James Fefes Photography

05/01/2026

New Year, new look!

My Etsy store has been refreshed for 2026, with new photos from Japan, London, Scotland and Ireland -- capturing all my 2025 travels and wonderful experiences 🥰

Shop James Fefes Photography by JamesFefesPhotos located in Rochester, New York.

17/07/2025

It's been a hot minute since i've posted here -- lots of exciting updates to share :)

This photo, 'Osaka Reflection' was selected for Image City Photography Gallery's Photographer's Journey 2025 gallery. Out of 500+ entries, it's in the top 8 for the Travel Photos category.

Reception will be held at Image City on August 8th, would love to see everyone there in support of the show!

29/04/2025

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙩?

I woke up early in Hiroshima just before sunrise, still jet-lagged yet ever-curious. It was my first trip to Japan, and everything felt unfamiliar—in the best way. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of earth and blossoms. Spring had just begun, and the trees near the castle were budding, their branches stretching gently toward the light.

I made my way to Hiroshima Castle, camera in hand, not sure what to expect. The city behind me was still sleeping. Ahead, the castle sat quietly above its reflection, framed by still water and a bridge worn smooth by time. I took a deep breath. The scene didn’t ask for attention—it simply existed, calm and steady.

As the sun began to rise, a soft orange glow touched the sky, catching the edge of the tiled rooftops. The clouds broke just enough to let the light pour through. I stood there for a while, letting the moment unfold. The camera clicks came slowly, almost as if I didn’t want to interrupt the silence.

Photographing Hiroshima Castle wasn’t about chasing the perfect shot. It was about being present—about noticing small things: the way the breeze moved through the pines, how the bridge curved toward the gate, how peaceful a place could feel even in the heart of a city.

That morning reminded me why I love photography. Not just for the images, but for what they give back—stillness, presence, perspective.

25/04/2025

𝙃𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙨𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡, 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧?

I had never set foot in Japan before. The name itself sounded like a faraway melody, delicate and bold. When spring wrapped the country in her finest robes of pink and white, I found myself at the gates of Himeji Castle, camera trembling in my hands.

The air was perfumed with the faint, sweet scent of cherry blossoms. Every breeze set the petals dancing around me, like tiny messengers whispering ancient secrets. The sun played peekaboo through the clouds, casting light on the castle’s brilliant white walls, making them glow against the bluest sky I had ever seen.

Every sound, from the soft crunch of gravel beneath my shoes to the distant song of a bush warbler, seemed placed by an unseen hand to complete the scene.

I lifted my camera and framed the shot through a crown of blossoms. In that moment, I felt something inside me loosen, something long held tight. Japan had opened its arms to me, a stranger, and offered me a glimpse of grace.

As the shutter clicked, I knew I had captured more than a photograph. I had captured a piece of the wonder that first calls a dreamer to dream.

23/04/2025

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4295548544/osaka-castle-reflection-osaka-japan

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙛 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙬—𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩?

My first time in Japan, and my heart was already full before I even reached the gates of Osaka Castle. The air smelled of spring—sweet, damp earth and faint cherry blossoms drifting like whispered promises. I stepped into the park, camera in hand, with reverence. Everything around me felt sacred: the rustling leaves, the ripple of koi-slick water, the soft murmur of couples speaking in hushed tones beneath branches just beginning to bloom.

Then, I saw it.

Osaka Castle rose like a storybook palace from another age, its white walls gleaming beneath a watercolor sky. Gold-trimmed eaves caught the light like brushstrokes of glory. I framed the scene from a quiet garden pond, where the castle's reflection shimmered below a stone lantern, surrounded by carefully tended trees, each shaped by time and care.

As I released the shutter, something deeper than photography stirred inside me. It was as if the lens wasn’t just capturing the image—but revealing it to me. Beauty not to be owned, only honored. The stillness, the colors, the layered textures of history and renewal—it all spoke to something ancient within me, something I’d forgotten needed awakening.

That single moment in Osaka became a turning point. Not just in my journey as a photographer—but in how I see the world. Through Japan, I didn’t just take photos—I received them like gifts.

10/04/2025

"Give Peace A Chance"

The Peace Memorial Park and Museum (not pictured) was an emotional experience I'll never forget.

The collection of statues, their symbols, and the Genbaku Dome tell a vivid story and serve as an eternal reminder of the tragedy of warfare. We, as humans sharing this one plant together, must do better.

07/04/2025

Good morning from Osaka!

05/04/2025

Taking a break from my recent owl hunting; currently en route to Japan!

15 days from Osaka to Tokyo, with stops at Hiroshima, Kyoto, and many more. Stay tuned for the pics!

01/04/2025

Spotted my first Long-Eared Owl today! They saw me long before I noticed them, but they looked away after the picture and paid me no attention after the fact 🥰