Saturday, October 8, 2011

Waiting (This week's Photo Hunt theme)





Message for those waiting for my Photo Hunt return: I'm back! And here's confirming that I was vacationing in Japan when the previous two editions of Photo Hunt took place -- and, also, that I had a great time once again in that wonderful country (which I first visited back in 1982!)!

Those who regularly check out this blog know that this past week's entries have been Japan-focused -- and that a couple of days ago, I put up an entry recounting my visit to Nikko (particularly the sacred area known as Nikko Sannai). Today's blog entry also features images from that part of Japan (that, ideally, would be enveloped by sunshine like its name suggests but, alas, wasn't particularly so when I was there!).

More specifically, it features two pairs of photos I took (of a Torii near Futarasan Shrine's Futara Spiritual Spring and a flight of steps near the Taiyuin Mausoleum's Koukamon Gate) -- with the first of each pair featuring people in them and the others being those I snapped only after spending time waiting for the areas in the photo to be clear of people!

So... which shots do you prefer -- the ones with or without people? I can't decide with regards to the first pair (taken at Futarasan Shrine). Alternatively, I definitely prefer the people-less photo taken at Taiyuin Mausoleum -- not least because while waiting for that shot, I also got time to compose it better (so that, among other things, it doesn't look like the steps at the bottom of the picture are tilting like they are in the "peopled photo" of that same place)! :b

28 comments:

just me said...

I prefer the one with people. If they had been too many people, then I would pick the one without people but for this pair of photos, I like the one with people... the one without is a little too empty for me.

YTSL said...

Hi "just me" --

Interesting... and see what I mean about Nikko being the kind of place that if bereft of people, one could feel is too... supernatural spirit filled? ;b

just me said...

Hahahaha... yeah... perhaps a little too eerie. :)

Carver said...

It's hard for me to decide because I like them with and without people. Great shots and good to see you back in the hunt.

I'm not sure if I'll make it to the fair this year or not. I used to go every year but haven't made it lately so maybe I will this time.

Liz said...

The park looks very relaxing. Love all your shots.

Have a fabulous weekend.

Liz @ MLC

YTSL said...

Hi again "just me" --

Exactly! ;b

Hi Carver --

It's good to be back Photo Hunting again -- and am glad you like both the "peopled" and people-less options. :)

Hi Liz --

Er these are not shots taken in a park. Though they are of places very close to a National Park...

Photo Cache said...

Wow, it must have been a fabulous trip. I have always love Japan.

ewok

Luna Miranda said...

Japan is in my bucket list. when taking photos of places, i seldom include people--they spoil the view! LOL

will be back later for your posts of Japan.

have a great weekend!

magiceye said...

love both sets! they are charmingly unique!

Anneke (Mudhooks) said...

Lucky you!

Gattina said...

I really don't know which one I prefer, they are both so nice. I didn't know that these "archs" are called Torii, very interesting.
Yes, that would be an interesting country to visit !

MaR said...

Hard to decide, I like them with and without people...each special in a unique way! Glad you enjoyed your Japan trip!

Thanks for the bday wishes! when is yours?? :D

waiting

YTSL said...

Hi Photo Cache (aka Ewok) --

Yes, it was a wonderful trip -- so good I was sad to see it end! ;S

Hi Luna Miranda --

You mean my (other) blog posts of Japan, right? Have a few up and available to view already! :)

Hi magiceye --

Thanks for voting for all four photos! :)

Hi Anneke --

Yes, well... but you, too, can go to Japan, right? ;)

Hi Gattina --

Yup re the Torii. Also, don't know if you clicked on the word but if you did, it'd have brought you to a page with lots of info re Torii. :)

Hi Mar --

I spent my birthday in Japan. More specifically, my birthday was two Sundays ago. :)

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, beautiful photos and love your take. I lack patience sometimes when taking photos and get the tilt effect often. Most of my shots seems to always tilt right although I lean to the left more. :)

Have a wonderful weekend.

Annie said...

