The ghost of 'lectricity...
Monk III
Posted by Duncan Galbraith (kyoto, Japan) on 24 January 2007 in People & Portrait and Portfolio.
Wayne from Melbourne, Australia
I love your framing...one hand a sprawling city...the other more of a green foresty feel...and in the middle the monk....reaching a perfect balance. It's a great shot!
24 Jan 2007 5:09am
@Wayne: Cheers Wayne. Much appreciated!
@Sidney: Cheers Sidney! Nice to see you back at your blog!
Visions by Dean Christopher. from Cardiff, United Kingdom
have to agree with these guys above...awesome!
24 Jan 2007 9:53am
@Visions by Dean Christopher.: Cheers Dean!
Still from Valence, France
A superb composition! A pleasure for the eyes and for the thoughts!
24 Jan 2007 12:20pm
@Still: Thanks Still!
Alfredo J. Martiz J. from Tokyo, Japan
Relaxing, refreshing, balanced. Invites you to meditate.
24 Jan 2007 1:24pm
@Alfredo J. Martiz J.: Thanks so much Alfred! It was mighty chilly on this day so he did well to meditate himself.
@Craig Persel: Thanks Craig!
Paul Ricciardi from West Hartford, United States
Wayne summed it up perfectly, the juxtaposition between the city, and the flora is balanced harmoniously by the position and evocativeness of the monk. This picture exudes calm, but beyond that it tells of a clash between tradition and the modern world, and a clash between cities and nature. And yet, it all still has this balance to it that is characteristically japanese and quite fitting with the imagery of the monk.
24 Jan 2007 2:18pm
@Paul Ricciardi: Thanks Paul. A nice reading of this, and much appreciated..
Sidonie from Sydney, Australia
Was it a shot posed for you, or did you capture this unbeknowns to the subject?
24 Jan 2007 2:26pm
@Sidonie: Hey Sidonie. This was unposed. He was performing a prayer on the bridge for some considerable time. I sometimes see them at the most unexpected spots to be honest.
Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States
Very cool shot! I once saw one of these guys in Tokyo. He would take a very measured step, ring a bell three times, and then take another very measure step. Just watching them puts me in a meditative state. Sooo cool!
24 Jan 2007 2:50pm
@Craiger: Thanks Craiger!
@badala: Thanks badala!
@Martine Lapointe: Merci beaucoup Martine!
Damon Schreiber from Toronto, Canada
As well as all that has been said about the subject matter, it's simply beautiful tonally, graphically, compositionally... Seems to have the power to transort one into a dreamy state of mind.
24 Jan 2007 5:57pm
@Damon Schreiber: Cheers Damon ;-)
Ali-G from Ottawa, Canada
Nice shot - i like the DOF and kamogawa is still recognizable
24 Jan 2007 6:35pm
@Ali-G: Hey Ali-G, yeah the kamogawas quite a distinctive feature of kyoto ne.
@Angry Buddha: Thanks Sean!
chiquitafilipina from United States
The integration of the new Japan and the old Japan all summed up in one very powerful image. I hope the old Japan remains.
24 Jan 2007 7:59pm
@chiquitafilipina: Me too. Thanks a lot for your visit!
@Tronahue: Thanks Tronahue!
@jc: Thanks John!
AJ Kassam from Ottawa, Canada
Bravo!! I echo all the sentiments above!
Question: did your closeness or the noise of your camera disturb his concentration? Your EXIF data shows 22mm so you must have been almost toe to toe with him..... Just curious.
And - I like Paul's interpretation of the photo.....
25 Jan 2007 12:46am
@AJ Kassam: It certainly didnt visibly disturb him. The bridge was absolutely packed with people to be honest and finding a chance to get a shot off among the masses was probably the hardest part.
Chris Sullivan from Melbourne, Australia
Stunning. There's not much else to say, it's a magazine/book cover material. Paul and Wayne sum it up perfectly. Great stuff mate!!!
25 Jan 2007 11:57am
@Chris Sullivan: Thanks Chris!
@Jerry: Thanks Jerry!
Untitled from Kyoto, Japan
Would even go so far as to say I think this is one of your best.
27 Jan 2007 8:09am
@Untitled: hey Man, thanks a lot!
Daniel from United States
I'd crop a bit off the top. Nice of him to pose so nicely.
27 Jan 2007 11:32pm
@Daniel: aha! an unposed one, although not candid, as he was aware of my presence. He's actually in mid-prayer.
@Balpa: cheers mate!
Fujifilm FinePix S9000
1/600 second
F/4.5
ISO 200
22 mm