Creatures

The Kawasaki Halloween Parade 2014 proved, yet again, that it is one of the highly anticipated halloween events in Japan. And for a day, Kawasaki turned into a fantasy world.

For the fifth time in six years, I and my friends traveled for almost two hours to be a part of the event. Not as one of the creatures, but as photographers. We knew that activities like this is a good opportunity for us to further improve our skills especially in portrait(ure) photography.

I am always armed with Nikon D7000 and macro lens as I am very much comfortable with this set-up. Using a macro lens in street / portrait photography may be a struggle at first, but once you get used to it, it is very easy. Try to familiarize prime lenses.

The favorite halloween portrait I took was in 2008, entitled Fantasy. Personally, I thought this is still my best shot and I had even used it as a standard in halloween portraits. This is the reason why I take a lot of photos of women with flowers around their eyes. I tried to recapture it for so many times but I always fell short.

The parade has lots to offer. There are lots of interesting characters. Most of them don't hesitate to pose for you. However, there are few who seem to be camera-shy so taking candid shots of them is the only option.

Bonfires 

fire dancing in air
bottle of coconut wine
halloween party

fire dancing in air
underworld creatures
ghost stories to tell

fire dancing in air
silence of empty bottle
 next full moon awaits

/totomai

for Poets United Midweek Motif - Bonfires

I am very sure that I and my friends are coming back to Kawasaki for next year's halloween parade. We are still thinking whether to appear as photographers or as participants.  If it is the latter, we better start planning for our costume now.

/totomai
2014/11/02