A few hours in Nara last spring.

Todai-ji, largest wooden building in the world.

Last spring I spent a few hours in Nara, the capital of Japan over 1300 years ago and the home to many priceless temples and shrines.  On this visit, I took a stroll through Deer Park and it’s adjacent temple, the Todai-Ji.  This temple is a World Heritage Site and offers an opportunity to view the Daibutsu housed inside.  This Buddha was cast over 1300 hundred years ago although some parts were recast due to damage several hundred years ago.  However, having been here several times, I was more interested in capturing images of people and deer.

By the way, if you visit Deer Park, be very careful as they have been known to attack people on occasion.  And they can be agressive if you offer them food.

Photos taken with a Nikon D700 with Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 zoom lens and Nikon D300s with Nikkor 70-200mm VRII zoom lens.

 

Don't get too close.

 

 

 

Deer food.

 

 

Sip of water.

 

 

Children with packs.

 

 

Taking a break.

 

Shooting the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok with a 14-24mm wide angle lens.

First sight when entering the temple

The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho is a very difficult subject to shoot, mainly because of its length, the closeness to the figure itself and the large columns that support the roof.  You end up having to shoot head first, feet first or between the columns.  Because of the limited vantage points, a wide angle lens gives you enough “room” to capture the entire image.  However, I think the best shots are of the detailed areas of the Buddha and not necessarily the entire figure. The wide angle also affords a better view of some of  the intricate detailing on the ceiling and support columns.

Photos were captured with a Nikon D700 and 14-24mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

Straight up

Between the columns

Lengthwise

Two pillows high

Casting of bronze Buddhas in northern Thailand

Unfinished bronze Buddha

In the northern Thailand city of Phitsanulok is the Buranathai Buddha Foundry.  This foundry is renown throughout Thailand for its casting of the Phra Buddha Chinnarat style Buddha.  The original is located in the Temple Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat which is also located in Phitsanulok.  This temple dates back to 1357AD.

If you find yourself in Phitsanulok visiting the temple or at nearby Sukhothai, it’s worth your while to visit the foundry.  You are allowed to walk the grounds and watch the artisans at work.  There is staff that will explain (also in English) the different processes, including the lost wax casting technique,  employed in the fabricating of a Buddha.

The main workshop

Even more

Oxide coating

Hard at work

Almost finished

Roaming Thailand – the most beautiful Buddha in the world

Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat

In the northern Thai city of Phitsanulok is a temple that houses an image of  Buddha that is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, commonly known as Wat Yai, is home to a golden sculture of the Buddha,  Phra Buddha Chinnarat. The temple was established in 1357 AD and reflects the design and motif of  the Sukhothai period.

There is a direct daily  flight from Bangkok to Phitsanulok.  The flight time is about 30 minutes.

Phitsanulok is a great jumping off point for a trip to the Sukhothai Historical Park,  a World Heritage Site.  Sukhothai is approximately 60 kilometers south of Phitsanulok and is highly recommended.

Phra Buddha Chinnarat

Solitary walk

Following gaze

Bliss

Great Buddha Of Kamakura

While in Japan a couple a weeks ago, we went down to Kamakura to the Kotoku-in Buddhist temple.  It is known for its Buddha statute that was built in 1252 AD.  Originally it was housed in a temple.  However in 1498, a tsunami destroyed the temple but left the statute standing.  This fact is amazing since the temple is on a slight incline about 5 km from the ocean.

Check it out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtoku-in .

Amita Buddha at Kamakura