10,000 Eisa Drummers

[JAcosta]

Today was the annual Eisa festival here in Okinawa. You can read more about what it is all about here:
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/travel/festivals/festivals03.html

Anyway I was there, with gear in hand. It was raining pretty hard all day, with few breaks in between. Im glad my 1D is weather resistant. I hope you enjoy.

1.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2728201006_ba593e847e_b.jpg
2.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3185/2728201288_505b707d06_b.jpg
3.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2728201532_94df2bf622_b.jpg
4.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2727377845_33bc1e6a67_b.jpg
5.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2727376673_b70aaf9da4_b.jpg
6.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2727372301_4e01e380d5_b.jpg
7.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2728198990_03abaa8871_b.jpg
8.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2727376419_84b7643f78_b.jpg

C&C Welcome

[DwightMcCann]

Beautiful people. Rain didn't bother anyone? :-)

[JAcosta]

It didnt phase the drummers at all. I cant say the same about the spectators, however.

[agphotography]

Ahhh the bokeh! It's so beautiful!

What were you using? The mkIIn and the 50L I can assume?

[René Damkot]

Funny; IMO some of the images have too shallow DoF :)

[JAcosta]

Ahhh the bokeh! It's so beautiful!

What were you using? The mkIIn and the 50L I can assume?

I was using my 50L and my 80-200 f/2.8L (the "Magic Trashcan")

Funny; IMO some of the images have too shallow DoF

I didnt know there was such a thing :)

[René Damkot]

I didnt know there was such a thing :)

There is... If the image would have been better with more DoF. As is the case in some of these IMO.

Don't shoot wide open just because you can.

[JAcosta]

There is... If the image would have been better with more DoF. As is the case in some of these IMO.

Don't shoot wide open just because you can.


I shoot wide open as much as possible, because thats what I like. Also why buy the lenses I have if I dont shoot with them wide open? It was the whole reason for getting them.

[DwightMcCann]

I shoot wide open as much as possible, because thats what I like. Also why buy the lenses I have if I dont shoot with them wide open? It was the whole reason for getting them.
I agree with you on these, the shallow DOF is a benefit, although maybe another inch would be OK. As to why buy fast lenses if you don't use them, because there are situations when you really need the a fast lens ... back before I was married I had "fast" girlfriends but I didn't run them at top speed all the time!

[aduda]

I really like these a lot. The first one in particular. Thanks for sharing.

[Nouks]

In some photos I like wide open, in others (#6 for instance) I don't. In #6 I would have preferred less OR more DOF, since this is a bit "not too much of any of those two choices" I think.

Something else: your framing could be better I guess. You chopped off some of the "sticks" a few times and some people in the background are cut off in a pretty painful way...

#7 doesn't work for me, the funny face on the left is too distracting.

[JMF]

back before I was married I had "fast" girlfriends but I didn't run them at top speed all the time!

You kept them on 'idle' in between sprints, I assume? ;)

[castaneda]

EXCELLENT SERIES!!!

[dshirey]

Great great photos. They make me want to go back to Japan. Oh wait, Japan makes me want go to back, lol. Beautiful country, beautiful people, beautiful photos.

[andrepaul]

Some great shots here. . .but I agree with the shallow DoF argument. These are story-telling shots, most at least, I would have opt for longer DoF on some of the shots.

[Anke]

Nice series, I do like the 3D effect that the shallow DOF has given some of these. Nice.

[manipula]

Anyone asking for more DOF in these needs their heads read.

Wonderful photos, seriously impressed, with #3 being the stand out shot for me. :)

[JAcosta]

Thanks guys. I love the bokeh that comes with a super shallow DOF. Personally I feel if I had stopped down for any of these shots, they would have looked like they came out of a point and shoot. Shallow DOF is where its at.

[Cr4zYH3aD]

beautiful

[cdifoto]

I like the separation. Contrast & saturation looks a bit high for my taste...emphasis on taste. I don't even care that the sticks are cut off since it's about people and not the end of a stick.

[Phil Light]

Wow, those are beautiful! I would love to have been there to be able to hear it.

I bought a Kodo CD a couple of years ago and I love it! I would think this might have even been better.

[Lokster]

Stunning shots, #1, 4 and 8 are my favourites. I like the shallow DOF, it's just a subjective matter I guess...

[grrriffin]

awesome photos

[Viffer06]

Beautiful people. Rain didn't bother anyone? :-)


Living in Tropical Climate area, it really defines the enjoyment playing in the rain. It gives a soothing refresh feeling. I missed those times..:confused:


Great pictures!! I would have shot it the same with the DOF and all. Tons of people on a small street. I'm sure framing it with longer DOF will make it too busy and distracting.

[JAcosta]

I like the separation. Contrast & saturation looks a bit high for my taste...emphasis on taste. I don't even care that the sticks are cut off since it's about people and not the end of a stick.


Thanks. Looking back I did go kind of crazy with curves, but Im not going to to change them.

[agarcha]

Amazing shots.

[haisai-ojisan]

The first three shots take the cake!
Especially the first one!!!!!
I like the dof regardless of what other say.
And you said it best, it's what you wanted.....and you got it!
Nice series.

Number 2, 4 and 5 (well they all do) kind of show what Eisa daiko is about.
But it would have been great if you had shots of the adults with more movement, jumping in mid air, etc.
Regardless, it is a nice series!