Cloudy Days - This is Paradise

I love clouds! When you combined them with blue sky and strong wind we get spectacular back drops to what would normally be boring mundane objects.

All week long I've been walking around Yokohama with my Sigma Sd Quattro H camera and the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG lens  enjoying the scenery.

Not only are the cloudy blue skies incredible, the sunshine has been quite intense.

Normally the sky would be a dull white/grey color, this looks like something that one would only see in an oil painting.

The intense sunshine gives everything a sort of cinematic look.

Fellow pedestrians.

Wind gusts are a bit of a problem for people wearing a hat.

Fields of clover.

People are dwarfed by tall buildings. Tall buildings are no match for the clouds above them.

One can tune out other people with an iPod and some ear plugs but one can't tune out the wind.

People on a sunny day.

Using her 5 finger wind barometer to asses the weather.

Time for some people pictures!

Sometimes I sit on a bench and let the people come to me.

Nihon Odori boulevard is a great place for sitting in the shade and watching the world go by.

Smiling is good for the soul.

It's always a nice view from Osanbashi pier.

More fellow pedestrians.

The future of Japan.

You know what they say, "polka dots will never go out of fashion".

I'm a big fan of the slightly out-of-focus look.

Out-of-focus is not appreciated by everyone but I think it adds a little something to certain scenes that forces the viewer to look a little longer and think a little deeper about the story (or possible story) unfolding in front of their eyes.

Of course my wife would say that that's all rubbish and that I'm making excuses for my bad photography.

I wonder what she thinks.

Nice pearl.

Another day of strong winds and blue skies.

It's hard to tell but Sakuragicho train station is on the right side of this picture.

The Cosmo Clock 21 Farris wheel. I rode it once - I'm afraid of heights - I was... uncomfortable.
This wheel is so big, goes so high, I think I should have been given flight pay for the time I was up there.

The clouds are a little thinner today.

The Japanese Coast Guard doing a little training. The object dangling under the helicopter is a man.

yes, the clouds are wispy today.

Street portraits: A construction site security guard taking is job seriously. The word retirement is not in his vocabulary.

Deep thoughts? Or, just looking down at her iPhone?

Strong wind and sunshine will not slow her down.

Last shot of the week: This time it is deep thought.

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike



Bonus shots!