"From Hiroshima to Hope" Annual Lantern Floating

On Monday, August 6th, we joined up with photographer Loren Callahan at Green Lake in Seattle to practice night photography. We participated in and took photos of the annual lantern floating to remember those lost in Hiroshima, Japan during WWII. There were a lot of peace activists and anti-war protesters along with those emotionally remembering destruction by atomic bombs. (Below is Loren and our daughter Kaiah)

This was one of my favorite shots

1000 paper lanterns serenely floating on the tranquil waters of Green Lake at twilight in honor of those that have died worldwide. Lantern Floating Ceremony features live and recorded music by World Meditation Ensemble.

Culminating in the 9 pm Toro Nagashi Lantern Floating Ceremony with music by World Meditation Ensemble (for the fifth straight year).

Commemorating all victims of war and violence and the 62nd remembrance of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This is a sedate ceremony where those who have prepared a lantern are led to the water's edge to have it gently placed in the water at twilight with perhaps a thousand others, to serene, sacred world music performed by World Meditation Ensemble. Symbolizing souls, the lanterns are a metaphor for the transmigration of the spirit after death, leaving this shore and reaching the farther shore on the waterway of life. It's a very profound sensory and spiritual experience.
From: http://seattle.tribe.net/event/Lanterns-on-the-Lake-Ceremony-Mon-Aug-6th/
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