Pics and Video from Japan - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**omisan** · 12-03-2007, 04:11 PM

Alright, I've got the first couple of sets of pics up from Japan.. this is just the first full day. I've got another three weeks of crap to go through...

Flying to Japan
Osaka I

I also have a bunch of videos from Japan, including the hot one of me taking a poop on screen. :eek: Check em out on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/otavallai

**joe7f** · 12-03-2007, 05:21 PM

Those sushi photos made my mouth spontaneously produce copious amounts of saliva

--Joey

**pinknic38** · 12-03-2007, 05:42 PM

me too, god I miss sushi! great pics though, can't wait to see the rest!

**omisan** · 12-04-2007, 02:26 PM

Hehehe.. glad y'all enjoyed the sushi. I enjoyed it even more!

Here's the next set: Nara: Oh Deer!

**mbo108** · 12-04-2007, 03:34 PM

Omi, what kinda color balancing do you do? Do you use any specific program? The colors are so bright and the contrast is perfect.

Your pictures always look amazing.

**omisan** · 12-04-2007, 04:46 PM

Thanks! I used to use Photoshop to blow out the saturation, and then use the Curves function to up the brights and darken the darks, but since I moved to a DSLR and started shooting in RAW, things come out *almost* as I want them. Most of the digital modification happens when I'm importing with Adobe Camera Raw, where I often warm up the color temperature a touch and increase both the "blacks" and "vibrance" sliders for some depth. It's a bit harsh for some, but I've always liked the boldness. The disadvantage is that I don't get that bleeding, over-saturated look that I kind of had as my signature style for a while, but the plus side is that things are a HELL of a lot sharper now, but with almost as much color.

Anyway, going on my promise to turn these things around faster (or as fast as I can) here's the next set - Osaka II: Sataday Night Ribe

**joe7f** · 12-04-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omisan

It's a bit harsh for some, but I've always liked the boldness. The disadvantage is that I don't get that bleeding, over-saturated look that I kind of had as my signature style for a while, but the plus side is that things are a HELL of a lot sharper now, but with almost as much color.[/url]

I had noticed that. I never really thought about the saturation/clarity trade off and just chalked up the newfound clarity to the dSLR.

I think I am going to spend more time tweaking my photos the results are worth it. I had some maguro nigiri today for lunch because of that damn photo...not that I am complaining.

Did you ever try a combini bento btw?

--Joey

**omisan** · 12-04-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

I had some maguro nigiri today for lunch because of that damn photo...not that I am complaining.

Did you ever try a combini bento btw?

Muwahahah.. I am evil!!!

I got a tonkatsu bento at Lawson one day and - while not great - it was better than anything at a US AM/PM or 7-11 or whatnot. I like that it was always there as a late night dining option if I needed it, but during "normal" hours there's so much good fresh food that I didn't need to lean on the konbini too much.

Back to the photos thing - although all my old stuff is in JPG, as I learn more and more about processing and correcting my stuff, I have this desire to go back through my entire collection and re-do them, but I barely have time to keep up with my current flow of photos, and I don't want to "pull a George Lucas" and go and re-do my past work just because there are better ways now. *sigh*

**joe7f** · 12-04-2007, 05:13 PM

I actually thought those 7-11 bentos were pretty decent. I had a family mart next to my hostel in Asakusa, and ate breakfast and dinner there a couple of nights (I was usually up at 5am and eating dinner at midnight). Watashi wa konbini suki yo.

But yeah the fresh stuff was pretty great.

--Joey

**lost in texas** · 12-04-2007, 08:53 PM

Great pics as always. Reading Murakami books always made me want to visit Japan, having family there must make it even better.

**lauren313** · 12-05-2007, 03:20 AM

Aww, I want a pet bunny!!!!

Also, I love how someone has commented on your pic of the deer eating the program... admin of a group for deer eating things like paper, clothes, etc?!?! WHAT?!

**maracle** · 12-05-2007, 07:27 AM

There's a group for everything on Flickr! Someone asked me to add one of my photos to a group of curvy roads. I did, although my photo of a road was definitely crap compared to the rest of them in that group.

hurr111 · 12-05-2007, 08:12 AM

Thanks for sharing your pics Omi...They are really nice.

**BigE** · 12-05-2007, 09:59 AM

I still don't get how to use a Japanese toilet.

**Sijuki** · 12-05-2007, 01:33 PM

The videos were very educational... I feel as though I would be a step ahead of where I would have been 10 minutes ago if I make it to Japan.

What I have learned is,

Don't drink the water
Dont' eat the cheese
Wash your balls
Bring a hairy cat to use as a towel.

I am ready to take on Japan!

**lauren313** · 12-05-2007, 01:40 PM

Sij, you forgot: You damn well better like deers.

**Sijuki** · 12-05-2007, 02:12 PM

Yeah and...

Skip Breakfast
If You Can't Read the Name, Don't Eat it (yep, I'm packing pop tarts and ramen noodles baby... McDonald's had better have Cheeseburgers made with moo-cow. If there is fish in my cheeseburger I am gonna get all American on them)

**omisan** · 12-05-2007, 03:17 PM

Great - my videos will spawn a whole new generation of Ugly Americans who are afraid to drink the water, eat the food, or play with the deer

**mermaidnz** · 12-05-2007, 04:44 PM

lmfao your comments about each photo made me laugh more then the pics themselves!!

**Sijuki** · 12-05-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by omisan

Great - my videos will spawn a whole new generation of Ugly Americans who are afraid to drink the water, eat the food, or play with the deer

Who you callin ugly pretty boy?