[Nozawa Onsen - 21st January 2009]

Looks great in the shots, hope it stays that way!! We arrive next Friday!!

[Hire Car vs trains for Nozawa Onsen & Hakuba]

We hired a Toyota 'Voxy' which is about HiAce size, from TooCoo at Narita last January and drove through Tokyo and up to Hakuba. There were 5 of us and there was enough room for all our gear, with the ski bags being pushed under the rear seats.

 

It was fantastic to have car at Hakuba and we will be doing it again next Jan when we return.

 

Having a vehicle made trips to other resorts and places such as Jusco shopping trips, laudromat trips and the Monkey Onsen easy.

 

Yes, it was probably more expensive than the shink & bus option (which we had done on previous trips) but the convenience far out weighed the cost.

 

We had an english speaking SatNav which we brought over from Oz which worked a treat, in addition to a road map book. If you do the driving thing, make sure you have plenty of small Yen notes for the tolls!!

[Overseas readers - how long do you stay?]

I'll be back again for a little over 2 weeks next year. I wish I could stay longer but work dictates the duration unfortunately!!

 

Sucks to be self employed sometimes!!!

 

Looking forward to catching up with Creek Boy, Ewok and a host of others!!

[The OFfiCiAl SNow PhOtOgrAphy ThrEAd!]

Originally Posted By: Creek Boy

hey whiteman, thanks Havent seen you on here in quite some time! How are things in Oz? You getting ready for the season there? In the next few months Ill be living in a sauna, not looking forward to it. Summers here are rough

Hey CB, I haven't been around much here lately, I've been really busy with work and other stuff and to add to the pressure, we are flying to Peru on Friday for a quick work-ish (for Caz) related trip, which includes a few days at Machu Pichu taking loads of shots!!

I'm taking virtually no personal effects but a truck load of camera gear!!

[The OFfiCiAl SNow PhOtOgrAphy ThrEAd!]

 Originally Posted By: Creek Boy

 Originally Posted By: Kumapix

coolpix aren't so good

They take nice pictures to me

Hi there CB, nice shot!!!

[Dam Hakuba]

Sweet shots!!!!

 

What type of camera set up??

[32 reasons to go to the mountains]

Great shots Ian...... but I know you have others that are better!!!T'was great to meet you and thanks for the heads up about lightroom.

 

Cheers, Whiteman, Caz & family.

[The OFfiCiAl SNow PhOtOgrAphy ThrEAd!]

 Originally Posted By: Bushpig

kuma, the point is that if you save once for jpeg with edits, yeah it gets slightly decreased, but if you go back and slightly change an edit, then you are still working on the original, not the resaved version. So you don't get a double loss. Just the one.

FT, I know that, and will get there. I'm just taking my time until I have my head around it a bit better. RAW takes more fiddling, because you are not leaving the WB, etc up to the camera. So you have to manually go back and set it yourself. More time consuming. So I wanna have a good workflow down pat before I jump into that.

Hi BP,

Just a thought, I use Canon stuff and on a Canon, in the menu, it allows you to choose a shooting format of RAW & JPEG, so when you shoot in RAW it also gives you the same shot as a JPEG. It might be similar on a Nikon.

Yes, shooting in RAW is a bit more complicated but it sure opens up a wider range of editing options. I have always used the standard Canon digital photo professional to convert my shots after I have done the intial tweeks, then send it to photoshop for fine tuning but I was very impressed with Ian's Lightroom program. (His shots weren't bad either!!)

[My first trip report]

Yes CB, back in Oz and trying to get back into work mode but finding it very difficult!! I seem to have spent most of my spare time back compiling video moofies and sorting photos rather than working!!!

 

I might post a few shots later.

[My first trip report]

 Originally Posted By: Creek Boy

MMT is soooo cute I could eat him!

Hi Creek Boy & Ewok

You sound awful clucky.....for a guy!! What with Hannah-banana & MMT, you could have a full meal!!

Love snowy lil' kid shots.

Cheers, Whitey & Caz

[Buying gear in japan, Tokyo or Hakuba?]

 Originally Posted By: Drop Inn

 Originally Posted By: TJ OZ

I know a guy who runs shopping tours in Jimbocho. PM me if you want his details. He knows his stuff and the area very well.

This another one of your kick backs Tj? Every statement has and subliminal advert eh , be it coffee, free internet access, snow on car comps........boring....

We call it networking!

I also know the guy he speaks of, and yes, he certainly does know his stuff!! In fact, he is one of the most obliging and helpful people you could ever meet!



Looking forward to seeing you in about 8 days TJ.

[Hard to get from Narita to Hakuba???]

True Markie.

[Canadian sking Japan for the first time]

You'll like Hakuba.

[The "most snow on top of a vehicle" photo contest!]

Ease up Sarge, the kid was just being funny

 

I thought it was quite good and smirked to myself!

[Hard to get from Narita to Hakuba???]

C-mo, it's a failry straight forward excercise, catch the Narita Express to Tokyo, follow the green train symbol signs to platforms 21/22/23/24 dowstairs, catch the Shink to Nagano then taxi, if you get in late.

 

Downside is it will be fairly expensive that way. If you're on a tight budget, the overnight bus would be the go but then again, the Shink is a great experience!