Michael Ignatov

A Month Croaks by

2011-09-20T00:41:00.001-07:00

A rain frog takes refuge from Typhoon Talas (12) on my front porch.

A little over a month has passed since I arrived in Japan, a place that is hot, humid, and nasty. In the past, I have only visited in the summer, so I am told my view of Japan is skewed. It is now, by all accounts, the middle of September, and still hot and humid, so I remain firm in my challenge to the myth of quadri-seasonal Japan—prove it!

The typhoon known here by the number 12 (and elsewhere by the name of unidentified origin, Talas) has done little to upset the image of a hot and humid Japan, though it did add “windy” to the list. Interestingly enough the typhoon is not even considered to be a typhoon outside of Japan, international agencies have downgraded Talas to a tropical storm. Although that does make for some odd headlines—“Tropical Storm Talas leaves 40-some dead, 50-some missing”—typhoons do that, but Sir Beaufort probably knew something I didn’t.

A different angle

My new home has recorded over 1.5m of rain during the storm, which is a little over 5ft . And my literal new home, must have accumulated over 50 liters (maybe 15 gallons or so) of water from a roof leak that sprung up on the night of Talas's arival. None of my things were damaged thankfully, but it did make for an uncomfortable weekend. Sleeping is surprisingly difficult with water-park effects (complemented by a musical-buckets arrangement) a few feet from one’s head, but it could have been worse. I’m healthy and my possessions are safe and the roof is fixed and the last buckets were emptied two weeks ago.

But another typhoon, number 15, initially headed in the direction of southern China decided to make its way towards central Japan and is due to arrive tomorrow. My roof has been fixed, so we'll see if it holds.

Its been difficult to find time to devote to photography, with work and getting settled down. Reading here and there, though. Started Nabokov's Pale Fire before leaving the States, now to finish it...

Midday Landscapes

2011-08-15T18:21:00.001-07:00

The Sedona Sun
Originally uploaded by Kumasan

Most of the time people will tell you that the best nature photography happens at that time around sunrise and sunset. By and large those people are right. Of course the point is that the best photography in general happens when the light is interesting in some way. Noon is generally not thought to present good light: it is harsh and rather dull. But that does not mean that one cannot create opportunities to make a compelling photo by working around the challenges presented by midday light. Taking advantage of silhouette is a common approach I think.

Another way to help Japan

2011-03-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

http://corterleather.bigcartel.com/product/for-japan
If you are in Japan donations to help relief efforts are easy enough to make through the Post Office ATMs, or the many convenience stores. But for those who don't have to time to figure out how to make a donation from abroad, need a little incentive, or all of the above, but still want to contribute, here is a nice way of doing so. And it is incomparably more aesthetically appealing than those colorful rubber things.

For the next week or two, Corter Leather (handmade in New England) will be offering a special "For Japan" edition bracelet. Each one is $20, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Red Cross towards relief efforts in Japan. The bracelet comes in three sizes, is a natural 9 oz bracelet, with a hand painted red button to show support. Each comes in a nice cloth bag. Out of respect, there is no branding, no fancy packaging- just a reminder to help and remember.
Others have already mentioned this opportunity: http://neaststyle.com/2011/03/14/japan-by-corter-leather/, http://dreamsofperfection.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/corter-leather-for-japan-bracelet/, just to mention a few.

First Ukai of 2010 in Arashiyama

2010-07-02T08:01:00.002-07:00

Michael Ignatov

The first ukai of the summer on the river Oi in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Ukai, or "cormorant fishing," is a millennium-old fishing technique in which cormorant birds are leashed at the throat, so that they do not swallow large fish, and are made to bob for river fish.

Stay tuned for a more expanded feature.

SPJ Region 11 Mark of Excellence

2010-05-16T20:03:00.004-07:00

I recently found out that my photo (see below) won the SPJ Region 11 Mark of Excellence Award for Sports Photography. Very happy to hear that.

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat

Aubrey Coleman just finished up a spectacular senior year, and Chase Budinger is having a pretty good rookie season with the Houston Rockets.

See earlier posts dealing with this photo here and here.

