Comments on: In the Hall of the Spider King http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:57:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-26277 CJW Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:25:56 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-26277 Hi Janet! I'd describe the Amagi traverse as being quite gentle - but to be honest, I feel uneasy recommending it as your ideal first rehabilitation hike, especially if you're on your own. It's a relatively long trail with no alternative exits, no huts or water sources, and quite possibly very few other hikers up there. Terrain-wise, it's easy - a climb up at the start and down at the finish, but generally the trail is well marked and cared for, with no precipitous drops or exposures, and mainly within the (beautiful) buna woodlands. I wonder if one of the trails up around Nikko, or maybe Mt Takao, might not be a better choice initially? Hi Janet!
I’d describe the Amagi traverse as being quite gentle – but to be honest, I feel uneasy recommending it as your ideal first rehabilitation hike, especially if you’re on your own. It’s a relatively long trail with no alternative exits, no huts or water sources, and quite possibly very few other hikers up there. Terrain-wise, it’s easy – a climb up at the start and down at the finish, but generally the trail is well marked and cared for, with no precipitous drops or exposures, and mainly within the (beautiful) buna woodlands.
I wonder if one of the trails up around Nikko, or maybe Mt Takao, might not be a better choice initially?

]]> By: Janet http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-26271 Janet Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:11:10 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-26271 Hi, just discovered your blog while googling "amagi traverse". it's fantastic - the photos, the writing. I am planning on doing the Amagi traverse this Friday following the trail from lonely planet guide. It will be my first "hike" since I fractured my leg during a fall while trekking. Is it really gentle? don't want to do anything challenging as I will be on my own and also developed a fear of heights from the fall. Any advice will be appreciated. Hi, just discovered your blog while googling “amagi traverse”. it’s fantastic – the photos, the writing. I am planning on doing the Amagi traverse this Friday following the trail from lonely planet guide. It will be my first “hike” since I fractured my leg during a fall while trekking. Is it really gentle? don’t want to do anything challenging as I will be on my own and also developed a fear of heights from the fall. Any advice will be appreciated.

]]> By: Dave Hollin http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-24139 Dave Hollin Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:06:59 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-24139 thanks for the info re the book. Have always had a fascination with Japan and its one of my dream destinations for a vacation :) thanks for the info re the book. Have always had a fascination with Japan and its one of my dream destinations for a vacation

:)

]]> By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-24076 CJW Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:14:05 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-24076 Clint - I wouldn't mind getting those presets if you could send them to me - cjw at the site address... many thanks in advance! Dave - I can't recommend Japan highly enough as a hiking/climbing destination. If you're interested, maybe take a look at the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan book - it's a good starter, with some decent routes and the only resource that has maps in English! Clint – I wouldn’t mind getting those presets if you could send them to me – cjw at the site address… many thanks in advance!

Dave – I can’t recommend Japan highly enough as a hiking/climbing destination. If you’re interested, maybe take a look at the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan book – it’s a good starter, with some decent routes and the only resource that has maps in English!

]]> By: Dave Hollin http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-23854 Dave Hollin Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:14:23 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-23854 superb, simply superb I want to go now! superb, simply superb

I want to go

now!

]]> By: Clint http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-22940 Clint Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:41:27 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-22940 Well I am not sure how much you are into editing your shots, but there are some presets that I downloaded a while ago that can sometimes make shots turn out amazing with a single click. I often use 2 versions that are named after the movie 300 because they give the photos a 300'ish type of look that I really like. I usually dial a few sliders back toward normal and work from there. I think I can figure out how to extract those presets and email them; if anyone is interested, let me know. Well I am not sure how much you are into editing your shots, but there are some presets that I downloaded a while ago that can sometimes make shots turn out amazing with a single click.

I often use 2 versions that are named after the movie 300 because they give the photos a 300′ish type of look that I really like. I usually dial a few sliders back toward normal and work from there.

I think I can figure out how to extract those presets and email them; if anyone is interested, let me know.

]]> By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-22935 CJW Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:14:03 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-22935 Ah, you twisted my arm, guys - next purchase, Lightroom :-) (after the new sleeping bag, axes, another harness, new PLB, Jetboil Helios...) Ah, you twisted my arm, guys – next purchase, Lightroom :-)

(after the new sleeping bag, axes, another harness, new PLB, Jetboil Helios…)

]]> By: RedYeti http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-22914 RedYeti Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:20:47 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-22914 Chris, Clint - Lightroom: Excellent bit of kit. I've played around with all the RAW editors I could find. Lightroom beats all of them hands-down. It's not <em>quite</em> as intuitive an interface as they'd like you to think, it takes a little practice, but it's well worth it. The ability to control light and saturation in certain parts of an image I'd now be lost without. It's giving us back control that we had in a real dark room (over-burning etc). And the Heal tool can save an otherwise excellent image from being marred by a stray cigarette butt or similar. Worth every penny I think. Chris, Clint – Lightroom: Excellent bit of kit.

