A Bucket-list Photography Road Trip, Hokkaido, Japan | 北海道フォトグラファー｜ 丹頂, 鶴
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- Опубліковано 4 вер 2024
- It doesn’t get any more memorable than this. Hokkaido is a winter wonderland for photographers, frozen waterfalls, ice floes, hore frost, rime, snowy landscapes, and of course, the wildlife.
I travelled to Tsurui Mura, a small village in the north eastern area of Hokkaido to photograph the iconic red-crowned crane. I captured a 5 out of 5 image for my portfolio, was literally shook from my bed by an earthquake, witnessed the most beautiful sunrise I’ve seen, and found inspiration from a new friend. Join me on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
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#wildlifephotography #birdphotography #landscapephotography #landscapephotographer #travelphotography #japanphotography #canonphotography #hokkaido
Gear matters not Sean and most people don’t care what you have. Your prize shot of the two dancing cranes in the snow gave me goosebumps. That’s when gear doesn’t matter…i feel that the reaction of the viewer is how you measure yourself as a photographer. I started my journey as a wildlife photographer and those cranes have been on my to see list for over 30 years. Great story telling as always and so glad to hear your ok after your near miss with Mother Nature.
You made my day Simon. Thank you for such a supportive and uplifting message. I couldn’t believe that I had taken that image until I got it on my desktop. I was sure it was going to be blurry. Happily, I got it.
I hope you can make here and tick one off the bucket list. Should I expect you next winter? 🤔
@@shaunkeenanphoto I’d be thrilled with that shot Shaun. Sadly I won’t be making it over there for some time. I couldn’t bring myself to tear myself away from my little dog for that long.
Your video made Guts bark at the TV with the emergency beeps!! I used to love taking my camera everywhere.
I’m surprised it wasn’t the cranes that got him to bark. 😂 You’ve got an eye for it. You should start shooting again.
Incredible captures, Shaun!! Absolutely right.....do it for the love of it, because you love it and it doesn't matter what others think.
Hey Bob, thanks so much. It was an incredible experience and a trip that taught me many lessons. I can’t think of a better way to spend the day. All the best!
You had a fruitful and eventful adventure with some beautiful images Shaun! I'd never heard of these cranes before, and was fascinated to see their graceful dance and learn that they breed in winter! You captured them really well. I really enjoyed the images of the 2 cranes intertwined and 3 cranes moving in tandem - very harmonious and poetic!
As for your gear, it is most definitely just your tool and means very little if one doesn't learn to take a photo well! Sorry to hear that you felt some anxiety about it - I think most photographers don't care or are quite respectful of what others choose to use. Hopefully, those giving you grief are a very tiny minority and not worth your energy. I think for the majority of photographers, their love and passion for it stems from all the wonderful health and well being benefits that photography offers. Those in it for fame and glory need a reality check and really need to look for a different hobby or profession 😅 Have a great week ahead 👍
Hey Valerie, I was real happy to have captured the images that I did. I’m glad to hear they resonated with you. I was able to quickly slide a few of them into an exhibition I was doing in Sapporo at last minute, which was great.
It was actually a bit early for the cranes to mate. Now, about one month after my trip, is more their breeding season. Another photographer I was talking too said he’d been to photograph the cranes many times and it was his first time encountering a mating pair. Lady Luck was on my side!
Agreed. The joy of exploring nature and discovering all of the beauty there is surrounding us supersedes the photography. Being able to share that through photography is icing on the cake. I’m learning to block out any naysayers.
Great video. Very enjoyable. Thanks
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it, Daniel.
Look at you living my dream
Ha! It’s a good dream... thank you for sharing. Come and join the fun. I’m happy to share back.
Great pictures!
What a place.
Thanks Peter! Have you been there yourself?
@@shaunkeenanphoto I visited Japan several times (short business trips to the Osaka and Tokyo area, none more than two nights 😞)
I never visited Hokkaido, but I would love to do. The last cranes I observed were here in Germany, much more shy than those on Hokkaido.
I'm born in Munich, which held the 1972 Olympics together with Sapporo which made those two cities sister cities.
So, am I even half at home on Hokkaido? ;-)
@@peterebel7899 Tokyo and Osaka are wonderful places to visit, but Hokkaido is where my heart is.
I’ve yet to visit Europe. My 20 years living outside of the US have all been in Asia/Australia. I would love to visit Germany one day. We have several places around Sapporo highlighting Munich as a sister city. There’s a bridge near where I live called the Müchen Brücke. 😀
I hope you can visit Hokkaido to see the cranes someday. They are very used to people and photographing them is relatively easy.
