Monday, September 8, 2008

day 252 - ROYGBIV - ao

The story of blue (ao) in Japan is interesting. Apparently the word used to cover most of the frequencies we now consider to be both blue and green. (Midori was rarely used. Some older Japanese still say it's OK to go on the blue traffic light!)
Lyn and I have always disagreed on what constitutes blue or green around that transition in the spectrum. Aquamarine is problematic. It begs the old Philosophy 101 question of whether the blue I see is the same as the blue you see...




"Sky-in-a-building."
Sapporo, Hokkaido.






More sky-in-a-building, JR station, Kyoto.






The sky over the Princess Senhime (western) section of Himeji Castle. It's amazing how much bluer a sky looks with a big white cumulo-nimbus in it.






Blue or green? Copper efflorescence on a rock on volcanic Mt Asahidake, Hokkaido.






Hydrangea.
Himeji Botanic Gardens.






Oboke Gorge, Shikoku.






Alpine flower.
Asahidake.

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