UA Spring Football Game

2010-04-12T19:54:00.002-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona linebacker Derek Earls brings down senior receiver Travis Cobb during the Spring Game at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., Apr. 10, 2010.

Spring Game once again. See the slide show below:

UA - 87, UW - 70

2010-01-11T10:31:00.004-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona's Jamelle Horne celebrates after hitting a three-pointer against University of Washington in an NCAA men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 10, 2010. Horne finished with a career high 22 points, including 5/8 three-point shooting. Arizona went on to win 87-70.

If it hasn't already been established, the Pac-10 is wide open, officially. Every team has a conference loss. Arizona (8-8, 2-2) defeated #22/24 Washington last night. So Arizona is the #2 team in the Pac-10...in a five-way tie. And Washington is last. Jamelle Horne lobbed 22 points at Washington, mostly from behind the 3-point line. Parrom looked good, his frame belying a toughness that he hasn't shown before. MoMo Jones played smarter than ever, and had a great game, but got caught with an elbow that split his lip.

He returned with some temporary stitches in the final moments of the game, finishing with a career-high 13 points. Fogg was consistent. Defense was the best all year. If the Wildcats keep this up, they've got a legitimate shot at winning the Pac-10 tourney.

Remember, Cal (2-1 pac-10) lost to UCLA, who lost to Arizona. Stanford lost to Cal. Oregon just lost to Oregon State, giving the Beavers a first conference win. Oregon St. by the way decided to beat Oregon after suffering a 51-point (that's right, 99-48) spanking at the hands of Seattle (7-10)! Washington State lost to Oregon, and got demolished by ASU. ASU lost to UCLA and USC. USC lost to Cal and Stanford. Phew. This is going to get even more interesting.

See the slideshow below (#1-25 are mine):

Read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/sports/wildcats-bounce-back-against-huskies-1.1008112

Arizona - 76, WSU - 78

2010-01-09T20:50:00.004-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona's Nic Wise (13), is fouled by Washington State's DeAngelo Casto in an NCAA men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 8, 2010. WSU went on to win 78-76, on Casto's last second shot.

Another close one, this one not in the favor of Arizona. The Wildcats dropped a game to Washington State, the Pac-10 team with the best overall record (12-3). Did anyone mention this was an off-year? Oregon, with Arizona's own Mike Dunlap working behind the scenes no doubt, is sitting pretty atop the Pac-10 standings (2-0) having beaten WSU in a close one, and spanking Washington. So it goes. As for Arizona, the Wildcats are facing #22Washington tomorrow night, heading into the match 7-8 (1-2 Pac-10), their only conference win coming from a road triumph over UCLA. UCLA, another unreadable enigma, looses to pretty much everyone, then decides to beat ASU and Cal, which if you remember was supposed to be the only good team in the conference together with Washington. Going to be another one of those years.

See the slideshow below(#24-end are mine)

Read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/sports/on-last-play-cougars-scratch-wildcats-1.1007582

Holiday Bowl: Nebraska 33, Arizona 0

2010-01-01T18:31:00.006-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
A disappointed Delashaun Dean (18) walks off the field after University of Arizona Wildcats' last offensive attempt failed against the Nebraska Conrnhuskers in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl in Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif., Dec. 30, 2009.

Nebraska put on a 33-0 shellacking on Arizona in the Holiday Bowl, recording the first shutout in bowl history. This game set all kinds of records, in fact, most of which were nothing to write home about, for the Wildcats at least. Here's a sample:

Fastest score - Nebraska, 1:15 into the game.
Most field goals made - Nebraska (Alex Henry)
Most punts/punting yards - Arizona (Keenyn Crier)
Fewest points - Arizona
Fewest total yards - Arizona
Fewest first downs - Arizona
Fewest plays - Ariz
Fewest touchdowns - Ariz

There are more, but the horse is long dead. Check out the slideshow below (#22-48 are mine):

read all about it: www.dailywildcat.com

Arizona - 69, BYU -99

2009-12-30T00:11:00.003-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona's Nic Wise, foreground, and Brigham Young University's Jimmer Fredette's dive for the ball in an NCAA men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 28 2009. BYU went on to win 99-69.

