I discovered a mobile app where you can add some sort of 'movement' on your photo.
It's called Plotagraph. Click here to get more details.
Digital Photography: What is my grab-and-go camera?
My iPhone 7 + Moment Wide Lens
Japan's best breakfast meal
Tourists wearing kimonos which you can rent.
japan 2017: Exploring Tsukiji Market and the Tuna Auction experience
Tuna Auction at Tsukiji Market
1. Check their website to verify if the market is open on the day you're planning to visit: http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm.
2. Get there early. They only allow a total of 120 visitors per day to witness the Tuna Auction. First batch is at 5:50am to 6:05am slot. Second batch is from 6:05am to 6:20am.
We arrived at the registration area at around 3:15am. We were assigned to the second batch of tourists. The first 60 slots were already filled up. We were given with a blue vest to wear and was offered to sit on the floor (first group are in green vests). Yes, be prepared to sit on the floor for long hours as you wait for the tour to start. 10 or 15mins after we arrived, we heard them say that there are only 16 slots left. I wonder what time did the first person or group of tourists arrived that morning. 2am probably?
Waiting area for the Tuna Auction
4. Do not use selfie sticks! When taking photos, be aware of your surroundings. Don't just stop anywhere just because you wanted to take a photo.
5. After the Tuna Auction, feel free to explore the outer market.
After the Tuna Auction, we were clueless as to where to go next. We just know that we would like to try the food in the outer market area. We followed the other tourists until we encountered a long queue of people. When I asked what it was for, I was told that they're lining up for Sushi Dai.
Sushi Dai
Inside Sushi Dai.
Here are the other food that you have to try at Tsukiji:
Grilled Tuna, Uni, Crab Legs
Matcha Soft Serve Ice Cream
Crab Fat
Fresh Uni
Squid, Salmon Belly
Wagyu beef on stick
japan 2017: Renting a pocket wifi - Global Advanced Comm
Rental process: A couple of weeks before we left for Japan, I ordered a pocket wifi online from this website: https://www.globaladvancedcomm.com
I would recommend this company because the rental process was so easy to follow. Never had an issue in the rental process online. I also received an email confirmation that my pocket wifi has been delivered to the location I specified which is the KIX airport. When I picked up the package, I just showed the printed email confirmation. Inside the package is the pocket wifi itself, charger, prepaid return envelope, and the instructions on how to connect. The pocket wifi was fully charged and we were able to use it right away.
Rental Plan: We chose the Premium Plan which has a 75Mbps speed.
Battery: We used the pocket wifi the whole day. We never run out of battery power.
Data and Speed: We never had any issues with data consumption. We would use it to browse for directions, search for restaurants, stores, tourists attractions. We also posted a lot on social media the whole day. We could go live as well on IG and FB without any glitch on data connection.
Return: Before we checked-in at Narita Airport, we just dropped the prepaid envelope in the red postal bin.
japan travel 2017: Top 10 tips when visiting Japan
1. Plan! Plan! Plan! It helps that you have an itinerary. It will save you time and money.
2. Rent a pocket wifi.
3. Use Hyperdia, Google Maps, and Google Translate. These apps saved us from getting lost lol! But seriously, these apps will make your navigation easier in Japan.
When using Hyperdia, you must know the station nearest to your destination and the of course the station where you will be coming from. The app only accepts station names as your input.
Google Maps functions just the same as Hyperdia but it shows fewer options compared to Hyperdia.
4. Check if you really need to buy a JR Pass. For example, you're planning to visit the top 3 major areas in Japan like Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo and you will be entering and exiting in the same airport, I think it will be cheaper if you will buy the JR Pass. That is assuming that you will be traveling back and forth between Osaka and Tokyo.
In our case, we entered Osaka via KIX airport and left Japan thru Tokyo via Narita airport. We spent 3 days in Osaka, 2 day trips to Kyoto (from Osaka via subway train), and 10days in Tokyo. There was no need for a JR Pass.
5. Book a hotel or AirBnb which is near a convenience store like 7-Eleven or Family Mart.
6. Buy an IC card. It is very convenient to use. Because we started off in Osaka, we bought the ICOCA card which functions just the same as the Pasmo and Suica card.
