Tawny Mayer

Dunedin.

An overlook view of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. My host parents took Katie and I to see a few of of great spots, including this one. First day here! 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Geosphere.

This was my favorite part of my adventure to the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo with a friend of mine. It was lit with LED lights and would show cloud movements and whatnot, but every once in a while it would show the global effects of natural disasters; such as the shock waves from the earthquake last year and how far they reached. It was really interesting!

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

A display of indigenous flowers to Japan in the National Science Museum in Ueno Park (Tokyo). 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Paths.

This was a photo I took at Ginkaku-ji temple in Kyoto for my final project that I themed “paths.” Unfortunately every time I told people this, they thought I was saying “pads.” 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Asakusa.

I took this on a day trip to Asakusa, the old red light district in Tokyo in the 1800’s. I wandered off the main shopping district with a couple of friends and found this cool ivy covered building and tried to get a decent photo of it.

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Coal Walking

It was a holiday on the day I went to Miyajima, and past Itsukushima (the floating temple) there was loud chanting, drumming and a line of people walking through hot coals. This has highly spiritual relevance; according to Shintoism there are five methods of purification. Fire, incense and salt are three of the five. Each person walking through the coals would step onto a bed of salt, say a small prayer and walk through the fire coals with incense burning around them. At the end of the coals was a small shrine they would bow at and walk off. I sat and watched this for a good 45 minutes.

These are the feet of one of the monks watching over the ritual and helping the young and elderly across the coals. 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Deer! 

During my day adventure to Miyajima (off the cost of Hiroshima) there were tons of people and deer wandering around. The deer were small, cute, and brave! They weren’t afraid of people whatsoever; going up to them and taking a jab at their food or nibbling on their clothes. It was hilarious. 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Hunter.

This was taken outside of Shibuya station in Tokyo. Millions of people go through this station each day and Shibuya is where all of the “young people” tend to hang out. Footage of Tokyo that shows tons and tons of people going through a giant crosswalk is taken right by this location.

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

Olympic National Park.

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011. 

A small lantern that stood out among all the greenery. This was at a small Buddhist temple about 5 minutes away from my apartment in Japan called Seigen-in. 

Taken by Tawny Mayer, 2011.