Motherhood

It's been a number of years since I've first photographed the so-called snow monkeys—Japanese macaques. My first acquaintance took place at Jigokudani outside Nagano in late fall. As a result, this ensured the fact that some of my images resembled those iconic photographs of hot onsen providing the resident monkeys necessary refuge in cold weather.

This time around, smoldering summer heat and relentless humidity or Arashiyama, Kyoto area, in August seemed to offer the opposite effect. Yet my images are no worse. Take this endearing Motherhood photograph of a snow monkey and her offspring, as she stares thoughtfully (or is she fatigued?) into the distance, as the baby naps.

Japan, Again

I just returned from my much-needed, albeit equally brief vacation, which I took, you guessed it, in Japan. I've done a few travel updates on my Instagram, but have neglected this blog.

This changes now.

My first update is a simple image of one of the many fox statues at the iconic Shinto Fushimi-Inari shrine, the earliest structures of which date to the 8th century, in Kyoto. I'm no expert on Japanese mythology, though it seems like here the fox carriers a similar multifaceted function to foxes from other cultures: messengers for communication with another world, tricksters. 

From the Archives

I'm introducing a new category to this blog called From the Archives. It is meant for posting work that is not the most recent.

Updating my Pinterest and nature-and-wildlife Tumblr profiles, I was reminded of all those autumn-color photographs I've captured in Japan during previous travels. 'Tis the season, after all. This particular one comes from the tourist-ridden-but-oh-so-glorious Kyoto.

So why should you be deprived of them? ;)

Have Cool, Will Travel?

I'm seriously considering traveling to Japan in late February.

By "seriously considering" I mean I've bought my flights, and hope that some of the slightly pesky issues—that have arisen—sort themselves out. Even though this is coming up quite soon, I don't even know where I'd go other than the mandatory stop in Tokyo.

I'm always having second (third, fourth...) thoughts whenever I go somewhere other than Russia, because travel is getting more difficult for various reasons, and I feel like I'm betraying my homeland by visiting elsewhere, as silly as this sounds.

Be that as it may, it would be great to see some of my friends and, equally important, photograph-photograph-photograph, especially if I get a new camera. 

"What's wrong with this woman," you must be thinking. Instead of beautiful scenery, you get vegetables, bugs, metal lettering, and rain! 

Fine.

Fine!!!

;)

Here are some conventional images:

Takako with leaves 800 px url.jpg