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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big, Moody Space
at the Kousan Temple (高山寺)
Kyoto, Japan

Earlier this month, on the wonderful day in Kyoto's Takao area that I mentioned in the rainbow post a few weeks ago, we visited two temples. I posted a few scenes from the first in “On The Path To Northwest Kyoto's Jingoji Temple”, and while I have a bazillion more from there that I want to share, today's post is from the second, the Kousan Temple (高山寺).

The Japanese name, 高山寺, looks as if it should be pronounced kozanji and that's what most Japanese would guess, but for whatever reason the temple actually uses kosanji. Even the Japanese Wikipedia article was wrong, though I've now updated it and the English as well (but the title of the English article remains incorrect until someone with greater permissions than I have makes the change).

The temple area is a sprawling expanse of paths through towering trees on the side of a mountain, with few buildings. It has a lot of moody character.

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos

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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos

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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Depth

The paths tend to be surrounded by both tall and short trees that provide multiple canopies, creating a strong sense of space and dimension. I suppose that sounds silly, but I don't know how else to describe it.

Turning from the view in the shot above to see where the path leads....

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big, Rustic Stairs

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/25 sec, f/16, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Above The Stairs

It's perhaps difficult to see even in the larger version you get when you click through the thumbnail, but the shot above shows the dual-canopy nature that was common. There's the towering canopy of the pines, then a lower one of yellow. It was magical.

Nikon D3 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 27mm — ¹/60 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Getting the Shot
photo by Paul Barr

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Hillside

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Top of the Stairs

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Path Continues

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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Crossroads

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
At a Side Garden

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Orange Floor

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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Symbols
of something, I'm sure

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/200 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
That Rustic Flight of Steps
from afar

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Dynamic Lighting

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big Tree

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/200 sec, f/11, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big Tree
up close and personal

Nikon D3 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — ¹/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big Tree
as a sturdy object upon which to steady my shot
photo by Paul Barr

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Near The Big Tree

The shot above looks much nicer in the big version, but it still only hints at the sense of space the multi-layered canopies provided.

Nikon D3 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — ¹/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Under the Big Tree
using the earth as a sturdy object upon which to steady my shot
photo by Paul Barr

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/500 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Paul Barr
worm's-eye view

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lantern and Moss
always a favorite of mine

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Big Leaf

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Back at the Road

The building in the background was featured in my blog two years ago, starting with “Toganojaya Restaurant”, with followups here and here. I'd known that there was a temple nearby, but the visit earlier this month was my first.