Ojizosan Futari

I like the lighting. Nice one.

Lighting does seem perfect for the subject.
Stone texture - always. The textile around the lighted figures neck? 'No clue. The vine(s) extending on the rock face in the background and again at the bottom of the figure almost frame the subjects. I'm still getting over the coal mine & bamboo forest shots.

The textile is a bib. Many of the Ojizosan had bright red bibs on. Children long ago used to wear something similar. Colour red symbolizes safety and protection. Many women come here to pray for a healthy child and easy child birth. Ojizosan also takes care of the souls of unborn children and those who died at a young age. I could only get this shot in July. During winter, the sun is too low and cannot get "into" this little ravine. HiHoSilver, that bamboo forest is walking distance, just down the road from where I took this photo! Definitely, one of my favourite places to take my camera!

The story does enrich quite a bit. It makes the subject/site the location of much passion. You had to work to get these images. I'm so glad you did. When you mentioned one of the antiquities groups in Japan recognized that coal mine shot, it just made me glad. Your shot of the stream in the mudflat had me spellbound - thinking - how does it look like that. Each is a pleasure I'm glad to get to see.

Beautiful light. That's the first thing that made this image jump out at me.