Currently, I am on Japan most Northern Island leading a private Hokkaido Autumn photography workshop.   In the coming days we will visit the blue pond, various streams, river systems and other bodies of water.  And of course we will spend a night or two in Hakodate, and enjoy its world famous milky white healing onsen (shot springs bath.)  Over ninety nine percent of photographers visit Hokkaido this time of year to photograph autumn colored themes, including landscapes, wildlife, people, trees with leaves on them, fields of stunning autumn colors.  My wife Manami and my long time client and his wife have joined us, and on day one, both wives were shaking their heads at us, until they saw our photography.  And we explained in more detail our theme, which we did not on our departure.  Our theme is minimalist autumn leaves abstracts in flowing water, we are especially seeking out the world famous Japanese maple trees, in reds, yellows, oranges, and the rare pink and purple Japanese maple tree. And next week we will return to my home studio office, and we will start printing huge prints, with various papers.  Attached to this newsletter was my favorite shot from yesterday.  My settings were ISO 32, f/32, 2/min, plus I am using up to 5 extension tubes.   On my upcoming Essence of Autumn Japan photography workshop tour, I might explain briefly autumn leaves abstracts swirling around in water, if we come across a good example.  I know it sounds like easy shooting, but it can be time consuming and most images are a bust!   But I can not resist my desire and love for painting with light, and in my youth I enjoyed holding a paintbrush in an attempt to create the perfect abstract brushstrokes but found it difficult, but to this day, I still hold a paintbrush from time to time.  And “the one thing,” “that has always kept me in check,” and is hardwired into me from my birth mother and Mother Earth, is the beginners mind!  And now I am starting to learn how to paint the perfect brushstrokes, with camera and light. 

“In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few. ” D.T. Suzuki, Zen Master.