I want to photograph 'the people watching the sunset' more than the sunset itself. 3 days until the total solar eclipse.

Good morning, everyone. It is Sunday morning, August 9th, and I am reporting to you from Valencia.

It feels like we are already halfway through August in the blink of an eye. And now, there are only 3 days left until the 'Sunset Total Solar Eclipse' that we will welcome here in Valencia.

Yesterday evening, I packed my camera gear and a few lenses into my bag and went to the usual shores of Lake Albufera to photograph the sunset.

I had an interesting realization there. Of course, the setting sun itself is breathtakingly beautiful, but I discovered that I am overwhelmingly more fond of capturing 'the backs and profiles of the people gazing at that sunset' with my camera.

People sitting on the pier or the lakeshore, staring at the sky dyed in orange. Couples, friends laughing together, parents and children quietly snuggling, or people lost in thought alone. Even though each of them is at a completely different stage of life and carrying different worries, they are all just leisurely watching the same beautiful sunset. Watching them through my lens makes my heart feel warm, and I am filled with a sense of the richness and preciousness of life.

The diversity of the morning beach and the quiet gradation

I woke up a little early this morning and went for a morning walk on my usual Mediterranean beach.

Perhaps because it is Sunday morning, there were many people on the beach who had been drinking from last night until this morning and were sleeping comfortably right there on the sand (laughs).

On the other hand, there were also people quietly enjoying a morning stroll while listening to the sound of the waves. The contrast of this chaotic and free space was quite interesting and felt very much like an overseas beach.

The wind was strong this morning and the sound of the waves was intense; the sunrise itself was hidden behind the clouds, but the entire sky was dyed in delicate gradations, making for a very fantastic morning scene.

San Sebastian, Portugal, Paris... A roadmap of travels that is expanding

Last night, my wife and I talked a lot about our travel plans for after we receive our TIE (Foreigner Identity) cards at the end of September and for our temporary return to Japan at the end of the year.

We are excited about the idea of using Valencia as our base to travel to San Sebastian, a city of gastronomy in northern Spain, as well as Lisbon and Porto in Portugal, Paris in France, Italy, Germany, and if time permits, Switzerland.

I am already excited about this lighthearted roadmap of travel that I can only map out because I am currently living in Europe.

3 days until the total solar eclipse. I want to cherish and savor the blessed environment and time I have now, and I will focus on my work today as well.

I hope everyone in Japan has a wonderful Sunday as well.

That is all for today. Thank you very much.