I guess yesterday's A Simple “What am I?” Quiz wasn't as simple as I thought because there have been no correct answers yet. While I give it some more time, above we have a view of the entrance foyer from the same visit that produced the quiz photo.

I've so much to post from yesterday's visit, but I don't know when I'll find time, considering that we're now really starting to get into the fall foliage season in Kyoto. I spent a long photographic today in Arashiyama with Paul Barr and Damien Douxchamps, ending with the most-tasty chicken at Uroko. [...]

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When I spoke at large software conferences back in the 90s, where 1,500 folks might pay to listen to hear me prattle on for a few hours, my preparation went like this:

Discuss with the organizers the kind of talk to give. When the conference program comes out, see the actual title and description of my talk. Prepare a talk that exactly conformed to that advertised title and description, even if it differed from what was discussed in advance.

Even the most fantastic presentation is destined to make people feel cheated if attendees arrive expecting to hear about something else.

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Given yesterday's post about how iPad photography looks silly (not is silly, mind you, but looks silly, to me), when I was out and about in Kyoto today with a friend visiting from The States, seeing someone taking pictures with an iPad caught my attention more than average.

The scene above, at the Kiyomizu Temple (清水寺) not long before sunset, really warmed my heart. I loved the juxtaposition of old and new... traditional and revolutionary... young and old (and young at heart)... all wrapped in the aura of understated but undeniable class and style. I was tickled pink just to [...]

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What is it about taking photos with an iPad or other tablet that makes it look so stupid?

My iPad has no camera so I've never been tempted to take a photo with it, but even if I could, I'm not the kind to take advantage of its social-networking benefits (like immediate posting to Facebook or Instagram or whatever the current fad is). So I'd probably not use it for photography any more than I use my iPhone, which is to say, not at all unless it's the only camera around and my quality threshold happens to be low.

But [...]

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After posting "The Hope Imbued in a Dull Sunset" the other day, I decided to pop on up for that evening's sunset even though I knew it would be completely dull, out of a sense of irony and because I was going to be in the neighborhood anyway.

As I walked up, there was more color than I had expected...

Whatever flash of color was waiting for my arrival faded in the time it took to change lenses, and that was that.

The crows, however, often active at dusk, were in prime form.

They accumulate in the trees near the [...]

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