tip my hat to her.
@Sidney: Thank so much Sidney. much appreciated! Keep up the fine work!
@Craig Persel: Aye, she was a lovely subject.
Fujifilm FinePix S9000
1/220 second
F/4.2
ISO 400
43 mm