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Sunday, November 2, 2014

Creatures

The Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2014 proved, yet again, that it is one of the highly anticipated halloween events in Japan. And for a day, Kawasaki turned into a fantasy world.

horned

For the fifth time in six years, I and my friends traveled for almost two hours to be a part of the event. Not as one of the creatures, but as photographers. We knew that activities like this is a good opportunity for us to further improve our skills especially in portrait(ure) photography.

geisha

I am always armed with Nikon D7000 and macro lens as I am very much comfortable with this set-up. Using a macro lens in street / portrait photography may be a struggle at first, but once you get used to it, it is very easy. Try to familiarize prime lenses.

zombiesdoll
audreyhatter

The favorite halloween portrait I took was in 2008, entitled Fantasy. Personally, I thought this is still my best shot and I had even used it as a standard in halloween portraits. This is the reason why I take a lot of photos of women with flowers around their eyes. I tried to recapture it for so many times but I always fell short.

zombies06fantasy
fun

The parade has lots to offer. There are lots of interesting characters. Most of them don't hesitate to pose for you. However, there are few who seem to be camera-shy so taking candid shots of them is the only option.

zombies08zombies07
make-up

Bonfires 

fire dancing in air
bottle of coconut wine
halloween party

fire dancing in air
underworld creatures
ghost stories to tell

fire dancing in air
silence of empty bottle
 next full moon awaits

/totomai


I am very sure that I and my friends are coming back to Kawasaki for next year's halloween parade. We are still thinking whether to appear as photographers or as participants.  If it is the latter, we better start planning for our costume now.

/totomai
2014/11/02



36 comments:

  1. What a stunning effect with the white makeup and feathery eyelashes, very angelic! Lovely photography.

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    1. Thanks hannah - this is one of my favorite events in Japan

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  2. This is beautiful ... I would love to view this parade :-)

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  3. So stunning. Such beautiful, fantastical creatures captured in these gorgeous photographs. I wish we had parades like that here in Canada!

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    1. Thanks Talon! I bet you have other colorful events there :-)

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  4. Beautiful photos, amazing poem. I think you put it in our queue by error, though.

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    1. Hi Susan, nope :) just not following instruction. 😜

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  5. Love your photos, Totomai, as you know. You do have a gift as a photographer. Such amazing portraits. But I don't see a 'bonfire' in your poem though.

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    1. Great! Good to see. I like your updated version. Smiles.

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    2. Arigatou Mary! That's thank you in Japanese :-)

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  6. Excellent photographs - you really see extremes from beautiful to dark.
    Thanks for your visit :)

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  7. You even make Halloween beautiful...a time for friendship and fun...and coconut wine sounds intriguing

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    1. Thanks Jae. We used to gather during halloween and full moon and tried to scare ourselves haha

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  8. What amazing captures. Coconut wine . . . how did that taste?

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    1. I so enjoyed your poem and your photos are utterly stunning. Thanks for sharing!

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    2. Hi Kathryn, coconut wine is a cheap and accessible wine in the Philippines. it tastes good.

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    3. Hi Sherry, my pleasure as always :)

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  9. Absolutely stunning photography and I loved the line "silence of empty bottle".

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  10. Great captures and description through poetry!

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  11. O, it's very entertaining and colorful! Love the costumes and photos of them, poetry. Feel you really had a fun so even can't decide to participate next time as photographer or character! Really the fire of youth! :)

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    1. Yes, but I want to experience not as a photographer next time haha :-)

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  12. Stunning photographs. I find them inspirational. Would like to write a poem to one or more.
    Talent is always inspirational.Thanks.
    PS
    Good poem too:)

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    1. it would be an honor if you can write a poem to some of the images. thanks!

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  13. awesome photography and parade...thanks for this treat from Japan...'next full moon awaits' is so very inviting :)

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    1. Welcome Sumana - my way of sharing Japan to each and everyone :-)

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  14. Great post! Your photos are fascinating. The costumes are superb. i can see why you travel there. Must be so much fun.

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    Replies
    1. it was. been taking photos of this event for five years already

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  15. I know people who adhered to that schedule in high school. Once a month the bonfire and drinking.

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  16. dancing with fire on Halloween sounds both exciting and wicked!!! love it Totomai!!!

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any thoughts to distill?

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