SamShio Photographer

Kickstarter campaign

2015-07-15T18:27:00.002-04:00

It's been a long time everybody. I uploaded a Kickstarter campaign about a few weeks ago on Kickstarter. It is about my three trips to Japan in photography. Using both digital and film cameras I captured what I saw on my trips. This book will show photographs from my digital and film experiences of various types of photography such as landscape, cityscape, street photography, macro, in monochrome. I am really excited to put this photography book together and share it to others. You will see gardens in cities and people in booth late spring early summer and fall. If you can only help a little bit it will go a long way in me a cheating this project. There are other rewards other than the book itself.
The campaign is at kickstarter and the project is called 3 X Japan. Here is the linkhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1494150029/3-x-japan-a-photography-book.

It's been awhile!

2015-01-22T10:39:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone, it has been awhile since I posted on here. I finished up my pictures from Japan quite awhile ago like October or something might have been the last post. It is the new year and I haven't touched the blog at all. I been focusing on other things like my photography a lot more then writing. I have been getting more serious and also been shooting more film photography. I really enjoy it and it takes awhile to get my film back to me when I send it out. That doesn't say I upload to the internet my photography. I started a newer blog for a more professional look at WordPress.
The only blogger blog I still operate still is Noodlestotea.blogspot.com where my girlfriend and I upload pictures and reviews of Asian themed/originated foods or drinks. We love different foods and culture from countries in the east and I like photography. So when we buy or make foods that are related I take pictures and upload an opinion/ review with some background on the food. It's fun and we been doing it for about a year now.
I start school today, I signed up for Horticulture classes since I want to get into Landscape Design. Japanese Gardens have really inspired me to do this as a profession and I hope to get to that point some day. I am still a full time Project Manager at an Environmental company.

Now the blog that I will update more often with posts like I did here is sclintonlewis.com
I have Flickr and also 500px where my pictures from film and digital go.
I will now be posting at the website there which can also be reached by www.camerasaga.com

I will be going on another Japan trip in May! I'm pretty excited about it!

I hope to post here again sometime but all my new content will pretty much go to sclintonlewis.com

Island in the Sky - Clingmans Dome, Smoky Mountains

2014-09-20T11:28:00.000-04:00

There were books inside the store that called it the Island in the Sky. It is the highest point in Tennessee and it is around 6600 feet. It has a special type of environment up there with old fer trees and the moisture is great. I loved coming up to the top even though I didn't hike up there just walked up a long paved trail to the view.

B's Hobby in Shijo Kyoto

2014-09-18T14:22:00.000-04:00

B's Hobby shop is right of Shijo and you will sorta notice it since there is a few toys out front. You go down the stairs to the store which a lot of hobby kits and supplies are waiting for you! I recommend going here if you are into this stuff, other place that I would recommend is the toy floor/hobby floor of Kyoto's Yodabashi Camera which is great as well. At the end of the stairs there is a few completed kits.

Bonsai Exhibit Kyoto Botanical Garden

2014-09-02T11:33:00.000-04:00

Kyoto Botanical Gardens is a large area and there was even a Bondai Exhibit which I decided to make a separate post here for that. I enjoy Bonsai if you don't know and have a few myself...

Wonders of Nanzen-ji

2014-08-21T09:47:00.000-04:00

Nanzen-ji Temple complex is really amazing. Lots of people grove to it and love seeing the gardens and the aqueduct. Original post here. I didn't see nearly as much as I saw the first time and it is worth spending the time there!

Todai-ji Temple's Daibutsudden and The Great Daibutsu in Nara

2014-08-14T10:43:00.000-04:00

Todai-ji is one of those spectacularly large structures that you can see. Meaning the Eastern Great Temple, it is located in Nara Japan where the old capitol resided before moving to Kyoto. This is the Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) where it houses the worlds largest bronze Buddha statue (Vairocana) known in Japan as Daibutsu. The temple is the home of Kegon school of Buddhism and it has been rebuilt a few times and is actually smaller then the original! The now standing building was built in 1709 and 30% smaller then the last.

Up till 1998 it was the largest wooden building in the world.

