The Joys of being Surprised

The place looked straight out of a fairytale book.

I walked down the gently sloping path from the ticket counter. Slowly. I looked around me. I was taking the place in.

There was a building on my left, the famous ryokan, I suspected. It stood, burdened by thick dollops of snow that covered every flat or sloping surface. Thick snow covered almost everything around it, save a few narrow pathways and some vertical surfaces. There was a narrow stream of water that flowed below where I stood, the rocky land around it, once again bathed in white. When I looked upwards, there were fir covered mountain slopes all around me, its dark leaves sullen under the joyful weight of the snow on them.

I was not keen on coming here.

I had gently suggested that we drop this place from the itinerary.

I expected it to be a boring place. Over crowded. Not much action or interaction to photograph. A place where the novelty factor might wear off really quickly.

*****

It was beautiful. People hurry around me, many of them are not wearing crampons or even the right footwear for this place and are being extra careful not to slip. I  see the famous onsen a little ahead. A tiny bath, people milling around it.

As I reach closer, I put my camera bag down in what I hope would be a safe corner. I take the camera and lens I have decided on, and walk around trying to find a gap I can shoot through, or squeeze through. I will need to wait.

Maybe, going down those few steps might be the right thing.

I will be at eye level to the monkeys inside the onsen.

But…there are so many people.

*****

I was at Jigokudani. The Snow Monkey Park.

We had reached there with about an hour or so before it closed for the day.

Decades ago, in the middle of the freezing winter months, a young owner of a ryokan ( Japanese guesthouse ) threw a half eaten apple and it fell into a nearby onsen. A macaque struggling with hunger pangs that come up during the harsh, cold months saw this act and jumped into the onsen to pick up the apple.

Realization struck. The hot water could be a welcome refuge during the cold winters.

Soon, the onsen was declared for the macaques alone and humans were barred from using it and in recent times has become a huge tourist attraction.

*****

Ah, there is a gap there. I slip through it. I am next to the onsens right now. The monkeys just a little in front of me.

They are completely ignoring everyone. This guy has his eyes closed and is looking as if he is in deep meditation.

Look at that other one who is resting his head on a slab of rock.

Its starting to snow now. Lovely. That should make for some pretty pictures.

This place does have possibilities for making interesting images.

Tomorrow will be fun.

*****

Most of the photos I have seen seemed very similar to each other. Monkeys sitting in water with steam rising up and often with snow falling, their hair both wet and stiff in the cold. Looked arresting…but, oh so boringly similar.

Same angle. Same water. Same monkeys.

What on earth can one do here beyond a couple of hours at max ???

*****

It’s such fun to see those two monkey kids in the water. Are they fighting ? Are they kissing each other ? How adorable they look !

I look around and see up in the slopes, a couple of monkeys digging in the snow for food. How nimble their fingers are. Can I use this block of snow in front of me to create an interesting foreground ?

Awww…look at that kid, looking so tentative, shivering in the cold and needing to hold on to that rock for support. Can I capture that nervousness ? ( Am I again anthropomorphizing here !!?? )

Suppose I move and look down on the monkeys instead of taking it at eye level. Will that convey a feeling of vulnerability? Hmmm….is it working ?

Let me try to get close ups, will be nice to get some interesting expressions.

Look at those two adults huddled in a corner. They are really holding each other tight in search of warmth. I don’t see their eyes clearly, but there might still be a very interesting image here.

Now a bunch of monkeys on the slope are scampering down the narrow track, sending snow flying all around there. What fun ! Can I try a close up here ? Might get an interesting take.

I notice that the water in the onsen is having very prominent ripples when there is a lot of movement. If I take an extreme slow shutter image would the water show interesting effects ? The monkeys don’t move much so it might work.

Nah…not working. The monkey isn’t coming sharp enough even if its not moving much. I guess, the problem of a handheld shot at such a slow shutter speed. A tripod would have been useful. It was worth a try, though.

Its snowing again. My lens is covered with a light smattering of snow. My fingers are frozen. That kid is cute making the little snowmen, but she is coming smack in the way of a good shot.

Oh man, what a fun place... there are so many opportunities to take different types of images !!

He definitely looks grumpy. I wonder why.

Surprise ? Shock ? Fear ?...and what caused it !

Splash !!!

There are opportunities away from the onsen too. You just need to look around.

The opportunities that snow provides...

Always get the eyes, clear and sharp, they said. What do you think ?

He doesn't look thrilled to see the paparazzi as he makes the turn

Fighting ? Or making up ?

( also an example of trying the slow shutter to get the water movements in a glacial pattern )

The monkey kids are definitely the most adorable of the lot

This adorable tiny one seemed loathe to let go off the rock and walk on his own

I have your back. ( Can you see the wary eye of the one at the back watching you ?)

On another note, I am happy to share that my coffee table book, Whispers from the Wild, has been doing rather well. A lot of you have placed orders for it on Amazon and would have received the book too. Thanks a lot for all your support and for all the nice things that you have had to say about it.

The book is available on Amazon, priced at Rs. 2500/- and this is the link .

Cheers !

Ashok