Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250 — full exif & map
Temple Pagoda
I've been posting a lot of the same stuff lately (snow, Heian Shrine, and shots from Amami), so I thought I'd mix things up and revisit some older files in my library. I often get caught up in new events, leaving many shots I want to share to languish in my library until I find a chance to get back to them. So today, I randomly picked a day from last year to revisit, and it turns out to be June 3rd, which was the first day of Aunt Jeannette's visit to Kyoto.
The shot above contains a temple pagoda – the Taisan Temple's Koan Pagoda – but in “Where's Waldo” fashion, it's not obvious until you see it the first time. Here's a zoom that might help:
These are views of the pagoda from the Kiyomizu Temple, which was the first stop on the first day of Aunt Jeannette's tour in Kyoto. Other shots were included here and here.
On the way out, I came across these two school pals with matching Hello Kitty purses:
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 45 mm — 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 640 — full exif & map
Friends Forever
Later, the tour went to the Heian Shrine, and visited the gardens that I mentioned in yesterday's post about the amazing snow the other day. The gardens don't cover much area, but are very nicely done, and they feel huge.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 34 mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Lakeside in the Gardens
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/320 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Random Quaint Bridge #27
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/320 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Bridal Photoshoot in the Garden
That's the groom with the tiny camera at right
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/350 sec, f/5, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Sisters?
(I particularly like the birds in the kimono at left)
The Heian Shrine is a popular place for wedding ceremonies; there are a few related pics in my Weddings and the Heian Shrine post.
Later in the day, the tour group visited a tea house in Gion where they were treated to sweets made and served by Master Sweet Maker Ji'ichiro Kunieta. I took this picture of a lady on a bridge from the window of the second floor of the tea house:
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 52 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Oasis in the City
It's right in the heart of Gion, but it looks like the middle of nowhere. The lady in the picture above is standing pretty much in the exact spot that the first picture on Night Cherry Blossoms in the Gion area of Kyoto was taken. Two other night shots taken in the immediate vicinity are here.
Outside the tea house by the side of the road, I found this flower...
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Pretty Flower
Generally, photography can be difficult in Gion (and most of Japan) due to all the utility poles and wires. Ugly.
On the walk home, I passed the site where a house had been taken down, and you could see in the old, dilapidated side of the house next door the shape of the roof where some part of the razed house had been attached.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/180 sec, f/4, ISO 320 — full exif & map
Not Quite Watertight
As Zak explains in his History in (of) a Roof post, you can read a lot of history in the shapes, colors, and construction of old walls.
The construction in this case is the same wood veneer over bamboo and mud walls seen in my Old House of Bamboo and Mud, but you can see much of the same kind of history in a brick wall as well.
Continuing on the walk, I came across these flowers growing wildly on the bank of the stream that runs by our place, among the weeds. The photo isn't particularly great, but the flowers are pretty.
Random Quaint Bridge #27 is my favorite of this bunch. Great, restfull shot.
How wonderful to see more of your photography of “my tour” appear in print!! I remember the scenes pictured very well and I never tire of viewing all your pictures. Wish I could be as adept as you at this art!
How apposite your ‘Friends forever’ shot is!
Last weekend my wife and I went to a Crafts trade show (she has a fabric and haberdashery shop) where she ordered some ‘Hello Kitty’ kits. I mentioned how, in Japan, they might be popular with girls of 13 or so, and we agreed how sad it is that in the UK, it’d be more likely girls of 4 - 8 that would carry them. We seem to allow/encourage children to grow up too quickly in the West!
UGLY was my fav of the bunch… While it may be ugly, it’s unmistakable Japan, as soon as I saw it, it kinda made me miss Kyoto. When people ask me about Kyoto, I often start my description with “It’s so intensely beautiful that the human mind isn’t able to process it all.” The ugly wires and other crappy stuff you can find in Kyoto may serve and important role, prevent your mind from having a major melt down too much of anything is not too good, even beauty…
As for Kitty Chan girls and boys, adults males, females, at any age enjoy her in LA.
Then again LA is hardly a “Western” culture, the majority of the people here are not of European decent…
If Dokin Chan and Kitty Chan got in a fight who do you think would win?
I also believe the crisscrossing wires can be used to artistic effect in some cases. The first time I remember enjoying the way they worked as part of a theme was in the japanese show neon genesis evangelion like so: http://jlg1.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/lainep2.jpg
and the theme is used by many animators for other productions:
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w307/shootingstar-sg/voices-12.jpg
http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w307/shootingstar-sg/voices-06.jpg
Wires appear in many scenes and help to convey a sense of extreme loneliness; a symbol of communication and interconnection in (in these cases) a dying world where’s no one’s listening.
Also the exhibit “Hidden Japan” comes to mind. The photographer shows the interaction and occaisional beauty of man vs nature in Japan: http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/home/blog_data/286/286/images/japart/dam.jpg
Another bad photo, but the best I could find. I was lucky enough to see this set of 85 photos in person.
We don’t live in a perfect world consisting of only natural and organic things. But there can be beauty in the way our ugly progress contrasts with the natural world.
…I’ve been using your smugmug plugin for several months now…I love it. Great work. These shots are really great. I’m an expat living in Tokyo - I go to Kyoto often and have done several shoots at Kyomizu Dera. If you have the opportunity, go there at night some time. Truly spectacular. Regardless, these shots capture some of the tremendous charm that abounds in Kyoto.