It is massive when you fist see it!

Tenjuan Temple - Kyoto, Japan

2014-08-07T13:52:00.000-04:00

Tenjuan Temple is a sub-temple that is with Nanzen-ji and right next door. It was founded in 1336 by a guy named Kokanshiren who was the chief priest of Nanzen-ji at the time in honor of Nanzen-ji. It has two lovely gardens one dry and one pond.

The colors make it a famous one to view as well, plenty of people were there...

Gio-ji Temple Arashiyama, Kyoto

2014-08-05T15:18:00.000-04:00

Gio-ji is a really small temple area and was a Shingon Buddhist nunnery. There is a single building which is small with a thatched roof and an amazing moss garden but yet small. The history of this little building is that it was part of the Ojo-in Temple founded by Ryochin (disciple of Honen) and over time the temple became in disrepair and fallen that the only thing left was this little building. In 1868 it was abandoned to only have Daikaku-ji take over and a ex-governor of Kyoto in 1895 donated a building from his villa to Gio-ji which is now the present building. This temple is 500 Yen but if you are going to Daikaku-ji pay 600 Yen for both!

I am all about moss and this was great, small but immense satisfaction came from viewing it...

Philosopher's path in the Autumn

2014-07-31T14:12:00.000-04:00

My first trip to Japan one of my favorite days was when I walked along the Philosophers path going to Ginkakuji and Nanzenji and other smaller temples. Was amazing and if was quite beautiful in the fall time as well. I visited all those temples that day too! Here was the original post that has some background information of this amazing path.

Lots of color but there was still some trees that were holding out!

Ōi River in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

2014-07-24T14:06:00.000-04:00

The Oi River is on the western side of Kyoto and most people visit it probably at Arashiyama at its picturesque bridge. It travels out of the Southern Japanese Alps and thought the Oi valley. I hope you get to go out there some time!

Chimney Tops in Great Smoky Mountains

2014-07-20T10:16:00.000-04:00

Chimney Tops trail is a popular trail as it offers a 360 view. It is a great view on top but it comes with quite a bit of work. The trail it's self is 3.8 miles long and 1487 feet gain in elevation. The first half is steady up but the last half is quite steep and was rough. You wont regret it as the scenery on the trail going up is nice. Enjoy the photo's.

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Nison-in Temple - Sagano, Kyoto, Japan

2014-07-16T14:48:00.000-04:00

Nison-in (Two revered images), is a Tendai Sect of Buddhism temple located in the Saga area of Kyoto out west. It is a great place to see maples in the autumn. The name of the temple come from the fact of the two main images; statue of the founding Buddha and one who has reached enlightenment. Founded in 834 by Emporo Saga and is now part of the Enryaku-ji Temple. All of the structures that are present are not original as it all didn't make it thorough the Onin Wars. The cemetery is known for being the resting places of famous people and emperors.

This was a great place to stop!

Kyoto Botanical Garden Conservatory

2014-07-09T11:12:00.000-04:00

The Kyoto Botanical Gardens Conservatory is really awesome. I haven't been in one that large in a long time and offered a lot of plants to see. In 1992 the green house opened with 4,612 square meters with 9 zones inside. There is 25,000 plants approx inside! You do have to pay an extra 200 Yen to go inside or buy a joint ticket at the gate before entering the gardens. Was wonderful to get out of the chilly air and in the humid zones...

The design was inspired by the near by Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavilion).

Driving in Great Smoky Mountain National Park

2014-06-29T09:55:00.000-04:00

Driving in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is really a sight to see. There is water near all the roads and I stopped to get a few pictures one the way to Elkmont for these. Smoky Mountain have something magical about them that just inspire me. I would go and hike for a week there if given the opportunity. The river's babbling over rocks covered in a carpet of green moss and the rhododendrons and laurel hanging over grasping for a little bit of light. Coming to the park again in the future is a must for me, I enjoyed it more then the beach and I don't think it will ever change my opinion about it.

Sunrise over the Smoky's

2014-06-28T10:27:00.000-04:00

Some great sunrises in the Smoky's but more then likely there will be cloud cover, mist or fog. Still is an interesting landscape.