Welcome back and thanks for sharing these wonderful pics. I vote for "no people" in the first, but I like seeing the people in the second.

About Venice - riding the vaporetto is great fun and not stressful at all. It takes some figuring to make sure you get on the right line, but it's not that hard. However, I always travel to Venice in the off-season; I have heard that the boats can be very crowded in high season.

Happy weekend.

Susan Demeter said...

Welcome back :) Great collection of pics!

LifeRamblings said...

welcome back YTSL! Japan is high on my list of places to visit. i prefer both photos without people. the second one is neat and wonderfully composed.

gengen said...

I like all...happy PH!

Marites said...

very nice photos. got me envious. do hope someday i can visit Japan too. my PH is up here.

YTSL said...

Hi Trekcapri --

The problem for me with the tilt effect is that sometimes, it's not really discernible on the digital camera viewer, so I only see it after I get home and put the pictures on the computer... ;(

Hi Annie --

Thanks for your comments -- including a response to a query I left over on your blog. :)

Hi Sue --

Thanks and thanks some more! :)

Hi Life Rambling --

Japan is a highly recommended place to visit. Hope you make it there some day (soon). :)

Hi gengen --

Thanks -- and happy Photo Hunting to you too. :)

Hi Marites --

Thanks and hey, Japan's not that far away from the Philippines! Also, note that there are quite a few discounts at the moment there -- e.g., I got 30% off the regular rate for my hotel room as I stayed there more than 3 nights! :b

alejna said...

I love that you posted the pairs of photos! In general, I tend to find scenery photos with people more interesting than those without. I find the positions and postures of the people by the mausoleum to be especially compelling (they look a bit bewildered), and I think their presence lends to the sense of size of the space. As for the Torii, I'm on the fence. I like both shots, but I think I actually like the people-free one better.

Great take on the "waiting" theme!

peppylady (Dora) said...

I sure glad your back. I hope your trip top Japan was wonderful.
The 2nd group I thought was interesting because each one tells a different story.

Coffee is on.

ancient one said...

I like them all... perfect for the theme!

eastcoastlife said...

I prefer peopleless photos when I am shooting the pretty scenery.

If you have been to China, it is impossible to not have strangers in every photo. :P

Anonymous said...

I think I prefer these without people. Unless it's a place that would naturally have people there (street, shop, bar, etc) I always wait for a people-less shot so I'm not just taking photos of tourists.

YTSL said...

Hi Alejna --

I know what you mean about those people in the Taiyuin Mausoleum looking bewildered. Visiting the sights in Nikko can be quite taxing in their creating a sensory overload and there also being quite a few steps overall to climb. ;D

Hi peppylady --

The Japan trip sure was wonderful -- and I hope I can share some of my wonder with regards to Japan via my blog entries. :)

Hi ancient one --

Thanks much! :)

Hi EastCoastLife --

Er... Hong Kong *is* part of China. But heheh, know what you mean. Still, have been to Beijing and believe it or not, found some quiet places there -- including the former residence of Soong Ching-ling as well as places near major attractions like the Forbidden City and Temple in Heaven (e.g., the Museum of Ancient Architecture).

Hi azahar --

Well, with Nikko, it's a bit of both -- in that yes, there are tourists there but for a lot of the domestic tourists, they also go and pray at these places. And yes, in places like Japan and Hong Kong, it's not always all that easy to separate "pure" tourists from others. ;b

Colin Campbell said...

I always loved my trips to Japan. Not that I saw a huge part of the country. I would love to go back. I actually do not currently own a saw. I had to borrow that one. My electric saw is with my ex wife. Glad you had a great time in Japan. You put so much energy into your posts. I am just too lazy. Always appreciate your visits. Have a lovely week.

YTSL said...

Hi Colin --

Thanks. I find the Photo Hunts enjoyably challenging and consequently worth the effort. Having said that, it's not that much effort. I.e., I usually wake up in the morning on Saturdays, go to tnchick's blog to remind myself what the theme for that day is and then away I go! :b