My new lens

Last week I bought a 2nd-hand Nikkor 55-200mm VR lens at Komehyou. I have been yeing the 18-200mm VR for so long but it was just too expensive for me. The 55-200mm VR was priced at 35000Yen while the 18-200mm VR was priced at 81000Yen.

The store offered relatively lower price compared to the other [big] stores like Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera but without the points, of course. Komehyou even accepted trad-in. I thought of trading my Nikkor 18-55mm II lens but I thought it would be best to try out my new lens first. Now.. I am glad I did not trade in my old lens.

I bought the lens because Japanese people tend to be camera-shy. I was told that Japanese people find it rude when you take photos of them without asking *duh*. Being the trigger-happy hobbyist that I am, I had to find a solution: No..not ask but.. shoot from afar :D

So, yesterday I went to Jingu-Nishi to try my new lens. And I am very happy with the result. My photos at Jingu-Nishi are available here,

http://chisantos.multiply.com
and here http://flickr.com/photos/chisantos3 .

Initially, I only planned to go to the koen [garden] near the station. But there were plenty of places to go to so I decided to go where my camera takes me. I made stops at other koens in the area and at the Nagoya Daigakuin [Nagoya Graduate School] campus.

I planned to stay until after sunset to take photos of the Jingu Nishi koen at night.
I thought that the lit-up Japanese paper lamps inside the koen would look great on my photos. But my cam ran out of battery so my trip was cut short.

So about my new lens. I am very happy with it! :D I would not have been able to take some of the shots I wanted if not for my new lens. But it does have certain drawbacks. I noticed that, without my 18-55mm lens, it was harder for me to take wide, landscape shots. I may need to find a solution for this: a new body perhaps? :)

Hounen Matsuri

[Written on: 2008 May - 2nd week]

Sometimes at work, I get bored with the daily routine that I have to perform. I get especially bored when I am not busy. Half asleep, I sit in front of my desk staring at my PC. I keep my programs open of course, pretending to work while my mind slips away to my happy place *zzzzzzz*.

This is exactly what I am again feeling right now. Yawn after yawn, I try to keep myself awake by writing blogs like this hehe. I am feeling a little bit alert already x).

So let's see. I found out some interesting, not-so-commonplace thing about Japanese culture. Nagoya culture to be exact.

Every March, in a small town (whose name i forgot) in Nagoya, the Honen Matsuri (Fertility/Harvest Festival) is celebrated. In this festival, Japanese men parade a giant wooden phallus from the streets all the way to a shrine where the phallus is laid (pardon the tasteless pun ;D hehe).

Japanese women also carry around smaller versions. Imagine a small-scale version of the Kadayawan Festival (Davao, Philippines). But instead of flowers and fruits, phallus (or phalli?) of different sizes are carried around town by the people.

This festival is said to be a celebration of fertility and good harvest. Phallus-shaped food and omiyage (souvenirs) are also offered to the obliging spectators. Also, an all-you-can-drink sake (Japanese rice wine) is served for everyone joining the festival.

So, penis and alcohol anyone?

Leaving Yokohama

[Written on: 2008 May - 1st week]

I had a pretty interesting trip yesterday coming home [well, not exactly home] from Shinyokohama. I have not gone out much lately so yesterday was a good chance for me to go photoshooting.

Equipped with my humble D40 and my savvy for taking photos of anything 'beautiful' I commenced my trip with this photo:


kono resutoran wa shinyokohama eki no chikaku no yoshinoya no tonari ni arimasu.
This restaurant is situated beside Yoshinoya near the Shinyokohama Shinkansen [Bullet train] Station.

Unfortunately and fortunately, this restaurant's specialty is tempura, which I am allergic to [and frankly quite expensive, around 1k+ yen], so I was *forced* to eat at my favorite tipid-restaurant, Yoshinoya.

With a delicious serving of omori gyuudon [large beef bowl], I was good to go.

At the station, I continued my photoshoot adventure. I snuck around and behind people, making myself invisible in the sea of Nihon-jin. But at times though I had to be visible. Taking photos up close.


[I only own an 18-55mm lens..dreaming of the 18-200vr]
One must always be ready to shoot..never hesitant..because Kodak moments wait for no one.



The highlight of my Shinkansen trip was that it was the first time I saw Mt. Fuji. I was a little disappointed though because this was my 5th Shinkansen ride and all I saw of the majestic mountain was its silhouette. I never saw it during my first four rides.



At Nagoya, I again took some photos near the Nagoya station and at the Central Park in Sakae. It was there that a Japanese girl approached me and asked if she could take my picture[Yes, I understand a little Japanese].

And of course I agreed. I did not want to rob her of a good photo :D hehehe. I was her Kodak moment..*ehem*



Some of my photos from this trip are now available at my flickr account:
http://flickr.com/photos/chisantos3

and my multiply account: http://chisantos.multiply.com

Comments are very welcome. Yokoso!