Views at the Honen’in Temple in Eastern Kyoto
desktop background image of the entrance path at the Honen -- Entrance from Afar Honen'in Temple (法然院), Kyoto Japan -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
Entrance from Afar
Honen'in Temple (法然院), Kyoto Japan
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The view above, of the entrance gate to the Honen'in Temple (法然院) in eastern Kyoto, is from the outside looking in, as opposed to the views in yesterday's post, which were from the inside looking out.

The path leading to the entrance gate is in two parts... the first being an exceptionally-well-done cobblestone path with what seems to me to be a decidedly modern feel...

desktop background image of the entrance path at the Honen -- Path onto the Property eventually leading to the main gate -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image datanearby photos
Path onto the Property
eventually leading to the main gate
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Frankly, I find the modern feel to be a bit jarring in the rustic traditional temple setting, but I like the cobblestone path a bit better than what follows directly in front of the main gate: plain dirt.

Standard View of the famous, photogenic gate -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 10000 — map & image datanearby photos
Standard View
of the famous, photogenic gate

The duo-nature path includes some cobblestone steps rising toward the gate, and in the lead photo I placed myself such that the lens was just slightly below the level of the dirt part of the path, thereby rendering it invisible in that scene.

The thatched gate roof had lush moss, which I always love but can never do justice in a photograph...

Lush Moss Roof -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 8000 — map & image datanearby photos
Lush Moss Roof

From just inside the gate you can look down on the path and sand sculptures that we saw yesterday...

Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 140 — map & image datanearby photos
desktop background image of the entrance path at the Honen -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 140 — map & image datanearby photos
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Ferny Northern Slope of the entrance-gate roof -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
Ferny Northern Slope
of the entrance-gate roof

Better view of the ferns, which I love:

Ay Be a Pirate at least me boots be -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 4000 — map & image datanearby photos
Ay Be a Pirate
at least me boots be
Sand Detail -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image datanearby photos
Sand Detail
Gate Sans Sand -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Gate Sans Sand
Damien and Gate -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Damien and Gate
One More Try all in all, the one posted yesterday, at 24mm, is probably the best -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 360 — map & image datanearby photos
One More Try
all in all, the one posted yesterday, at 24mm, is probably the best
Different Angle -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Different Angle
desktop background image of mossy garden area at the Honen -- Mossy Lawn -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Mossy Lawn
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desktop background image of the back path at the Honen -- Back Pathway behind the mossy lawn -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 360 — map & image datanearby photos
Back Pathway
behind the mossy lawn
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desktop background image of the back path at the Honen -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
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Building Detail -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1250 — map & image datanearby photos
Building Detail

Normally you can not enter the temple buildings nor see the private gardens, but they are apparently opened for a few days every few years, and due to Dameon's encyclopedic knowledge of Kyoto temples, our visit this day was not a coincidence.

You are not allowed to take photos in the buildings, but I was permitted to take them of the garden areas...

Curved Stone Bridge made from a single piece of stone -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
Curved Stone Bridge
made from a single piece of stone

When going through these photos last night I came across one in black & white; apparently I'd fiddled with it soon after loading the photos in November. I'm not sure it's worth sharing, but FWIW, here it is....

Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
desktop background image of private garden at the Honen -- Slightly Off Kilter with a pretty engraved deer -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
Slightly Off Kilter
with a pretty engraved deer
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Lake of Moss -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2500 — map & image datanearby photos
Lake of Moss
desktop background image of private garden at the Honen -- Private Inner Garden -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/13, ISO 2200 — map & image datanearby photos
Private Inner Garden
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desktop background image of private garden at the Honen -- Vertical View -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/13, ISO 2200 — map & image datanearby photos
Vertical View
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desktop background image of private garden at the Honen -- Unweathered I think the stones provide a sturdy area for roof runoff to hit the ground -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Unweathered
I think the stones provide a sturdy area for roof runoff to hit the ground
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Courtyard Tree in groomed sand -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2800 — map & image datanearby photos
Courtyard Tree
in groomed sand
desktop background image of private garden at the Honen -- Garden Basin -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/1.8, ISO 110 — map & image datanearby photos
Garden Basin
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Gargoyle Detail ( it looks like he has a splitting headache ) -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/80 sec, f/2.5, ISO 500 — map & image datanearby photos
Gargoyle Detail
( it looks like he has a splitting headache )

I love how a leaf is used for the spout. The only other time I've ever seen that was in an outside basin at this very temple, the first time I visited it 8½ years ago:

Shot in 2005 with a Point -n-Shoot before I got much into photography -- Copyright 2005 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Canon IXY DIGITAL 600 — 1/125 sec, f/2.8 — map & image datanearby photos
Shot in 2005 with a Point-n-Shoot
before I got much into photography

Back to the Nov 2012 visit, here's someone else taking a picture of the basin/gargoyle...

In Silhouette doing a fedora right -- Honen'in Temple (法然院) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2012 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 — map & image datanearby photos
In Silhouette
doing a fedora right

Continued here...


One comment so far...

These are some beautiful photos, and it looks like it was a really serene place to be. That everything has a slightly damp look to it makes it seem even more inviting, and I think it made the photos even more appealing as well. For the black and white photo, I would imagine that the reflection of the bridge in the water is brought out compared with the color version.

— comment by David K. on August 25th, 2013 at 10:19pm JST (10 years, 7 months ago) comment permalink
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