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A few years ago, I discovered the works of a Canadian painter named Janet Anderson. I was captivated by her bright, bold images of flowers and nature, so I purchased a few of her prints as a gift for myself. During our correspondence, I mentioned my love for flowers and shared some links so she could view some of my photographs. To my surprise, she requested to paint some of them, and that was the quickest "yes" I've given in quite some time! The first photo Janet chose to paint features a yellow ranunculus from my garden. Below, you can see the original photo and below that is Janet's painting. In fact, she painted the photograph twice, and you can view the other version on her Instagram page, where she also shares her progress. I'm so impressed by Janet's work and am honored to have my photo used as a source. Thanks so much, Janet! Please visit her at the links below! Enjoy! Janet's website: www.janetspaintedlife.com/ Janet's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetspaintedlife/ Ranunculus + Process: https://www.instagram.com/p/C39NZ9-r0Ko/?img_index=1 (She thanks "Nonbirira" for the use of the photo. That's me. It's "nonbiri", which means "take it easy" in Japanese, plus my initals.)  A photograph of a ranunculus in my garden  Yellow Delight by Janet Anderson (oil on canvas)
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One of the highlights of 2024 was being published in the April issue of the Kyoto Journal, titled "Flora & Kyoto." It took every ounce of courage I had to submit my proposal, and to my great surprise, it was accepted. (I waited until the very last minute and almost backed out.) Though the spread covers only two pages, transforming my proposal into the final piece was quite challenging. It required multiple drafts and countless hours spent ensuring the accuracy of the information about the plants, as many have very little written about them in English. Despite feeling outside my comfort zone from start to finish, the overall experience was very positive. The support I received was clear, concise, and incredibly helpful, and I felt encouraged and supported throughout the entire process. I’m so proud of the end result and so thankful that I took the chance! Kyoto Journal 104: Flora & Kyoto    In the previous post I wrote about starting 4 hydrangea cuttings. So far we have most certainly lost one, if not two. One looks quite healthy but that's the only one I have any confidence about. Only time will tell. I will keep you posted. (Update: Sadly, not a single cutting survived...) Soon after the last posting, a good friend sent me a link to a website with all the names of the hydrangea varieties that can be seen at a city park in Kobe. (See the link below.) To my delight I discovered the name of hydrangea variety that I like so much. It's called "uzu-ajisai" and is also sold in flower shops as "otafuku-ajisai". Apparently "uzu" refers to a whirlpool and the unique shape of the petals are thought to mirror the swirling of the water. ("Ajisai" means "hydrangea".) The photo below is also "uzu-ajisai" but is a little pinker than the one in the previous post. It grows in front of an elementary school I pass every time I visit my mother-in-law's house. It was the first "uzu-ajisai" I had ever seen and I have made a point to seek it out every time hydrangea season comes around. I'm so pleased I can now identify this variety. Only how many more to learn? (^.~) (Take a look at the link to get an idea! The hydrangea are divided into 5 main types and then further subdivided. There must be over 100 different names. <http://hottime.sakura.ne.jp/ajisai.htm>)  I have a few friends who are serious about photography. (Hello, Bob and Alan!) However, most people I know consider themselves beginners. They often tell me they want to improve their photography skills but they don't really know where to start. It's all a bit overwhelming. I get it. The learning curve can be very steep. I think I cussed at my camera for 6 months straight before it started making sense to me. However, the important thing is that you have to start. That's all you have to do. You don't have to be good at it. You don't have to be skilled or graceful or confident . You. just. have. to. start. So, where to start? Of course, if you have friends that can give you advice, great! However, if not, there many resources available on the internet. This is where I began since I had few opportunities to talk "photography" with anyone. One website I often referred to was Digital Photography School. It's a great resource for tips and tutorials for improving photography skills. and one whole section is dedicated to helping beginners. It's as good a place to start as any! So, off you go! That learning curve has to start somewhere! (^.~)/ P.S. You might want to start with 11 Tips for Beginner Photographers. It's short and sweet but will get you headed in the right direction.  A Maple Leaf, My Garden, Osaka
Don't get me wrong. I love my camera! However, since it lacks many of the bells and whistles that newer cameras have, it's easy to blame my camera when I'm stuck in a rut. However, at the same time, I know this to be true - your choice of camera and it's gear matters far less than you think it does! This week I was reminded of this yet again when an online article popped up in my newsfeed. Great timing! If you are feeling stuck or are frustrated with your camera and think a new one or better gear will help, then I highly recommend reading "Why Your Camera Gear Doesn't Matter" from Digital Photography School. It's a great reminder that what the photographer does makes the greatest difference. "It isn’t about the gear. It has never been about the gear and as soon as you realize that, you will be free to create and shoot in a new and exciting way." "What does matter is that you are out there, with whatever gear you have, and are using it." I hope you find the article as encouraging as I did. Now to get out there and start shooting! (^.^)/ (The image below is from the article.)  |
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I'm a photographer based in Osaka, Japan. I like to share.
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