essays and collections of photos with a theme or intent behind the assortment –more a dossier or exhibit – not to be confused with snaps and notes
Shinto wedding vow, read by Dave and Ryoko in unison at Munetade Jinjya (shrine), April 20, 2019 (Heisei 31)
Phoneticized from Japanese (for Dave’s convenience) by Ryoko (Fujita) Olson.
Note: additional hand-written copy provided for shrine for convenience of any future non-Japanese literate marriage candidates.
Importantly transported, rolled and protected by cat. Socks and sandals optional
Guests were also encouraged to take a snap with 1 of 3 instant camera to stick into a guestbook along with a signature with a paint penFrom the wedding bonus ceremony and party at Rural Caprine Farm on April 21, 2019 (Heisei 31) comes a variety of snaps created with a Pentax point and shoot with 35mm film about 25 years old. Note “panorama” layout on some photos and LED date snap (obv not accurate) showing some erstwhile vintage-ness.
Along with these 35mm snaps, the wedding party guests were encouraged to pick up one of several Fuji (not Poloroid) insta-photo camera to document their experience – Lee and Emily and others also kept these devices clicking.
Thanks to photographer Kris Krüg and artist Emily Olson for curation of gear and keeping the snaps snapping. Prints were scanned with results presented without distinct order curation but with some minor colour correction/enhancing.
Dashing Yuasa-san, part 1
Dashing Yuasa-san, part 2
Niece Emily and my brother James mugging, part 1
Niece Emily and my brother James mugging, part 2
Sharp Shimizu-san being sharp, part 1
Sharp Shimizu-san being sharp, part 2
Sharp Shimizu-san being sharp, part 3
Lovely Reira Kobayashi and baby representing the 3rd and 4th generations of Kobayashi family on site 
Happy Chris Maxwell down from Tokyo (and elsewhere)
Brother Andrew Olson (wearing our ‘team” shirt) via Las Vegas
Son of Vancouver distiller James Lester came with spirits of several types
“Uncle” Duane and my bodyguard Sousuke-kun
Happy Groom (me!) Dave, resplendent with beard and smiles
Bride Ryoko and Groom Dave enjoying the moment and going with the flow
Brother Andrew getting a bit goofy
Jen “the Jenneral” Harvey, master ringleader
Two remarkables: Leah Gregg and Lindsay Bailey having all the fun
Lindsay and Leah keeping the party rolling (hard to imagine they weren’t already lifelong pals)
Tip: Enjoy more collections of photos from shrine, party etc via various photographic mediums in this archive.
Variety of photographic documentation tools used at the Goat Farm wedding party, April 21, 2019 (Heisei 31)From the wedding bonus ceremony and party at Rural Caprine Farm on April 21 2019 (Heisei 31) comes a variety of snaps created with a Pentax point and shoot with 35mm film about 25 years old. Note “panorama” layout on some photos and LED date snap (obv not accurate) showing some erstwhile vintage-ness.
Along with these 35mm snaps, the wedding party guests were encouraged to pick up one of several Fuji (not Poloroid) insta-photo camera to document their experience – Lee and Emily and others also kept these devices clicking.
Thanks to photographer Kris Krüg and artist Emily Olson for curation of gear and keeping the snaps snapping. Prints were scanned with results presented without distinct order curation but with some minor colour correction/enhancing.
Ring-bearer and goat friend, Lee Olson
Mr. Kobayashi displays piglets ready for slow spit roasting
Groom Dave’s bearded jaw, suitcase for envelopes, bamboo drinking vessel etc.
Continue reading Goat Farm Party 35mm Film photos, vol. 1 / Dave + Ryoko 4-21 Kekkon-shiki
(Written by Dave Olson with Neal Cropper)
<Neal> Dear assembled beautiful people, We come together today from all over the world, bridging countries and cultures, to witness the next chapter in an ongoing Okayama love story.
Indeed it was here at this lovely farm that Ryoko and Dave first met. Like all true love, there’s is a completely unique story / this Okayama love story features a drifting painter slash poet and a sunny arborist slash jazz singer finding each other at a friend’s farm at the exact moment that they were both ready to begin this new life.
Since then, the relationship has flourished into one of mutual respect, shared interest, many laughs, and sparking more love each day. Love stories are all different, but the great ones always share a foundation of working together with common interests and passions. In this case, a mutual love of art, music, nature, creativity, compassion, living slow and simple, and building a community of friends.
Continue reading Wedding Speech / Dave + Ryoko 4-20 Kekkon-shiki
Phoneticized from Japanese by Ryoko (Fujita) Olson Note: copy provided for shrine for convenience of any future non-Japanese literate marriage candidates.
Continue reading Shinto Wedding Vow / Dave + Ryoko 4-20 Kekkon-shiki
Hello to the people in the future,
What follows are public telephones created in a time when phones did not roam freely and in pockets.
To make a call, one would either enter a specially-created booth (or box), or simply stand close by as the receivers were tethered to the phone unit by a short cord, then insert a variety of coins depending on the location called (local, domestic or international) or in some cases, use a purpose-made phone card, or even a credit card (though doing so often exposed one to fraudulent actors).
Perhaps you have already imagined the unsanitary nature of sharing a phone handset (placed next/close to ear and mouth of course) with strangers – though perhaps this increased “herd immunity” despite being rather unpleasant. Note that oftentimes the coin return slots were checked for forgotten change but the miner was surprised to find discarded chewing gum, or even-less-savoury items, instead.
This gallery is primarily Japan phone – both current working payphones, hotel house phones, house landlines, antique non-working artifacts and one from Indonesia, captured “in the wild”.
Additional volumes of similar collections provide additional examples – both international and domestic (to Canada / USA), as well as additional examples of hotel “house” phones. Continue reading Collection: Payphones (vol. 6) – assorted varieties / Japan, etc.
What follow is documentation of the Honorary Canadian Consulate in Osaka, located basically in the parking lot of a pre-cut wood shop with lumber imported from BC.
Observed, various:
Getting ready to head to Japan requires the appropriate toe decor, in this case, a tribute to the end of the Heisei era with a post-imperial period flag of Nihon/Nippon.
One of the fun things (as it turns out) about putting on a wedding, is all the different outfits. In this case, i’ll need 4-ish outfits throughout the 3 days of activities. Not to be limited in style, i assembled various snippets of inspiration – from poets to fictional agents to military troops – to create looks for the various bits.
In brief:
What follows are various screencaps, photos and etcetera for inspiration and examples. Eventually we’ll all see how these various components come together for various guises.
Note: No photo/link provided as these were simply harvested in the wild and used for enjoyment, educational purposes. Need a link? Send a note.
Continue reading Outfit Inspiration / Dave + Ryoko 4-20 Kekkon-shiki
While i started enjoying haircuts when i found a barber shop which also offered libations, good tunes, pinball and the like,… since “the illness” I made a list of things I can do which involves sitting down, but gets me out of the house, and leaves me with a feeling of satisfaction.
These include: making scrapbooks, seeing matinée movies, sitting in parks under a tree, getting my beard professionally trimmed (rather than chopping at it myself) plus trim up the haircut,… as well as pedicures documented elsewhere.
This assortment features a few barbers in Indonesia and Japan.
While rambling, i like to seek out the hole-in-the-wall, no fuss, traditional barbers and enjoy a leisurely visit. Its hit or miss sometimes but ya know, hair grows back right?
Sometimes, not always, i grab a snap with the barber or the shop or me before and after… sometimes i don’t so you won’t see those. Oh sometimes i recall names and/or locations, this is not meant to be comprehensive, just amusing and vaguely documentary.
