Travel « Hayden James Photography

October 8, 2009

The true test- My first photo contest

I’ll be entering three of the following images into a photography contest. This will be my first entrance into one. If I win I get $2,000 and a Nikon D90! If I lose…Well that’s not gonna happen. No matter what this is a win, I get recognition and experience in contests. Please let me know what your favorites are and enjoy!

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Let me know which ones you think are winners! and wish me luck- I don’t own my own camera yet, it would be more convenient if I did. Thanks =)

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July 23, 2009

Never too Late

These are some older photos from a trip I took in February of 2008 to Japan. Our group visited Osaka, Kyoto, Hakone, and Tokyo. The trip was an incredible experience due to our tour guides help and accommodation as well as our ability to free roam for much of our time spend there.

by Hayden James

I love Japanese history and culture as much as I love photography. It is my intent to get a degree in east Asian history and culture with a concentration in Japanese feudalism. I hope to teach ESL there in my post-college career while I work as a correspondent and photojournalist. I was elated when I first heard that much of our time spent in Japan would be in museums and at historic landmarks. One of my favorites was visiting Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s Osaka Castle. A historic landmark that hosted many of the most influential battles in Japanese history. Hideyoshi is considered one of four people who brought Japan out of feudalism.

Osaka Castle

Hideyoshi was a commoner that rose through the ranks of Japanese society by being a renowned soldier and general under Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga almost completely claimed all of Japan but was assassinated before his goal of reunification was accomplished. Hideyoshi was his successor but also failed to complete reunification. Hideyoshi’s son Hideyori. (names are reversed in Japanese society, the surname comes first.)

Golden Pavillion

The Golden Pavillion is also another of Hideyoshi’s accomplishments. The figures on the sides of the building are whales, inaccurate images of whales but what they were. They were placed on the rooftops of pagodas (made of wood, and very flammable) to ward off fire.

While we visited the Golden Pavilion and the shrines there it snowed. Supposedly the first time in 12 years where we were. Everyone came out and had umbrellas and was praying and witnessing the weather.

Kyoto in Snow

Thanks for reading this. More to come as I dig out the photos and update this post!

July 17, 2009

On a Mission in Mexico…

Below is a picture of a horned lizard .I found it accidentally as I was taking a break to tie my boots up. A young boy who was walking past was warning me in Spanish, which I don’t speak, but I got the idea from the hand signals he was giving me that the little creature could spit at me. I tried to warn the others not to get to close and they listened. A few Mexican girls were able to pick it up, it didn’t try to run which was strange, it may have been pregnant. Anyway no one was spit at so I wasn’t sure if I had understood the boy completely so when I arrived back at home I checked it out. Turns out when they are frightened the little horned lizard is able to squirt blood from its eyes, up to a few feet, which would have freaked some people out. I’m glad that when I took this shot it wasn’t feeling to shy; I was definitely in range.

By Hayden James

A young orphan boy in Juarez, Mexico cools off in the shade as he takes a break from building a cement wall. The wall, which is to surround the orphanage, must be completed by the end of the month or Mexican social services will shut it down. Most children, get very little schooling if any at all. Many impoverished families live in small one room, dirt-floor homes constructed with whatever materials are available. Children of these poor families are often abused, or abandoned and many end up on the streets doing drugs and selling drugs as cholos, kids involved with gangs; quite a few children end up dead from drug or gang related activity.

Hector Murguia is a Mexican politician campainging for governor of Chihuahua. He is allegedly connected to some less then reputable people involved in the drug cartels that are currently causing mayhem.
With Juarez as a major battleground for the ongoing drug war, his campaign only adds tension to an already taunt political situation.

By Hayden James

These are a few of my photos from a recent trip to Mexico. Even amidst the ongoing drug war, the H1N1 scare and searing heat, beauty can be found. Please let me know what you think and check out more photos like these @ picasaweb.google.com/hjamesphotos.

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Hayden James Photography

Category: Travel