Wall of “Unrolled” Bamboo (with Desktop Backgrounds)
desktop background image of wall made with -- Wall Made From “Unrolled” Bamboo -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/350 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
Wall Made From “Unrolled” Bamboo
Desktop-Background Versions
Standard: 1024×768  ·  1440×1080  ·  1600×1200      Widescreen:  1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600

On the way back from the Eikando-Temple event that yielded the Bonanza of Fall-Foliage Desktop Backgrounds (among others), we came via a street here in Kyoto that I've traveled often, and whose views I've always admired. Yet, it was the first time that I noticed that one of the walls lining the road along the way was covered in weathered, “flattened” bamboo. I'd never seen such a thing.

The bamboo had apparently been scored lengthwise many times over its entire circumference, then flattened to make a flat veneer. Without ever having heard of such a thing, one can imagine that some heating and soaking were involved in the process.

I thought it was beautiful, and that perhaps it would make a nice desktop background, so I've included a number of links for them, in both widescreen and standards sizes.

I couldn't decide whether it looked better close up, or from further back, so I decided not to decide: I'll offer three views.

desktop background image of wall made with -- “Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Medium -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 31mm — 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
“Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Medium
Desktop-Background Versions
Standard: 1024×768  ·  1440×1080  ·  1600×1200      Widescreen:  1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600
desktop background image of wall made with -- “Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Far -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 17mm — 1/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
“Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Far
Desktop-Background Versions
Standard: 1024×768  ·  1440×1080  ·  1600×1200      Widescreen:  1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600

To offer a bit of context for the wall, here are two more views showing it in the context of the street it's on.

“Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Context -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 45mm — 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
“Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Context
In Situ -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 20mm — 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
In Situ

This is a wonderful little residential area (to see a map, click on a “map & image data” links associated with any of the pictures) that has born much photographic fruit over the years, including some of the most popular images I've ever posted. All the images on these previous posts were taken within a 30-second walk from this wall:

I did take another picture of the vine in the fence, which is still there a year later. People are probably getting tired of Autumn-themed pictures, so I'll save that for next year...

I seem to have a thing for photographing walls with interesting construction. Besides the ones listed above, here are a few more that come to mind...

Of course, then there's my full category of desktop backgrounds with all kinds of different ways to fill your monitor.


All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

Fascinating ! I also love the contextual shots: it looks a very photogenic area. Incidentally, and harking back to one of your earlier posts, the guttering and downpipes look as if they may be copper, but well-patinated.

— comment by Peter on November 26th, 2007 at 12:38am JST (16 years, 4 months ago) comment permalink

I was in Kyoto back in October, but the foliage had only just started turning (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidkeaveny/sets/72157602215947695/). Lucky ol’ you for having it on your doorstep!

— comment by David Keaveny on November 27th, 2007 at 4:04pm JST (16 years, 4 months ago) comment permalink
Leave a comment...


All comments are invisible to others until Jeffrey approves them.

Please mention what part of the world you're writing from, if you don't mind. It's always interesting to see where people are visiting from.

IMPORTANT:I'm mostly retired, so I don't check comments often anymore, sorry.


You can use basic HTML; be sure to close tags properly.

Subscribe without commenting