In Let’s Try For Something More Edgy, were you trying to focus on the right side edges of the column (relativele more) in focus? Stopping down about a stop would have worked perhaps?

I’m sure that in Edgy I was trying to focus on the leaves, but they became a bit fuzzy during post processing (the “edgy”), and likely because I missed the delicate focus. About the first bold shot, it’s actually cropped a bit, which at least reduces your chances of headaches. —Jeffrey

(did you not have a lense of narrower dimensions in your camera bag?

I did (as evidenced by the other photos), but I wanted to see what I’d get with the wide angle…. at least, what I’d get besides my feet.

“So, I had Paul stand up-slope from me and adopt a sturdy stance as I took his hand in one of my own, then with his support I was able to lean waaaaaaay out and over the leaves with the camera in the other, then got the shot. If anyone saw us, I’m sure they thought we were nuts.”

Nuts? Oh I dunno. Two Americans in a stone garden (notice I did not say orchard, as the term stone orchard applies to a graveyard) photographing beautiful sculptures. Although the very image that holding hands produced, comes off as too busy with two many conflicting images coming to the fore.

The entire series of images to me is interesting because of the green moss that adorns some stone, while others, there is nothing. A “moist” climate probably has a lot to do with the moss as well as the geographic location. Where the sun never shines comes to mind; the moss shall grow if there’s the correct climatic conditions.

Did you and Paul have formal permission to be in the back forty so to speak, or did you simply wander in unannounced? Am thinking of extreme politeness which is in some small way a hallmark of the old Japanese ways of life.

It wasn’t politeness that kept us out without permission (such as when we visited earlier in the week)…. it was clearly private property, so entering would have been blatantly wrong. We took a few steps in to the truck landing, but did not enter the back garden at all. When we came back for this trip, I talked to the owner’s son (the “5th” of “5th generation”) and he kindly allowed us free run of the place. —Jeffrey

Here in Southern Ontario (where it’s 1 degree Celsius this Sunday evening December 6, 2009) the extremes between the cold of the winter andthe warmth of the summer makes for interesting situations for the growth of moss either on the soil or on structures. The past two summers here (about a kilometre from the northwest shore of Lake Ontario) have been quite damp, resulting in moss growing in unlikely places, especially in my large flower garden. It has revealed to me some low spots; they need soil and too they might be a photo subject some day although there no stone objects for moss to grow, just soil after the plants have died off for the year.

Incidentally the first time I ever visited your blog was after doing a google search for the term ‘stone lantern’ .

Encouragement for JF: Your talent is in your struggle! That desire you have to capture and manifest that mix of emotions and sensory experiences is what its all about. That feeling of inadequacy (when well tempered) is what’s making you photos very compelling. Hangers On is a great photo BTW [Great Double contrast between warm colors of the leaf and cool colors of the background AND crisp leaf detail and sublime bokeh]. (I’m using it as a background if you don’t mind.). If we wanted to see photos from ‘artists’ who’re ‘talented’ we could just look at all the HDR sports cars and mountainscapes on FLickr ;o). Keep shooting. Love your shots and thoroughly enjoying your struggle.

Beautiful place; you are lucky to have such a great resource so nearby.