@@shaunkeenanphoto At least in Tokyo I took one night free for nightscape shooting.
I would have loved to have more time, but never say never ....
Oh, I missed to mention one trip to the Japanese West coast, very different!
But I think my favorite of all to be Hokkaido I like culture, but nothing beats landscape, best with mountains and snow.
Absolutely stunning Shaun. I honestly can’t choose a favorite photo so I’d like to order a copy of each 😉
Correct answer! One of each coming up. 😂 Thanks Lina!
My favorite photo of the crane!
The thumbnail? I do quite like it myself. 😂
Oswin loves this video so much and he watched it many times. He said all the pictures are soooo beautiful.😃👍
😂 Thank you Oswin!! Those cranes are so beautiful. I can’t stop watching it too! 😂
Amazing shots, both still and moving, Shaun! I get the gear anxiety thing too. We just have to focus on (pun intended) what we love.
Thanks Ethan! I think proved to myself this trip that I can get a good shot despite not having the best gear and that I can get the most out of what I do have.
Glad you enjoyed the episode. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great photos and it’s really nice you added words of encouragement for enthusiasts like me. Chanced upon your video while doing research. Looking forward to my trip in February 2025!
Thank you so much! That’s great to hear you are coming to Hokkaido. Is your main purpose of travel for photography? I hope my other videos can give you some input and inspiration for locations, but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me either through Instagram or my website.
Wonderful images. You really captured them beautifully. The cranes are definitely on my bucket list too!
Thank you! 🙏 it is an amazing experience to go there and photograph the cranes. I hope you get the chance to go. You are in Japan right?
Absolutely stunning your photos, me & my wife visited kushiro, we didn’t visit the early morning at the river. Thanks for share .
Thank you Ricardo! It is a beautiful part of the world. If you ever get back there again, I highly recommend going to the river at sunrise. It was more magical than any video could hope to capture.
Beautiful shots. I’d love to shoot some snowy scenes but impossible in my area
Many thanks Glugwurst! Here in Hokkaido it is a long and snowy winter. Although we have four seasons, I dream of warm, sandy beaches. 🏝️
Awesome video, thanks for sharing. Might go there next week. Beautiful story about the gear too. Your photos are great.
Thank you so much! Friday should have some fresh snow, so I hope you can make it around then. It was one year ago that I shot that video. It was a better experience than I could have hoped for.
Currently touring Hokkaido, or do you live here?
@shaunkeenanphoto arriving from Edmonton, Canada on the 28th. Going to Nakashibetsu and Rausu but wanting to visit this crane as well.
@yeisonx excellent! I hope you have a great trip. Since you are in that area, I’d recommend the Notsuke Peninsula. Lots of deer, foxes, and a beautiful sunset.
I was looking at the background to see if I was there too lol. Fingers crossed for similar condition next month. I'd be happy with the images you had Shaun well done I am yet to get that!
Were you there around the same time! That would be brilliant if you popped up in the background.
That trip was such a memorable one for me for so many reasons. I’m thrilled you enjoyed the images.All the best for your trip. If you get a really cold day with scattered snow showers, I think that’s perfect weather for photographing the tancho.
@@shaunkeenanphoto I was there 3rd week of February 2023 and going again next month 🙂. This time I will spend 2.5 weeks in Hokkaido had 6 days of landscape for myself. Will be exploring Biei area hopefully Torii gate by the sea, and Ebisu.
@@robinlee7531 yep, you could have been there. I shot the on the 24th and 25th of Feb.
I just shot in Biei over the weekend and got some nice shots.
Your trip is fast approaching. Let me know if you got any questions.
Talk about a photography journey. The cranes. The storm. An earthquake. What a ride. What a fantastic episode. Absolutely well done. And your photographs were stunning. I also found the slideshow at the end very moving and very beautiful.
It was all so unexpected as well, which makes the journey for me more memorable. That element of discovery is the icing on the cake. I wasn’t sure I could surmise all that encompassed this adventure, but I am pretty happy with the results. Thanks Alejandro!
Very beautiful video.. Last year I too was there to shoot the amazing location..
That’s fantastic! Did you have good conditions and capture some shots you are happy with? I was not expecting to enjoy the experience as much as I did.
@@shaunkeenanphoto Indeed, that was amazing experience. me and my tour participants thorough enjoyed the tour and got great images..2024 too I had a plan but unfortunately could not make it.. but 2025will be visiting again. I have seen your images on Instagram they are amazing..
@@kirankeihin Many thanks Kiran! I’ve followed you back on Instagram. I’m glad to hear you and your clients had a great experience. Sorry to hear that you can’t make it this year, but all the best for 2025.