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.

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

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.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 45mm — ¹/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400 — map & image data
“Unrolled” Bamboo Wall — Context

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:

• The Color of Kyoto — Desktop Background
• Photoshop's “Darken” Blend Mode (and more fall-foliage desktops)
• Vine and Bamboo Again (With Desktop Backgrounds)
• On the Way to the Nanzen Temple...
• Vine and Bamboo, Green Edition (With Desktop Backgrounds)

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...

• Old Wood-Veneer Siding (Desktop Background)
• A Different Wall at Kyoto's Giouji Temple
• Giouji Temple Part 2: Gate and Walls
• History Written in Brick

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