Candid Kyoto
On Sunday evening I departed Perth, Australia. In the late morning I arrived in Kyoto, Japan. For four days I walked and photographed.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
And on Friday I flew back home.
Candid – 1. truthful and straight-forward; frank. 2. (of a photograph of a person) taken informally, especially without the subject’s knowledge.
Julie Podstolski - Abstract Realism 
The Maiko-san on Monday in green kimono is my friend Fukumiyo-san of Horiyae Okiya.
Thank you so much for letting me know, Shonan! I will add names as people tell me. I used to know quite a few names several years ago but I’m out of touch these days.
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fantastic images Julie. Some of these look perfect for drawing. Those colourful, illusive creatures are so like birds. I love the juxtaposition between tradition and new attire as well. And the gardens are magnificent.
I couldn’t agree more. Maiko and geiko are the human equivalent of birds. There’s another 700+ photos as well as these twenty. There will certainly be drawings to come from this trip.
Love these photos Julie. You have captured really beautiful moments.
Thank you so much!
Beautiful photos, Julie – the timeless elegance of these beautiful women always amazes me – they’re other-worldly in an exotic way; always wonder how long it must take them to get dressed and made up – clearly another highly skilled art! Thank you for a look into a place that has always delighted me; I think even Japanese food and crockery is elegant!
Hello Joy, I believe maiko and geiko can do their make-up quite quickly. However they absolutely need a dresser to tie their obi (the sashes). There are several professionals who race around the neighbourhoods every day obi-tying.
The mix of these traditional women walking among the people in 21st century clothing makes such an interesting contrast, but when you see them entering their teahouses (is that what they are?) it all makes sense, they are in their ‘proper’ place. There are so many commentaries one could make on the modern world! I would guess that none of these photos will become drawings, but each one of them offers a hint of what you will be working with. I am looking forward to seeing them!
Hi Anna, I expect you are right and that none of these will become drawings, but I never know. I might see something a couple of years down the line which I’m not seeing at the moment. I still am moved by the aesthetic of the maiko and geiko. I don’t know what it is but something about it touches me deeply and I want to draw it.
There is something timeless about the maiko and geiko – even if inspiration comes years from now, or from your previous collections of images it won’t matter, each will still be fresh.