I’ve played around with all the RAW editors I could find. Lightroom beats all of them hands-down.

It’s not quite as intuitive an interface as they’d like you to think, it takes a little practice, but it’s well worth it.

The ability to control light and saturation in certain parts of an image I’d now be lost without. It’s giving us back control that we had in a real dark room (over-burning etc).

And the Heal tool can save an otherwise excellent image from being marred by a stray cigarette butt or similar.

Worth every penny I think.

]]> By: CJW http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-22882 CJW Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:41:52 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-22882 KamoshikaBob - good to hear from you too! I might have to take a trip over to the yuki-guni to see those buna forests - I was very taken with what I saw of them on Amagi. If you ever get down to Izu, I'd definitely recommend exploring the interior a little. Hanameizan - you might like to try that long Amagi traverse when you're back on your feet - it's quite a gentle, but long walk. I'll post the Yamareco link (thanks for that introduction!) and GPS file at some point, and you can take a look. I'm having a great time with the GPS, by the way. Hi Mark - I'm glad you enjoyed the post! Thank you for reading. RedYeti - that lane must have framed your celebrations perfectly! I'm sure all your guests enjoyed it. Chris B - been a while! Interesting idea, thanks for suggesting it - I might well set up a deviantART account and start posting some of these. I've used wallpapers from them for years, maybe it's time to give something back :-) Clint - I very much like the HDR work you do, and it was a pleasure to be able to reference it. I'm also very glad you approved of the tips in the article! I'm going to have to think about shooting in RAW - I downloaded the trial version of Lightroom a while ago, and I need to make some time to get to know it properly. Your encouragement is appreciated! KamoshikaBob – good to hear from you too! I might have to take a trip over to the yuki-guni to see those buna forests – I was very taken with what I saw of them on Amagi. If you ever get down to Izu, I’d definitely recommend exploring the interior a little.

Hanameizan – you might like to try that long Amagi traverse when you’re back on your feet – it’s quite a gentle, but long walk. I’ll post the Yamareco link (thanks for that introduction!) and GPS file at some point, and you can take a look. I’m having a great time with the GPS, by the way.

Hi Mark – I’m glad you enjoyed the post! Thank you for reading.

RedYeti – that lane must have framed your celebrations perfectly! I’m sure all your guests enjoyed it.

Chris B – been a while! Interesting idea, thanks for suggesting it – I might well set up a deviantART account and start posting some of these. I’ve used wallpapers from them for years, maybe it’s time to give something back :-)

Clint – I very much like the HDR work you do, and it was a pleasure to be able to reference it. I’m also very glad you approved of the tips in the article! I’m going to have to think about shooting in RAW – I downloaded the trial version of Lightroom a while ago, and I need to make some time to get to know it properly. Your encouragement is appreciated!

]]> By: Clint http://i-cjw.com/blog/2009/06/18/in-the-hall-of-the-spider-king/comment-page-1/#comment-22864 Clint Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:18:57 +0000 http://i-cjw.com/blog/?p=80#comment-22864 Chris, I started noticing a bunch of hits on my blog from your Photography Dump page. Noticed you cannot leave comments so I thought I would comment here. I was quite surprised and incredibly flattered to see you link to my blog like that. I wanted to thank you for that! Also, your write up is extremely well thought out and I would say great advice, especially the parts about having a tripod, your camera handy at all times, and trying small adjustments during post processing which can yield amazing results. Since I shoot in RAW all the time, I find Lightroom is super easy to manage everything and process your photos with. I do like to talk that program up to anyone who will listen! Thanks again! Chris, I started noticing a bunch of hits on my blog from your Photography Dump page. Noticed you cannot leave comments so I thought I would comment here. I was quite surprised and incredibly flattered to see you link to my blog like that. I wanted to thank you for that!

Also, your write up is extremely well thought out and I would say great advice, especially the parts about having a tripod, your camera handy at all times, and trying small adjustments during post processing which can yield amazing results.

Since I shoot in RAW all the time, I find Lightroom is super easy to manage everything and process your photos with. I do like to talk that program up to anyone who will listen!

Thanks again!

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