Cades Cove in Smoky Mountains

2014-06-27T09:47:00.000-04:00

Cades Cove is a very interesting place in the Smoky Mountain National Park. It is an open flat area that is in the mountains, like a cove. An isolated valley if you will. It was settled by people long ago before the park and there is still homes and churches to see within the loop you can drive. It draws in 2 million people a year! It has a 11 mile loop road that is one way that circumnavigates the entire area. There are also hikes a long the road that you can park for.

Laurel Falls in Great Smoky Mountains

2014-06-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

Laurel Falls is along the road between Gatlinburg and Cades Cove which was where we were spending the first night camping. Called Laurel Falls because of the Laurel in the area, it adds beauty to the areas 80 foot waterfall. The trail is paved the entire way to the falls which helps anyone attend.

Roaring Fork Motor Trail in Gatlinburg TN

2014-06-22T10:57:00.000-04:00

The Roaring Fork Motor Trail is an awesome trail/road that goes through the mountains and over streams not to far from Gatlinburg Tennessee. If you want to get away from all the bustle of the town take a drive along this road and enjoy nature in it's shady humid misty glory. Loved this road but remember it is closed in the winter. It is a one way road that has trails along it that you can park and hike. We completed Grotto Falls which can get really popular anytime and might be hard to find parking close to the trail head. Towards the end of the road you will cross over and follow the Roaring Fork (river) that goes all the way to Gatlinburg. There are also old buildings of historical significance that are along the road to check out.

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Grotto Falls in Smoky Mountains

2014-06-19T10:49:00.000-04:00

Grotto Falls is off of the Foaring Fork Motor Trail which is a one way road that is a very short drive from Gatlinburg, TN. Trust me it is worth the drive to take it and this hike is really easy and pleasing. It is maybe 3 miles round trip. The misty environment and hemlock forest is really magical and something that I wouldn't get the opportunity to see in Shenandoah National Park.

Cedar Run in Shenandoah National Park

2014-06-15T06:58:00.000-04:00

Cedar Run is another great trail to see some minor falls and running water over rocks in the mountains. I did it part of the Whiteoak Canyon to Cedar Run loop trail which is 8 or 9 miles round trip but worth it. I did a post not to long ago on Whiteoak Canyon. Enjoy the photos.

White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah National Park

2014-06-11T09:56:00.000-04:00

White Oak Canyon is one of the most popular waterfall hikes in Shenandoah National Park. It is a great hike and I did it as a look with Cedar Run on the way back down the mountain, refer to this link for the trail. There are 6 waterfalls ranging from 23 feet to 86 feet. Also if you like cold water to take a dip hike in swim trunks as there are decent pools under the falls but it may be crowded. I also parked at the bottom outside of the park.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple - Sagano

2014-06-09T14:03:00.000-04:00

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji is located in Sagano part of Kyoto which is a nice area to travel around in. Kukai is said to have founded the temple in 811 and then it was altered by Honen. It is in an area that is believed the people use toe abandon bodies to the elements. Now there is 8,000 Buddhist statues that are around the complex to honor the dead and during a ceremony they light candles on 1,000 of them.

I was surprised that there were that many statues.

Taizoin Zen Temple - Kyoto, Japan

2014-06-06T12:00:00.000-04:00

This temple is the oldest inside of Myoshin-ji temple complex. Was founded in 1404 by Muinsoin but he original buildings got burned in the Onin Wars. Now the dry garden there, Motonobu-no-niwa, has large and smaller rocks with evergreen. That was the original garden and the newer one with azaleas and the stream running down the center seen below was built recently in 1963-66 (recently in terms of temples in Kyoto). I nice garden to see and I am surprised that the azaleas that are seen here and trimmed so perfect that it looks like small hills of grass.

Traveling in Sagno and Arashiyama

2014-06-04T14:26:00.000-04:00

The Sagano and Arashiyama area of Kyoto is lovely to walk around at. There is a bunch of temples and the area is gorgeous with some farms land between houses. I took a few pictures while I was walking around that I can show as I traveled between the temples and shrines.