Here are some photos that I took in Japan this February. I am very happy with how they turned out. These are resized from much larger images. I've stored these on my own webserver, and if they get too much traffic I'm going to have to remove them. Below each photo is an explanation.
Hemiji-jou (Hemeji Castle). One of the most spectacular castles in Japan, listed as a World Heritage Site. It took two hours to climb to the top.
The Kinkakuji (golden pavillion temple) at sunset, Kyoto. I love how this photo captures the reflection in the water.
A group of school girls insist on having their photo taken with me outside Heian Shrine, Kyoto. How could I refuse?
Two views of central Osaka from my 11th story hotel room. They line up perfectly so you can see the difference between day and night.
A picture of jellyfish at Osaka Aquarium. I took several photos of these critters before I got one that turned out the way I wanted it to. Long exposure shots were the go. I had to wait for one in which there wasn't too much movement (i.e. so the jellyfish didn't turn out blurry). Osaka Aquarium is great. The whole theme of the place is how life on Earth developed around the volcanic regions of the Ocean floor. You walk through a kind of maze in a specific order and it takes you around the world to various marine environments. They even have a whale shark in a very large tank!