Arizona gets embarrassed at home by the now 13-1 BYU. That may be a little strong. BYU's Jimmer Fredette was having the game of his life. That's the pale guy in the background. He scored 49 points and set a McKale Center and BYU scoring record in the process. Arizona evens out at 6-6 on the season going into Pac-10 play on New Year's Eve at USC.

See the slideshow below:

Read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/

Arizona - 76, NC State - 74

2009-12-25T15:05:00.004-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona's Nic Wise drives past NC State's DeShawn Painter in an NCAA men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2009. Arizona went on to win 76-74, in the final seconds on a Wise layup improving to 6-5 on the season.

Who needs soap operas when you have Wildcats basketball? Two games in three days, two wins, both decided at the final seconds by Nic Wise's heroics. See the slideshows below:

read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/

Arizona - 20, ASU - 17

2009-12-01T21:34:00.003-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona State's Safety Ryan McFoy (2) taunts University of Arizona's wide receiver Terrell Turner after a long completion, and gets a penalty call in an NCAA men's football game in Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 28, 2009. Arizona went on to win the Territorial Cup 20-17.

Arizona won the Territorial Cup this year on the road by a last second field goal. Exuberant coach Mike Stoops celebrated in the middle of the field with the team. He looked happy to have this win over the Sun Devils in Tempe under his belt.

See the slideshow from the game (images #11-30 are mine):

Read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/sports/role-reversal-1.946717

Arizona - 66, Rice - 49

2009-11-23T18:23:00.003-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
Luis Antonio Escobedo, 2, plays on the court after the University of Arizona-Rice University NCAA men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 19, 2009. Arizona went on to win 66-49, improving to 2-0 on the season.

Arizona headed off to Maui a few hours after the spotty game against Rice University. The Wildcats face Wisconsin in the Maui Invitational tourney tonight at 12am Eastern.

See the slideshow for game images (15-30) are mine:

Last week, hoops all the time

2009-11-18T11:29:00.003-07:00

Good week for Arizona basketball. First the wheelchair basketball team sweeps the 2009 UA Annual Wheelchair Basketball Fall Tournament and earns a 6-0 record.

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona's Solomon Hill finishes a coast-to-coast run with a layup in an NCAA men's basketball match against Northern Arizona University at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2009. Arizona won the first game of the 2009-2010 season, 87-70. Hill scored a team-high 17 points.

Then the men's NCAA team wins its regular season opener against NAU 87-70. Tomorrow they face Rice.

Check out the gallery below (first 14 images are mine):

Arizona - 48, WSU - 7

2009-11-11T16:36:00.004-07:00

Arizona's punt returner "Bug" Wright dashes for the endzone on a return. Arizona scored two special teams TDs in the 48-7 win over Washington State. The first was on the initial kick return, and the second on a punt return shown above. Arizona, now ranked in the top 20 in all national polls, heads for some of the hardest competition they've yet to face. California at Berkeley this weekend, then Oregon at home, and USC and ASU on the road. Its Rose Bowl if they win out, which would make it the first in school history.

Read all about it: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/sports/football-takes-one-game-at-a-time-1.892446
Check out the slideshow below. The last 20 images are mine.

Arizona - 92, Augustana -76

2009-11-06T19:39:00.005-07:00

After the first Arizona exhibition game of the 2009-10 season, a few things are clear. The freshmen are going to need some work, as is the mythic "chemistry." Jamelle Horne has improved, literally and metaphorically, by leaps and bounds. Williams has miles of upside. And Fogg has the flu.

Have to wait and see what happens. For now check out the slideshow from the game:

Read the story: http://wildcat.arizona.edu/sports/finding-a-uniform-style-1.861775

Arizona - 27, UCLA - 13

2009-10-28T23:12:00.004-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat
University of Arizona safety Cam Nelson (20) gestures to the crowd after causing a fumble against UCLA in an NCAA football game in Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Ariz., Oct. 24, 2009. Arizona went on to win 27-13.

Another week, another "W." The Wildcats were ranked in both BCS and AP after this one. And safety Cam Nelson (20) got Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. Good week, but now they've got a bye to get soft.

