Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Hirozou Yasuda
As I mentioned on my recent Overwhelmed: an Embarrassment of Riches post, I've been meaning to write about Hirozou Yasuda (安田ひろぞう, or just “Hirozou-san”), the guide we had for a day on Kakeromajima, one of the small southern-Japanese Amami islands in the East China Sea.
We're getting ready for another trip to Amami this weekend, having visited the first time over the New-Year's holidays. I don't know that we'll run into Hirozou-san, but Fumie has been exchanging emails, so I hope so. We really enjoyed the day we spent together.
I tended to take pictures of Anthony, so most pictures I have of Hirozou-san are him interacting with Anthony, which he was excellent at. He was always teaching, although Anthony never realized it.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 22 mm — 1/200 sec, f/3.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Peek
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/90 sec, f/4.5, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sure, He Can Climb!
which is just as well, 'cause he's already started....
We spent a lot of time at the Spooky Tree, which we'd never have found without him. He was always offering little tidbits of information about what we were looking at, or the surroundings, or things we passed. He knows everything, but tempers that with a very good “you'll find this entertaining or interesting” filter.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
How About If I do This!?
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/160 sec, f/4.5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Hamming It Up For Anthony
He doesn't speak English fluently, but guides a fair number of English-speaking clients, mostly botanists and bird watchers who come from all corners of the world to visit the unique species of these islands.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/180 sec, f/3.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
A Serious Discussion...
... that turns out to be setup to....
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
...Doing Something With a Seed (??)
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/640 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ah, The Old “Seed On the Nose” Trick
(I didn't hear the conversation so I don't know what the seed on the nose was about, but it was a hit with Anthony.)
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/160 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Explaining Shells and Sea Creatures
picked up on the beach
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/2500 sec, f/2, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Enjoying Life
He grew up and still lives on Amami Ooshima (the largest of the islands in the group), and you can tell that he loves every moment.
Hirozou-san's sites (in Japanese): blog · business
I really enjoyed reading this post Jeff, and the pictures were great as usual. What struck me most though was the last picture, and I’m not sure if it was the picture itself or your accompanying text.
Actually, I think it was a combination of both. The picture with the background out-of-focus(sort of an “unsure” vibe) and Hirozou-san in the foreground with a contemplative look on his face(like “whats out there”). But then when I read your caption, it came together for me, as “This is my homeland and no matter what lies ahead I love it.”
Just my take on it. Corny as it may sound I feel a similar feeling when on a warm summer day I hear a certain droning over my house and go outside to see the Goodyear blimp plying the skies.
You know, that tree looked like it would be VERY fun to climb. Did you try it? I know *I* would have, but I would have stolen the battery out of your camera before I gave it a try.