12/15/2014

The Pietà Rondanini: Milan, Italy



The chisel marks left on the marble made me sense that Michelangelo himself was still standing right beside the unfinished stone image to eternally continue carving the stone into his last Pieta.

His profound agony and grief about the meaning of our existence are vividly engraved in this beautiful marble statue.



(By great good fortune, during my trip in Italy, the government granted permission for all tourists to photograph the art treasures in almost every museum in that magnificent country.)

10/26/2014

Varenna: Lake Como, Italy



On the narrow shore along the edge of Lake Como, the picturesque houses of this small village are standing in rows like colorful toy houses.

The steep rock mountains covered with green are soaring high just behind this beautiful village.

I visited Italy this June and took many pictures of the impressive scenes of this country. I intend to post the photos chosen from among them.

(OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1, M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ)


Varenna: Lake Como, Italy



When I turned my face and looked back on the narrow stone steps between the houses, I saw the deep blue surface of the glacial lake rippling gently in the bright sun of June.


Lake Como, the View from Varenna: Lake Como, Italy


Varenna: Lake Como, Italy


Varenna (the View from Menaggio) : Lake Como, Italy



9/20/2014

Hagi (Lespedeza) flowers: Kaizo-ji, Kamakura, Japan



The countless flower cascades of Hagi are surrounding the aged stone steps leading up to the wooded gate of this small Buddhist temple

The full blown flowers of Hagi, which are beautifully adorning every garden of temples in Kamakura, are one of the splendid symbols which let us notice the beginning of autumn.

(OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1, M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 EZ)



Evening twilight: Morito coast, Hayama, Japan


8/20/2014

Surfriders: Waikiki, Oahu, hawaii




In the radiant sunlight from the perpetual azure sky of summer, with short shouts of joy, children on their body-boards are starting out into the turquoise-blue sea one after another to play with the gentle waves sweeping toward the shore



Surfriders: Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii




Surfriders are slowly drifting on the vivid blue-green sea, gazing into the distance to catch their big waves.



8/13/2014

Sunset glow: Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia




The ever-scorching sun is slowly sinking into the equatorial sea, blazing the far horizon and the open sky brilliantly.

People are gathering together at the evening beach, where the harsh heat of the burning sun has eased up a bit, to enjoy the precious coolness of the seashore just before sundown.

Along the sand beach washed by the gentle golden waves, the boys wheeling their bicycles are passing away like a blast of sea wind in the fleeting sunset glow.



7/31/2014

The silver crescent moon: Kaanapali beach, Maui island, Hawaii




In the dark ultramarine blue of the evening twilight, a silver crescent moon has risen high above the faint silhouette of Lanai island.

The feeble afterglow reaching from the far horizon is softly illuminating the calm surface of the sea and the quiet water edge.



After sunset: Kaanapali beach, Maui island, Hawaii




In the pale gold sunlight still remaining in the sky after the sunset, the kayakers are returning home hurriedly on the smooth sea.

The deep shadow of night is descending gradually to let us know the end of one summer day.


Rainbows: Kaanapali beach, Maui island, Hawaii




Just after the sudden shower passed, double rainbows came out in an instant beyond the coconut palm trees that were gently swaying in the crisp ocean breeze.



Twilight: Kaanapali beach, Maui island, Hawaii




The dim gray clouds, which imply the thick darkness of the night, are hovering high on the horizon, where the sun has already sunk into the sea leaving its golden evening glow.

A couple are quietly standing on the edge of the surf and gazing into the tranquil seascape of dusk.



Late afternoon clouds: Kaanapali, Maui island, Hawaii




A thick bank of rain clouds is spreading over Molokai island to send a sudden blessed rain to this dry land.

Above the dense gray clouds, the setting sun is beginning to color the high clouds and the blue sky slightly.



Before sunset: Kaanapali beach, Maui island, Hawaii


7/28/2014

Seascape: Waikiki, Oahu island,Hawaii




Under the deep blue sky of the everlasting summer, the pleasant trade wind is driving sailboats towards the distant horizon tirelessly.



Sunset: Waikiki, Oahu island, Hawaii




Soon the night will begin. In the gentle glow of evening twilight, a girl and her father are walking slowly in the shallow water as if to try to refuse the ending of their pleasant summer day at the seaside.



Sunset at Kaanapali-beach: Hawaii, Maui island