Riz Crescini » Landscape http://rizcrescini.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 18 May 2012 07:00:47 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Image of the Day: Nogata, Japan http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-nogata-japan/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-nogata-japan/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:31:16 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1565 Happy Friday, everyone!  Japan is getting ready for “koinobori“.  This is the most wind socks I have ever seen in all my years in Japan.  Enjoy!

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-nogata-japan/feed/ 0 Image of the Day http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-2/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-2/#comments Sat, 07 Apr 2012 00:04:56 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1548 It’s cherry blossom season in Japan and you knew I’d post an image about it sooner or later.  Enjoy the quote and enjoy God’s creation!

Awake, thou wintry earth -
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, “An Easter Hymn”

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/04/image-of-the-day-2/feed/ 0 A Ship in Harbor… http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/01/1490/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/01/1490/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:48:30 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1490 “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” ~John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic (1928)

We are made to experience life and all it has to offer and not stay safely at home.  Mark Twain said it best:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed
by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.“

Use your God-given gifts and talents to serve your family, friends and community.  Don’t be afraid to take risks and dream big in 2012!!

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2012/01/1490/feed/ 0 Hiking Up Mt. Sarakura: Yahatahigashi, Japan http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/07/hiking-up-mt-sarakura-yahatahigashi-japan/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/07/hiking-up-mt-sarakura-yahatahigashi-japan/#comments Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:53:47 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1333 Anne and I went on a hiking date up a  mountain know for its gorgeous views of our city.  The mountain (Mt. Sarakura) is not too far from our house, about a 20 minute drive.  You can even see the mountain from our neighborhood.  Anne and I had a great time hiking and exploring.  The last time we did a hike like this together was when we lived in Kobe in the late 90′s.  It was so fun that we agreed to do more hiking dates in the near future.  As Anne shared yesterday, “You get exercise, photography, and each other all in one shot!”  I couldn’t agree more!

Anne loves to climb!

 

This part makes me think of Narnia or Lord of the Rings.

 

My climbing buddy!

 

Here's our ride back!

And for lunch: Turkey kebab at a new joint in town! It was soooo good!

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/07/hiking-up-mt-sarakura-yahatahigashi-japan/feed/ 0 Spring Time in Kitakyushu http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/05/spring-time-in-kitakyushu/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/05/spring-time-in-kitakyushu/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 20:14:34 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1228

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/05/spring-time-in-kitakyushu/feed/ 0 Signs of Life: Yard Photos http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/04/signs-of-life-yard-photos/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/04/signs-of-life-yard-photos/#comments Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:18:14 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1160 Just a little over a week ago, I was in Tohoku, Japan as part of a media team for a non-profit organization, Churches Helping Churches.  A detailed post of my time up north is on its way.  I’m still reflecting on the tragedy that has come upon northern Japan and the rebuilding that must take place in the cities and in people’s lives.

One of the things brought home to me as I was taking pictures of the destruction before me is that for all man’s creativity and ingenuity, we build things that won’t last.  We might know this in our heads but on a daily basis, we lead lives that come perilously close to delusional.  Why?  Because we think our lives are somehow invincible.  We take so much comfort from our possessions.  We work hard on things that truly aren’t meaningful.  The tragedy in northern Japan has taught me that life is beautiful but it is short and fragile.  I should correct myself to say that life CAN be beautiful if we live it in a way that give value to others rather than hopelessly trying to attain meaning from possessions.

The blooming of flowers during springtime are a gentle reminder to me of this reflection: we have an incredibly short amount of time in which we can display the beauty that God has intended for our lives.  We need to take a hard look at our lives. Are we living it for others or for things?

 

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/04/signs-of-life-yard-photos/feed/ 0 It’s a Macro Kind of Day http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/its-a-macro-kind-of-day/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/its-a-macro-kind-of-day/#comments Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:23:23 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=1067

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/its-a-macro-kind-of-day/feed/ 0 Yokohama Scene http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/yokohama-minato-mirai-scene/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/yokohama-minato-mirai-scene/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:38:09 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=990 Yesterday we explored Yokohama, the capital city of Kanagawa prefecture.  Specifically, we went to Minato Mirai 21.  This is Yokohama’s new city center.  Japan’s tallest building, the Landmark Tower, is located in this area.  The night scene was so spectacular!  We can’t wait to go back in the near future and explore more of this beautiful place.

Queen's Square

Minato Mirai at night.

Cosmo World Ferris Wheel

This former shipyard is now part of the shopping complex.

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/yokohama-minato-mirai-scene/feed/ 0 Picture of the Day http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/picture-of-the-day/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/picture-of-the-day/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 23:01:31 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=979 My first image of 2011 is the courtyard of the Lazona Kawasaki Plaza.  This is a huge shopping area with over 300 shops!  We had a New Year’s Day lunch at a buffet restaurant called The Oven.  The Oven is easily one of my favorite buffet restaurants, in both Japan and America.  Note the taiko drum performance at ground level.

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2011/01/picture-of-the-day/feed/ 0 Minimalist Photography from the Great Wall http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2010/11/minimalist-photography-from-the-great-wall/ http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2010/11/minimalist-photography-from-the-great-wall/#comments Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:08:42 +0000 Riz Crescini http://rizcrescini.com/blog/?p=897 Before my trip to China, I read this article on minimalist photography and I was blown away by the powerful simplicity of the images.  Here’s the link to the article: http://bit.ly/aopfKc

So here’s my attempt on minimalist photography.  This was taken from the Great Wall.  What do you think?

]]> http://rizcrescini.com/blog/2010/11/minimalist-photography-from-the-great-wall/feed/ 0