Kissed by a Typhoon Photo

Photographer’s Note

"I thought I'd never go to Hiroshima," were amongst the first words I jotted down in my little diary as I rode the Shinkansen from Osaka to the town ravaged by an American nuclear bomb in 1945. "Why would I? The biggest wound on Earth. A name forever tainted by the sheer evil the west proclaimed as advancement, development, science."

I followed the wise words of an old Japanese lady I met on my first night in Japan, while bathing in a Japanese hot tub at one of the best Youth Hostels I have ever been to. She saw that I was worried and full of doubt and all she said to me, after I gesticulated to show my lack of direction, was Hiroshima, with a big smile.

The typhoon was about to hit town. Osaka was bathed in milky white winds. So was Hiroshima as I arrived there, less than an hour and a half after I'd left Shin-Osaka.

As the skies seemed to clear out, I headed out for lunch and beyond, not expecting any of what I saw and even less all of what I experienced.

I'm not much of a city person and my choice to head down South instead of going for Tokyo was mainly based on that fact. I usually enjoy walking where people never go, I love empty paths, deserts, wide open spaces. Yet here I am, sitting in Hiroshima, totally and absolutely head over heels in love with this town.

There are no words to describe all of it. The people, the places, the light, the weather, the air, the smells, everything rings home like no other city in my life ever has. I don't usually care for really hip kids yet here they make me smile. I'm not that fond of crowds, yet here I enjoy them. I don't like shopping, but here my Heart laughs as I walk past the busy small shops on wide shopping streets.

As if it wasn't enough, last night, as the sun started to set, I saw the most amazing colours I have ever seen in my Life. The wind was blowing hard, the typhoon clearly somewhere not that far, but not close enough to drench the whole place. Suddenly, everything lit up as if from within, as if each particle in the air was alight with a glowing colour. I snapped away as I could, totally frustrated at my inability to re-transcribe what was going on into a digital photo. I missed my film camera left in the hotel room as well as any skills that might have helped.

This picture is a faint re-creation of what went on in Hiroshima last night.
The blue was actually really dark and the clouds really pink. All of what was earth (including buildings) were as if lit from within with a golden pink light. It might sound as if I was simply walking around with a pair of odd eyes, but I was only one of many taking picture after picture of what was going on. It was... magic.

I have no idea how this picture comes up on your screen, but trust me, it was a million times better in reality. I'm just trying to share a little love ;-)

To those amongst you who take the time to leave a comment or criticise the picture, Thank You. Your words are always important and they go straight to my Heart as well as that part of my small brain that is busy thinking before pressing on the shutter release, even when I fail to reply.

Vanni, sarju, Ocean2Ocean, sevy, lilimih33, Brendon, luisafonso, randompics, nekoyama, J304, SoupDragon, SchwebagMike, Brian, harras2000, woozbman, Kisoka, ChrisJ has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Vanni (172) 2007-07-15 11:08

Hello

Really beautiful picture. I think the pinkish tint really suits the photo. Also you managed to portray the ruins and the modern buildings in its contrasting features, and yet they seem to blend so much. However, cannot not find any fault in it. I feel that the feelings you shared and the deep thoughts you reflected made this photo complete. This made your photo alive in my eyes. Distinguished from any other photo i have seen posted.

Thanks a lot for sharing!!! :)

Ocean2Ocean (0) 2007-07-15 13:56

WONDERFUL ! THANK YOU FOR POURING LIGHT FROM WHAT WE TRIED TO MAKE A DARK DARK PLACE, INTO OUR LIVES... THE BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT WITHIN THE PEOPLE OF JAPAN - AND MANY OTHER LANDS - CANNOT BE DIMMED BY 'FORCES' OF EVIL .. THANK YOU SO MUCH ! I HOPE ONE DAY TO VISIT THIS PLACE ..

sevy (14848) 2007-07-15 14:00

Bonsoir (du moins pour moi) Julia,

Apres la critique de Vanni, il n y a pas grand chose a rajouter, je ne ferai pas mieux.
J ai ete au premier abord assez intrigue par la tonalite de la photo.
Pour le cadrage, il est bien equilibre et on reconnait, sans que ce soit didactique, ce fameux dome, oeuvre de commemoration involontaire de ce 6 Aout 45.
Bonne suite au Japon, Sayonara,

Yves.

