Taigakai Iaido Taikai @ Dartford, UK Sep 18, 2004
01.
For those who have been here before for kendo - this is the same
venue of the Bowden's + Premire's Cup in 2001 and 2002. Shimpukan Dartford.
Getting to a taikai by public transportation is proven to be a bad idea
- I get inside the last minute due to some bus + train delays, with the
rain and everything...the night before I was in Brighton hosting my graduation
exhibition.
I know very well what Iaido I can do when my mind is just not 100% focus.
This day I wasn't even at 80% (just how focus can you be with a hangover..!)
02.
Back to the photos -- I am using a digital camera + Photoshop to
simulate the B&W effects I can get on film. I really like the B&W
Iaido photos I had before. Unfortunately I do not have the facilities
to process and print B&W at college anymore.
Nevertheless this photojournal is more of an experiment in Photoshop.
With the colour mode switching from RGB to Greyscale, adjusting brightness
and contrast, and applying a little bit of noise filter. These and the
artificial square framing I am making. I always want to shoot with a medium
format camera.
03.
This is a small-scale competition. So small that some of the divisions
have to be combined as follow: mudan, shodan, ni-sandan, and yon-godan.
Together there were about 25 or less competitors. (A little bit too quiet...)
This photo is from the yon-godan division, with only 3 people competing.
In my division (Mudan) there were only 6-8 people. I did 1-2, 2-1 and
came 2nd in my pool, but lost out on the Semis again. That piece of bronze
I have was from "3rd place play-off". Getting 4 fights with
such a small number of participants is not too bad afterall (despites
my below-average performance).
04.
If you remember the comment I made about Iaido people only wears
black and white... Maybe that's why Iaido photos in B&W look so good!
Besides, the shiny blades everyone is holding add something extra to it.
I planned to have these photos in B&W before I shoot them, so I am
very aware of what looks good on the picture.
A lot of photos are with Oonishi (pictured in white)... Because a) his
uniform stands out; and b) his Iaido stands out!! He is from Doshisha
University, and he came 2nd in the Individuals at the last All-Japan University
Iaido Taikai, and won 1st the year before..(HOLY...!!!!)
05.
Movement & Stillness (1 of 2)