For Ricky Oshima, photography provides a good outlet for creativity and relaxation.

An executive sous-chef at the Hyatt Regency, Oshima turned to taking pictures in his spare time. He had been a member of his high school photography club, and years later rediscovered his passion.

“;I thought I should have a hobby, so I thought about going back to photography,”; he said. “;I do any kind of photography. Basically, I like nature, but I like snapshots, too.”;

He was shooting with film for a while but soon switched to digital and is now using a Canon 40D.

In October, Oshima traveled to Japan, where he turned his camera on the streets of Nagano and Hakone.

He found the streets around Zenkouji Temple especially interesting. “;It's similar to Asakusa in Tokyo with stores and homes lining the street.”;