7. Always bring your passport with you as you explore Japan. You will need it if in case you decide to do some shopping and you purchased at least 5000YEN worth of items . Visit this site for details: https://tax-freeshop.jnto.go.jp/eng/shopping-guide.php
8. Install Klook on your phone. We were able to get a discounted ticket for Sanrio Puroland and for the Narita Airport Bus Limousine.
9. If you will be exploring Kyoto, use the Kyoto City Bus and Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass. It's just 500YEN. You get an unlimited ride around Kyoto for the whole day. For more details, go to this site:
10. You can do daytrips between Osaka and Kyoto.
How and where to get motivation to shoot photos
I've been in a rut for years now but once in a while the good old creative me would come out with something to shoot. Now thinking about it, I want to share with you what triggered me to go out and take photos.
1. Bought a new lens and camera. I am now a happy owner of a Fuji XT-20 and a Fujinon 23mm F2.0 WR
2. Shifted to film photography. I get that high feeling of not knowing it the photo would turn out good or not LOL! Kidding aside, it's the anticipation that makes it more exciting. Waiting for the mail package to come. (I still send my film to labs for processing. Hoping to develop my own in the near future).
3. Discovering great photographers online who inspire me to shoot. Instagram is my number one source. This is where i discovered my current favorite photographer: Eduardo Pavez Goye (@edpavez)
4. Watching YouTube channels about film photography.
All these helped me at some point to shoot again. Try it, it might work for you as well.
film photography: My Film Camera Collection
What is your favorite film camera? Comment down below!
digital photography: I Returned The Vertical Grip For The Fuji XT-20
My hand is too big to be able to hold the Fuji XT-20 comfortably. So I decided to buy a vertical grip.
I found one in Amazon - Fotasy Vertical Grip Holder.
But after an hour or so, I decided to return the item.
Here are my Top 3 reasons why I'm returning it.
1. It doesn't come with a tool to be able to detach the side plate. I know this is a minor issue but still it would have been better if they included an Allen wrench.
2. I was expecting that it would make a lot of difference when holding the camera without any strap. I felt less secure because the grip texture was smooth. It would have been nicer if it's made with a rubber material.
3. The bottom plate adds discomfort for some reason.
Please share your experience with this grip or let me know if you have any suggestions.
Keep on shooting!
Foto Friday: Film Photography | 35mm Stories | Leica M6 + Fuji Superia Xtra 400
Every Friday I WILL TRY *grins* to share photos I have taken for the week or maybe months or years ago. Yes, I know, I'm lazy posting photos.
Camera: Leica M6 TTL | Film: Fujifilm Superia 400
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ajjoyosa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fotorista
digital photography: I Switched From Canon to Fuji
Fuji XT-20 with a Fujinon 23mm F2.0 WR
I've been a Canon user ever since I started in photography.
My first camera is the Canon Powershot S30. I then moved to Canon 350D. Then added a Canon Powershot S90 to my arsenal.
In 2012, I upgraded to a full frame body. I bought the Canon 5D MK II. But it didn't help me to get out of the photography rut.
Bought another camera and this time it's a Fuji brand.
Why?
I just wanted a smaller camera that I thought can deliver the same performance as my 5D but in a smaller size. But I was wrong. I wasn't too happy with my Fuji XE-2.
The XE-2 is a great camera but not for the way I shoot. I felt that it was slow for my style of shooting.
I am a street photographer and I love taking candid moments. I missed a number of scenes because the camera takes longer to 'wake up'. And i have other reasons.
Anyway, I traded my XE-2 for a Fuji XT-20 and now I'm a satisfied Fuji user (let's see after a few months hahaha!)
I'm a happy camper! The XT-20 has everything I wanted in a camera (I think hahaha!):
- small and lightweight
- takes videos (has a 4K option)
- tilt screen
- looks like a simple camera. (People think I'm just a tourist taking random snapshots)
By the way, I use it with a Fujinon 23mm F2 WR.
Goodbye, Canon! ...for now. 😉
Oh, you might be interested to check my IG posts and YouTube videos. Thanks for viewing!
How I Got Into Photography
Simple answer, I was interested in creating videos but I had no money. I could only afford to buy a film camera. So I ended up with photography as a hobby.
But i think I could trace it back to my growing years. As a kid, I enjoyed browsing through National Geographic and Life magazine pages. I think it kind of trained my eye to see things in a different aesthetic angle.
Anyway, I ended up with the Olympus Stylus Epic | Olympus Mju II and that, ladies and gentlemen, kicked off my photography journey.