Check out the photos below, numbers 19-37 are mine:

I also realized that I'm developing an obsession with snapping low-flying planes when I should be shooting football.

There is even precedent for this.

Arizona - 43, Stanford - 38

2009-10-19T11:56:00.004-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat

This was an interesting game. Arizona came out of the fluky loss to Washington funk, somewhat sluggishly initially, with the defense proving the first Wildcat touchdown when Robert Golden ran back an interception. But it was in the second half when the offense turned on the jets. Greg Nwoko and Nic Grigsby both broke free for 40+ yard touchdown runs on 3rd-and-passing situations. And the defense showed up strong in a goal line stand in the final seconds of the game with Wade breaking up a would-be touchdown completion in the end zone. When all was said and done, Arizona claimed a conference "W," a No. 22 ranking in the first BCS standings, and--since the Wildcats scored more than 33 points--free tacos for all! Too bad the press pass didn't do me much good with that.

Check out the slide-show below (first 15 pics are mine):

And today's paper at: www.dailywildcat.com

Who needs off camera flash?

2009-09-28T13:50:00.002-07:00

Off camera flash? We don't need no stinkin' off camera flash. Just keep shooting and one of the other strobes is bound to light up your frame.

I'm sure some of the industrious photogs did just that at Nori-Pi's (Sakai Noriko's) public apology not too long ago for a drug arrest. Check out this unbelievable video from Asahi: http://www.asahi.com/video/news/TKY200909170398.html

Who needs WhiteLightning? Let the strobes fall like rain!

Made me think of the Hypernova video Strobist had up recently:
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2009/09/world-debut-hypernova-music-vid-shot.html

Arizona - 34, NAU - 17

2009-09-14T16:01:00.002-07:00

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat

It's the second week of football here in Tucson. Get the game recap HERE, and check out the game slideshows below:

Game Action:

Check out the fan shots here

Preparedness is all!

2009-09-06T18:04:00.006-07:00

Arizona Stadium Field Crew from Michael Ignatov on Vimeo.

Athletes and coaches are not the only ones getting ready for the first home game of the 2009-2010 season. The past week has been a whirlwind of activity for the workers who prepare the stadium for Saturday night. The Daily Wildcat caught up with some members of the crew as they put on the finishing touches on the field.

Michael Ignatov / Arizona Daily Wildcat.

Charlie Preciado, center, assisted by Alex Armenta, with the University of Arizona grounds crew coats the north end zone logo at Arizona Stadium in preparation for the first home football game of the 2009-2010 season against Central Michigan University, Sept. 3, 2009.

The football team won its opener against Central Michigan, 19-6. And the field looked great. Check out below a time-lapse I shot of the ZonaZoo (student section) filling up. There was a lighting warning, and people were asked to clear the stands--as can be seen in the middle of the video--though the student section chose to largely ignore the warning. Photos of the football game action can be viewed HERE

Whoo football season!

2009-08-21T22:19:00.003-07:00

Well, I'm excited! Football season is upon us. What might the picture above have to do with pigskin? This plane flew above the football practice field, of course. Is that not reason enough? Ok, the real lesson here is in what happens when photographers get distracted in the line of duty. They yank 300mm lenses to their eye, making the fully-extended tripod shoot out swinging parallel to the ground (later finding themselves thankful that no one was standing on their left). Oooh! Shiny thing! Mike like duralumin.

Koya-san: Kukai's Holy Mountain

2009-08-15T23:16:00.010-07:00

Koya-san: Kukai's Holy Mountain from Michael Ignatov on Vimeo.

“The dharma has no speech,
But without speech it cannot be expressed

Eternal truth transcends color,
But only by means of color can it be understood

Mistakes will be made
in the effort to point at the truth"

--Kukai (Kobo Daishi)

Kukai (774-835), known posthumously as Kobo Daishi, founded the Shingon school of Buddhism in Japan. Shingon, literally “true word” or mantra, is an esoteric sect of Buddhism. Esotericism is characterized by a prevalence of the ‘three Ms’—mantras, mudras, and mandalas—as well as the secret transmission of wisdom from master to disciple.

