Rob Oechsle
Member
HEADS UP: The 9th Annual "CANDLE-NIGHT FESTIVAL" on Shioya Bay is this SATURDAY EVENING, June 6th. The Bay, Village Roads, Sea Walls, Sandbars, and all Bridges around the Bay, will be lined with 4,500 - 5,000 CANDLES. It's a pretty cool sight to see. The Events get started in SHIRAHAMA VILLAGE with a 15-minute EISA DANCE, followed by the full-bay candle-lighting at 7 pm.
♦ PHOTOGRAPHY: Although there is a great "golden hour" opportunity to get some nice candlelight scenes that include the twilight sky before it gets dark, I have yet to see a satisfying set of photos from this festival, and NEVER saw a shot of it taken from the MUTABARU LOOKOUT POINT high above the Bay :
♦ PICTURES & PEOPLE: This is a massive volunteer effort to light up the Bay is also a big party time in all 6 villages that line the shores. "Outsiders" are completely welcome to mingle with the locals, see the events, make friends, chat folks up, and take all the pictures you want of this photographically challenging event. The candles burn for a couple of hours (7-9 pm), but the partying usually goes way beyond that.
♦ SHIRAMA VILLAGE :
♦ ONE OF MANY DESIGNATED PARKING SPOTS :
There a 6 villages around the Bay. The last time I went, I drove from one to the next, parked where I could, and joined the party at each village!

If you plan to down a few beers, be a nice drinker, and don't forget your designated driver.
♦ PHOTOGRAPHY: Although there is a great "golden hour" opportunity to get some nice candlelight scenes that include the twilight sky before it gets dark, I have yet to see a satisfying set of photos from this festival, and NEVER saw a shot of it taken from the MUTABARU LOOKOUT POINT high above the Bay :
♦ PICTURES & PEOPLE: This is a massive volunteer effort to light up the Bay is also a big party time in all 6 villages that line the shores. "Outsiders" are completely welcome to mingle with the locals, see the events, make friends, chat folks up, and take all the pictures you want of this photographically challenging event. The candles burn for a couple of hours (7-9 pm), but the partying usually goes way beyond that.
♦ SHIRAMA VILLAGE :
♦ ONE OF MANY DESIGNATED PARKING SPOTS :
There a 6 villages around the Bay. The last time I went, I drove from one to the next, parked where I could, and joined the party at each village!
If you plan to down a few beers, be a nice drinker, and don't forget your designated driver.
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