CaptainJack (0) 2007-07-15 16:03

Hello Julia, what surreal colours in the sky you've captured here. The natural effects of an approaching typhoon sure are incredible. The vantage point you've chosen showing us the memorial as well as the modern day city is nicely done.

lilimih33 (9884) 2007-07-15 17:17

Hello Julia!
Great colours and perfect clarity in your picture!
Nice point of view!
Good note!
Excellent done!
Lili

Brendon (285) 2007-07-15 17:30

No denying the feelings that you felt while in Hiroshima. Of all the places and people that I encountered while living in Japan (2 years), Hiroshima was one adventure that gathered up a plethora of feelings that I wish I was better at translating to others. Maybe that was the allure, choked up and not being able to convey the many emotions that I harboured about such a spectacular place. A lot of what your fantastic note says; rings true in my heart, and I thank you for conveying some of your wonderful thoughts to others on TE.
As for your photo, "It is...magic!" And it wonderfully transcribes what a magnificant place Hiroshima is and the power of people to overcome and move forward when faced with adversity.
TFS
Brendon

luisafonso (858) 2007-07-16 1:49

Beautiful composition Julia. The pink cast is indeed very strange but seeing your whites as white I can see that it doesn't seemed that your Nikon get confused - or touched - by the strong character of the place. I also share your love for vast open spaces, but there is something in the city that also makes me stop and fall in love. I guess it's the people, that constant source of enlightenment. Keep on sending us these "postcards" from your Oriental journey and don't let those typhoons kiss you the way they use to do. :) Stay safe, l.

randompics (913) 2007-07-16 19:43

Hi Julia,

The picture is really beautiful and so are your words. We can see and even feel what you saw that night in Hiroshima through your picture. It really looks magical. thanx for sharing.

rabin

Bruno40 (6442) 2007-07-16 19:47

Julia,
What an amazing note, very well done... I almost forgot that I am supposed to say something about the photo! :-)
Original POV, sharp, and great colours, although I agree that they could have been better in reality.
Being there 12 years ago, and wishing to be there again.
Have a nice trip, and TFS
Jorge

zig (2450) 2007-07-18 5:56

oh, hello Julia. You frozen a moment in the picture. Calm before the storm.. that's what you captured here. Lovely effect from the redish tones all over the shot too. I was born in Hiroshima, actually. See you in Yokohama!

cobraphil8 (11656) 2007-07-19 0:03

Salut Julia,
cette scène est déjà superbe mais ne rend pas si bien que tes mots, finalement l'imagination a réellement plus de force que des images... Ta note était un plein d'amour pur... pour cette ville et ses habitants.
Et puis qu'est ce qu'a donné le typhon finalement?
Vas-tu retourner en Chine par la suite?
a+
tout de bon ;)
Philippe

SoupDragon (652) 2007-07-19 2:56

Wow - I see what you were talking about the colour. Completely surreal! There is always something refreshing about the passing of a typhoon, but I don't recall anything like this (or least not as magnified as this). It's good for this shot, as it puts a fresh coat of paint on a very much captured scene.

Unique!

Bluejeans (34486) 2007-07-21 5:19

Ola Julia bonita foto de Hiroshima , a casa e um dos simbolos da destruição maciça da bomba atomica , bom enquadramento da foto , gostei das cores , parabens!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

SchwebagMike (1490) 2007-07-26 2:23

It's dfficult to comment this shot of yours! Of course you haven't shot just any building, but *the* building, a symbol of it's own and no more innocent ... then the color, surreal, still calm but unnatural (even though you tell us it is a natural color). I can't actually describe it as you do, maybe one must have been there. It is a great shot for sure. Because of what it stands for and especially because of you note that made me understand that this town is more then the sad part of horror I associate with it instinctively.
Hughs from Luxembourg, Mike

pat0500 (21513) 2007-08-03 12:14

Bonjour Julia,
Un très beau cliché que j'aime beaucoup accompagné d'une très bonne note également..!
Bonne netteté de l'image et jolies couleurs, une bonne composition Julia...bravo..!
Bien à toi et bon weekend.
Patrick

hoorge (1434) 2007-09-02 7:04

The pink hue in this picture makes the place look nice and eerie at the same time. I love the composition and pov. Your note is fantastic as well.

harras2000 (708) 2007-12-19 9:52

Hallo Julia,

willkommen zurueck!
This picture of HIROSHIMA with its sad atmosphere reminding the cruelty man can do to each others, is just beutifull with the pink colour added.

Viele Grüsse aus Frankfurt,

Daniel

bigtim (3487) 2008-04-01 16:00

Bonjour Julia,
Je decouvre ta gallerie en meme temps que cette photo et cette emouvante note, tu retranscris bien tes emotions et j'ai voyagé avec toi le temps d'un instant!
Merci pour le partage!
Amicalement
tiM

Kisoka (31) 2008-07-22 7:58 [Comment]

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ChrisJ (71614) 2008-08-23 0:48

Hi Julia

A typhoon was close to Kyoto, when I visited Japan in August 2006. I like the symmetry, between the incomplete highrise at right, & the skeletal top of the Genbaku Dome. Tfs!