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Before the move of the capital to Heian (Kyoto), Buddhism in Japan was dominated by the 6 Nara schools of the old capital. In the Heian period, however, two distinct power centers of Japanese Buddhism emerged. Known as ‘mountain Buddhism,’ Saicho’s Tendai school (situated on Mt. Hiei) and Kukai’s Shingon school (on Mt. Koya), came to represent the new axis of religious power in Japan.

In 804, the court organized a mission to China and sent Kukai and Saicho along to study contemporary Chinese Buddhism and bring it to Japan. Saicho spent about a year on the road and came back first with the Tendai teaching, and enjoyed a wild, brief popularity. Kukai stayed for an extra year, and unlike Saicho, went to study at the capital, receiving various esoteric transmissions. Studying at the Chinese capital of Chang’an was able to receive the latest brand of Buddhist thought, and upon returning to Japan swiftly cut into Saicho’s popularity. Kukai in effect brought not only Esoteric Buddhism to Japan, but also the most contemporary Buddhist thought, thereby quickly gaining the favor of the court.

Known as much for his scholarly and artistic accomplishments as for his importance as a religious figure, Kukai left a tremendous impact on Japanese culture as a whole. A popular legend places the creating of the hiragana writing system on his brush, though this is highly unlikely. What we can say with certainty is that Kukai had an undeniable force of personality and a measure of shrewdness that enabled Shingon to prosper during Kukai’s lifetime.

With the court’s blessing, he established the Shingon headquarters on Mt. Koya (Koya-san) in 816, which remains a popular pilgrim and tourist destination to this day. The massive graveyard on Mt. Koya (Okunoin) houses the mausoleums of some of the most important people in Japanese history. Many daimyo’s mausoleums can be found here, along with the Tokugawa mausoleum, which is a short walk from Okunoin.

Kukai’s final resting place is at the head of Okunoin. However, believers maintain that Kobo Daishi, as he is known, still sits in eternal meditation on this holy mountain.

*If you're curious about the other branch of "Mountain Buddhism," you can watch a slide-show of my trip to Enryaku-ji last year HERE.

Arashiyama 嵐山

2009-08-14T13:04:00.004-07:00

This summer I had the pleasure of taking a day trip to Arashiyama, a leafy historic suburb of Kyoto famous for bamboo forests, temples, and a bridge. What I really wanted to see was a small temple with a long history called Adashino Nenbutsu-ji .

In early medieval Japan, corpses of the unknown and those without families or funds were dumped in this area. In the 9th century Kukai (Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon sect) established a temple here to serve as burial and cremation grounds, and in honor of the countless nameless bodies that used to be disposed of here. A little over 300 years later Honen, the founder of Jodo Shu (Pure Land sect), built a Nenbutsu dojo here, and later the Nenbutsu-ji was built here. Adashino (化野) literally means"field of change." "Adashi" means "transient" and "empty" and is written with the kanji for "change"(化), understood as the change from birth to death. Now 8000 stone statues have been gathered in a small cemetery to commemorate this hopeful transition from a life characterized by suffering to Amida's Western Paradise.

View the slideshow below.

Three Views of Tokyo Tower

2009-07-13T18:42:00.004-07:00

As I mentioned in earlier posts (here and here), I have recently returned from a brief trip to Japan. I'm still looking through the photos and editing accordingly. Hopefully I'll get a chance to put together a few multimedia projects before the summer is over.

This year I had the dubious fortune of briefly visiting Tokyo. Dubious because although I had fun hanging out with some old friends, I also pretty much bankrupted myself (Tokyo just won the honor of being the most expensive city in the world for foreigners). The rest of my time was spent in Osaka (the #2 most expensive city in the world), which was a little easier on the pocketbook.

At any rate, the week I spent in Tokyo inspired me to contribute to the longstanding Japanese tradition of producing art work revolving around a particular theme or place. Think Hiroshige and his 100 views of Edo or the Tokaido, and Hokusai's 36 Views of Mt Fuji.

I present here now the Three Views of Tokyo Tower (all shot on Fuji Neopan 400 film and my newly acquired Voigtlander Bessa R2M rangefinder with the Color-Skopar 35/2.5 lens):