It seems kind of silly to pic what you thought was the best you took, but I feel it’s an important lesson in understanding your own tastes. If you are a photographer, I’d recommend you chose what your best photo of the year was as well.
During World War II, Nazi Germany was responsible for the murder of over six million Jews. A horrific number, but a number that isn’t easily understood by the human brain. It is so large that people cannot fathom it. The idea behind this group is to gather six million portraits of unique people in one place, so that we can start to understand just how much of a toll the Nazi’s took on the population in general. The group is open to anyone. All they ask is that you submit one portrait of one unique person. So you can submit as many people as you like, as long as there is only one photo of each of them.
I am hoping to place as many people in the group as possible. I hope you do as well. I feel it is important to never forget this tragedy. Here is a link so you can easily find it:
Six Million People (flickr group)
The Six Million People Blog
Also featured is Spotlight Seven: another group that talks about some of the talented photographers that are taking photos for the Six Million People project.
You may remember my photo, “Rainbow of Peace.” I took it during my trip to Nagasaki in 2006. At the time I never thought it would be my most popular photo. I stood over the ground zero point at the memorial area and tried to get as many colors in the photo as I could. Once I got that photo on flickr, it took off and quickly became my most popular photo on flickr.
Well today, over two and a half years after I took it, “Rainbow of Peace” has surpassed the 15000 mark. I never though I would have a photo do that well. It’s certainly not my only successful photo on flickr, but it was the first to make me realize that I can take pictures that make people smile. It was the catalyst that lead to where I am today. On the road to a career as a pro.
I just wanted to thank everyone who helped make this photo the success it is today. I couldn’t get back to all of you, but I appreciate all the kind words you wrote for me and the photo.
This week Iwate just turned into a strange horror film. I could see the signs a couple of months ago, but I couldn’t believe it was actually happening. You see, Iwate has always had a ton of moths in July and August. They range from really small to as big as your entire face (wing span included.) I’ve never minded them before, and I actually found some of them to be quite beautiful, but something was a little different this year.
It all started when I headed out to the grocery store to pick up some, well, groceries. I parked my car and headed toward the main doors. Then I looked up. The entire wall was covered end to end with moths. I had never seen anything like this before. Big ones, little ones. Blue ones, green ones. Some laying eggs, others swarming. I could not believe my eyes. I ran into the store, and saw that many of them had found their way inside as well. Many of the clerks were swooshing them with brooms. But the clerks were outnumbered. I found the entire spectacle almost funny. I just assumed it was a cyle year for moths and that was the end of it, grabbed my groceries and went home. Then things got personal.
Yesterday I had some laundrry drying outside. I folded up all my shirts and put them in my shirt drawer. This morning I went to grab one of the shirt, and when I unfolded it I was greeted with the most shocking thing I’d seen in a while. I huge moth, half crushed, but still moving, was smearing yellow eggs all over the shirt and spewing some sort of webbing around the eggs. Now, I’m a big nature fan, but I’m don’t like it when nature takes it road show to my bedroom. Basically, I freaked, threw the shirt away and my stomach has been upset all morning. All this of course lead me to write this blog post.
As Steven Colbert might put it. I am placing the moths on notice. They’ve crossed a line.
If you are going to visit Japan as a tourist, or even consider living here, there are two really important Japanese characters you need to learn. In Japan, unless you collect all your urine and feces for your own personal composting projects, you will need a use a washroom as some point. Many washrooms have flushes that are not your typical flush, but rather a button on the wall. To complicate this further, many washrooms have a seperate button on the voice designed to page an attendant to help you, should you be old and unable to help yourself. Some washrooms have one, some have both.
Here is the important difference between those two buttons. The first is （流）。 It means “to flush.” The other is (呼）。 It means “to call.” God help you, should you accidentally call out the attendant.
Published on
February 6, 2008 in
Personal.
When good news comes along, I am always happy to blog about it. So I’m really glad to report on something this wonderful. My good friends Mannie and Dan Ross are proud to announce the birth of their Son Kieran James Ross. He is a bouncing baby at 5 pounds, 6 ounces and he came out with a full head of hair. I want to wish both parents and Kieran the most joyous of times together. I only wish I could be there to see the little guy.
If you are a long time reader of my blog, then you’ll know that both Dan and Mannie have visited me in Japan before, and both of them have a deep interest in the culture of this country. Kieran also comes from a Japanese origin name.
For the first part of this year, I am to sporting a beard. I have always been curious to know what I’d look like with a full grown piece of fur on my face. The reaction from most people has been quite favorable, with many saying it makes me look more mature and intellectual. I was curious, however, to know what my students thought about it.
Last week, I got my chance. I was at one of my elementary schools, and a couple of sixth graders approached me in the hall. They immediately pointed at the beard and told me how cool they thought it was. Then one kid said, ” you are Santa Claus.” I paused for a moment, then pointed out that Santa has a white beard. He looked at me, almost puzzled, then suddenly his face brightened, then he said, “black santa.”
Indeed. God bless you Japan.
Windy Iwate Mountain, originally uploaded by jasohill.
To start this off I present you the first picture of Iwate Mountain I took this year. As you can see, it’s fairly windy up near the top, where the snow is being blasted off the side of the mountain. I went on a twenty minute drive to find the best shot for this. The entire time, I was worried the winds were going to die down. Lucky for me, they actually got stronger. This is why they don’t recommend you climb this sucker in the winter.
As you might recalled from my last post, I twisted my ankle while playing a volleyball game at school. I begged and pleaded with the staff to let me walk it off, but given the size of the swelling, they insisted I make a trip to the doctor, and prevented me from walking on it. This is the continuation of that post. Please enjoy.
Continue reading ‘Week of Crushing Immobility(Part 2)’
Published on
November 28, 2007 in
Culture.
The Sushi Economy, Globalization and the making of a modern delicacy.
Sasha Issenberg (2007)
Reviewed by Marc C. Bosse
Cross-posted from tiltyhouse.
The year is 1970 in Prince Edward Island. After struggling for many hours you have hauled in a prize fish; a 140kg Atlantic blue-fin tuna. After posing for the ritual trophy photograph on the wharf you bid the charter captain good day and more often than not never see the fish again.
If it was convenient the large blue-fin will be brought to a cannery where it would be purchased for cents on the kilogram. If it was not convenient a local earth moving contractor will likely bury it in the landfill. In all likelihood little, if any, of the tuna would ever be eaten.
In 1972 an aeroplane freighted PEI bluefin tuna sold for 40 dollars per kilogram at the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. This rapid change in value was a result in the globalization of trade and changes in Japanese taste since the end of World War II.
Continue reading ‘Guest Book Review – The Sushi Economy’
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