This picture is my first submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
This is also my first submission in the Human Family Group
www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

I was walking by the river in Arashiyama, Japan, when I came across a small group of friends trying to take a photo of themselves. I offered to help out and this gave me an opportunity to approach one of the group and ask if I could take her portrait photo. They were all dressed in good quality kimono and turned out to be a group of Japanese friends on a trip from another part of Japan.

I was using a 50mm lens on as APSC camera. I wanted to get a half length shot to show the kimono, and also I wanted to get in some of the famous Togetsu bridge in the background. I had to step back a bit - a 35mm might have been more appropriate.

One of my mistakes was to ask her not to smile. I was hoping for more of a neutral face - but getting a Japanese girl to stop smiling is nigh on impossible. So I unfortunately ended up with a half smile. Next time I will be more careful.

Thanks to Yumi for allowing me to take her photo for this project.

Tags:   Happy Planet Asia Favorites portrait travel japanese girl cute beauty woman kimono yukata winter 100 strangers posed street in the street smile

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This picture is my second submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
This is also my second submission to the Human Family Group www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

I met Nina while she was walking in Arashiyama with her friend. They were both Japanese university students on a day out together. I had seen her earlier on and was struck by the colour of her hair. Although Japanese girls often dye their hair, it is not normally so light. I saw her again later on and asked if I could take her photo.

It was late afternoon and overcast so the light was quite poor. It was pretty cold and windy. I used a zoom at 50mm which I set wide open at 2.8 - but it was unfortunately a little soft. Also she is not quite in focus, or there is some movement - still lots to learn...

I only took a couple of shots but like her smile in this one. Thanks again Nina for allowing me to take your photo for this project.

Tags:   travel japan kyoto arashiyama japanese girl smile blonde 100strangers portrait half length pretty cute girl student zoom 50mm 2.8 1/500 iso400 young Happy Planet Asia Favorites

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This is Yan from China. I met her in a shrine where she was washing her hands with her young daughter. Washing your hands is an important part of the preparation for praying at a shrine or temple in Japan, and there is always a special well with ladles at the entrance.

Both Yan and her young daughter were dressed similarly with kimono and the white fur stole. Yan was tall and slim with a charismatic smile - so I decided to ask her for a photo.

She told me that she was from China and traveling in Japan with her sister and daughter. She said this temple - Fushimi Inari - was her favorite place so far, but she didn't plan on doing the full route (it's about an hour long mountain hike)

I complemented her on her dress and I asked her if the fir stole had any special meaning and she just laughed and said her neck was cold.

The focus is not quite right or it could be motion blur. It's shot at f2.8, 1/500 in poor light under trees. I think I need to take more time and shoot more steadily. Will also try a slightly higher aperture next time.

This picture is my third submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
This is also my third submission to the Human Family Group www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

Thanks Yan for taking part in the project.

Tags:   100strangers human family street portrait girl cute charismatic beauty travel japan chinese woman kimono muffler stole fur colour kyoto shrine temple Happy Planet Asia Favorites tourist asian asia

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This is Reika, she is an office worker from Japan. She was travelling in Kyoto with three friends from another prefecture. They were looking for someone to help them take photos of the group so I offered. This gave me an opportunity to start a conversation of sorts. However, it is difficult to get beyond the basics. As well as being shy, Japanese women are quite private and it would be considered rude, and a bit strange, to press for too much information early on.

Reika stood out from the group. I liked the way her hair and clothes complemented each other, and she had a friendly face. She was relaxed and didn't mind me taking photos. One of the things I have learn't so far is that the attitude of the model reflects my demeanor. As I am becoming more comfortable approaching people they are in turn becoming more relaxed in front of the camera.

Finally I have a portrait that is in focus. This was shot at f4 to give me a broader focal plane. One thing about doing street portraits is that the model (and myself) don't really stand very still.

Thanks Reika for letting me photograph you for this project. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip.

This picture is my fourth submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
This is also my fourth submission to the Human Family Group www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

Tags:   human family 100 strangers travel people around the world beauty cute smile kimono february kyoto higashiyama portrait street portrait street fashion Street happy asian Japan Japanese girl Japanese Japanese woman eye contact Happy Planet Asia Favorites

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If you have ever visited Japan you would have noticed the ubiquitous Japanese high school girls. They are the drive for a lot of the fashion and music trends here.

Leah and Ruki were on a school trip from Tokyo. They had recently arrived and were complaining about how tired they were after the 12 hour bus trip. They would be spending 4 days in Kyoto mainly visiting the historic sites. They were enjoying the fact they they had been given some free time away from their teacher - hence the rolled up skirts which they wouldn't usually be able to get away with.

They were very freindly and approachable (They even said I was handsome!) We spoke for a little in English. Like most high school kids their life revolves around preparing for exams. They had just come out of the local shrine in the background, so I asked if they had been praying for exam success - they laughed and said no, to find a boyfriend...

This was late afternoon and the light was going. I had forgot to reset my camera settings and shot this a little slow at 1/80. Hence there is a little movement blur. I converted this to black and white because there was some distracting color around.

Thanks to Leah and Ruki for taking the time to stop and chat.

This picture is my fifth submission in the 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at 100 Strangers Flickr Group page

This is also my fifth submission to the Human Family Group www.flickr.com/groups/thehumanfamily/

Tags:   100strangers human famil travel japan tourist schoolgirl japanese girl da35 kyoto fashion street street portrait my streets black and white monochrome greyscale cute uniform school uniform people smiles faces friends pair

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