Hopes

Posted by GJC (Kyoto, Japan) on 17 March 2008 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

drphoto from Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Wow! Beautifully shot. All your images have a wonderful softness and subtelty to them. I would love to know your secrets!

Dan

17 Mar 2008 1:23am

Rhys from Darlington, United Kingdom

I like this. I am intrigued by what these wooden boards are and what they say. I think the fact that I dont know what they are or what they say adds to the enigma.

17 Mar 2008 1:35am

Ron from Saint Louis, United States

This image is so beautifully filled with emotion and sentiment. I am imagining that these are the handwritten hopes (and dreams) of the people who have visited the temple. Such a powerful statement about the ritual nature of human spirituality.

17 Mar 2008 4:50am

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

oh wow, priceless!

17 Mar 2008 5:30am

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Wow they are so many... I though that the old ones were taken out but I can read the year 2006. A beautiful light on tose tablets.

17 Mar 2008 6:15am

TILALA from bordeaux, France

A poetic shot with beautiful light!

17 Mar 2008 8:18am

Teresa Durães from Montijo, Portugal

beautifull shot! Great moment you have here

17 Mar 2008 8:46am

Daroru from Amagasaki, Japan

I've never seen them piled up like that!

17 Mar 2008 8:58am

Melissa from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

You have such an amazing eye...you have truly been blessed with an amazing gift. I'm in awe with your ability to capture the light in your images. Your work is very inspiring and I always look forward to your posts. Another beautiful image. Very well done.

17 Mar 2008 10:41am

pLusOne from Cheonan, South Korea

nice image with the warm light, and the shadow.
And I like the colour, too.

17 Mar 2008 10:54am

Howard F. from South Pasadena, Calif., United States

Many many wishes. I like it because it shows the side of life on the other side of the world. Plus the warm color of the wooden tablets. Good shot.

17 Mar 2008 11:23am

Tracey from Baltimore, United States

The title intrigues me, especially since I can't read the writing. I guess it goes to show that humans are more alike than different, no matter where we live. We all have hopes...

17 Mar 2008 1:31pm

Illuci from Hurdegaryp, Netherlands

Writing down a hope and hanging it like this on a sacrosanct place, often will work as a self-fulfilling prophecy and encourage people to get it realized or have peace with pain that cannot be (totally) cured. I wish we had here something like this. Thanks for sharing this picture, GJC!

17 Mar 2008 3:56pm

standley from brou-sur-chantereine, France

Wonderful capture. There are so many wishes here!

17 Mar 2008 4:04pm

Ian Bramham from Manchester, United Kingdom

The colours and tones in your photos are always a delight!.....when added to your great sense of balance in a photo they are a joy to view!

17 Mar 2008 5:46pm

farmermarn from Baltimore, United States

Can you explain what these are?

17 Mar 2008 7:44pm

@farmermarn: Thanks to all who wrote. These are called ema (絵馬) and are used at temples and shrines to write down wishes. The ones here are mostly written by those hoping for a healthy and happy baby.