. : Gaijin-Ninjin a Photoblog in Tokyo : .: Back to Ueno :D

So i went back to Ueno today, this time not for the Zoo but to check out some art and the science museum. I stuck the Leica on, mostly because i knew that in the galleries and museums photography is frownd upon, so i would just shoot when i was walking around. The first place i went to was the gallery of western art just because it was the first you see when as you enter the park. It had some really great work by the masters, my favourite pieces in the gallery were by Monet, a painting which i cannot find now, and regret not taking a photo. There was also work by other famous popular artists Van Goth and Picasso. I spent about an hour inside and quickly rushed to the next which was the nation museum of nature and science.

Here i spend the rest of my day a good 2-3hours, having lunch inside and learning about some of the animals in Japan and around the world. Most i have seen before when i visted places in London. A few things that i liked was to seeing the stomach of a cow, not the pleastest of things to see but still very interesting. I always wondered if 'cows have seven stomachs' was true or just some myth but now i know. Another cool thing inside the museum was a 360cinema. As you entered inside you stood on a transparent bridge inside a globe and projectors somehow manages to produce full 360degree video. The effect was just insane. Although the video's a little boring in places, especially as a lot was Japanese speech. One nice bit was showing the earth forming volcano's which then erupted the lava then poured out from the right side, down underneath us and you can see through the transparent floor, and then splashes up the left side of the globe, really an amazing experience.

Here are the shots of the day, mostly street.

when you shoot into the sun with the Leica you really just understand how well the lens handles light.

as i was walking around i spotted an elderly mans hand in front of me, on closer inspection he had missing finger's something i seen was linked to Japanese mafia 'Yakuza'. This is just speculation, the man did look very old and for all we know it was probably an old war injury but...

People relaxing in the park, the thing i like most about this little scene is the solitude of the people on the benches accept the couple snuggling.

couple view fountain

this miserable old git just sat and watch me taking photos of people passing the fountain, so i stuck my lens in his face, i guess as a way of showing protest - if you have a problem say something

As i neared the middle of the park where the 4 paths create a X-roads there were the same Yo-Yo kids performing their show, so i thought what a perfect opportunity to capture people. This capture is great, just as he throw the yo-yo out i fired the same and you can see just how close these guys were throwing them out into the crowd, i love the look on the girls faces.

I caught sight of an old man who had made his way to the front, he squatted down as not to spoil the view for people behind but as he seamed to watch on i noticed a look in his eye which was just a blank stare. Something must have effected him as to blank out when so much movement and action was happening around him. He seamed like he was homeless so many his worries were effecting him

dog pulls owner to pizza :) this reminded me of home

child sleeps as night draws in on the park

as i was leaving the park crowds gathered and police were controlling the flow of people, i was really interested in what was going and as i was in no rush i decided to hang around to find out. I tired to ask a police man but he spoke little English and my Japanese was too bad to understand him which was a shame. Later i asked a friend i met online who it was and she told me it was Empress Michiko, which is something akin to the Queen of England. I was so lucky to see her and to thing i haven't even seen my own countries queen.

here is a video i tried to shoot, remembering i was using the leica i had to manual focus the whole time which was a pain in the arse but i was able to create a nice ending effect.

portrait artist at work outside Ueno park exit

homeless man eats noodles on the step, look at his finger! eww i only noticed it while editing, but he has a finger growing out of his finger, crazy mutant shit. kinda cool tho i guess its just like having a 6th toe.