Jeffrey Friedl's Blog » Revisiting the Ryouanji Temple’s Cherry-Blossom Garden

Revisiting the Ryouanji Temple’s Cherry-Blossom Garden

by Jeffrey Friedl Mon, September 9th, 2013 9:09am JST (10 years, 8 months ago)

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- In-Season Blossoms on an out-of-season blog post (“out of season” at least for me; maybe “in season” Down Under?) -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
In-Season Blossoms
on an out-of-season blog post
(“out of season” at least for me; maybe “in season” Down Under?)

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In my post last week about a trip to a Kyoto temple last autumn, I wrote about some out-of-season cherry blossoms that bloom in November. Continuing with my recent theme of visiting my photo archives, I'm going back this time not to last fall, but just to the more recent spring, to a trip to the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) in northwest Kyoto.

I've posted a few times from that trip among the awesome blossoms, including:

“Weeping Cherry at Kyoto’s Ryouanji Temple”
“Cherry Blossoms at Kyoto’s Ryouanji Temple, Part 1”
“Subtle · Pastel · Tranquil”
“The Effects of Aperture on a Subtle, Tranquil Cluster of Cherry Blossoms”

but really had just only scratched the surface of what I wanted to share because not long after the visit to Ryouanji, I got sidetracked by the even-more-amazing Haradanien Gardens, ending up posting seven articles (so far) starting with “A Wigglegram from Kyoto’s Stunning Haradanien Forest Garden of Blossoms”.

Haradanien is truly fantastic in the spring, but the subject of today's post, the Ryouanji Temple, is also very nice (any time of year), and is much more easily accessed, so back at Ryouanji last spring we are.

Follow Me into the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Follow Me
into the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺)

Tour guides often carry flags to make themselves visible to their charges from a distance, but sometimes it's something “cute” like the bear above, or a Hello Kitty toy.

Varieties various varieties of Cherry are all clustered together -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Varieties
various varieties of Cherry are all clustered together

Engulfing -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/500 sec, f/11, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Engulfing

Blossom Roof -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/9, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Blossom Roof

Sort of Freaky when you notice that some blossoms are perfectly in focus ( perhaps the effect is best when clicking through to the large version ) -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/3200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sort of Freaky
when you notice that some blossoms are perfectly in focus
( perhaps the effect is best when clicking through to the large version )

About as Crowded as it Got much less crowded than Haradanien -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — ¹/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
About as Crowded as it Got
much less crowded than Haradanien

Fluffy -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fluffy

Creamy -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Creamy

Close-up Shot my own attempt at the same blossom leads this post -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 110 — map & image data — nearby photos
Close-up Shot
my own attempt at the same blossom leads this post

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- Photograph not a painting; just a bit overexposed -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photograph
not a painting; just a bit overexposed

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Towering -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Towering

Odd this composition just struck me as a bit funny -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/1250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Odd
this composition just struck me as a bit funny

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- Gossamer Curtain -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gossamer Curtain

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Gardeners on a bed of moss covered with a sheet of blossom petals -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gardeners
on a bed of moss covered with a sheet of blossom petals

desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- Gardner with Broom -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gardner with Broom

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desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- Somehow Captivating the full-screen version somehow captures my attention, but I can't explain why -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Somehow Captivating
the full-screen version somehow captures my attention, but I can't explain why

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desktop background image of cherry blossoms at the Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺), Kyoto Japan -- Perhaps One Of Those “you had to be there” shots. -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Perhaps One Of Those
“you had to be there” shots.

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Colorful Coordination -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Colorful Coordination

While Paul Barr (in the background) and I were enjoying the big tree seen two shots above, this colorful Russian(?) tourist with a pleasing sense of style came by.

Photo Op! -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/2000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo Op!

This little clearing in front of a bed of green bushes in front of a variety of blossoms made for a great photo opportunity, though the harsh light made any photo a challenge.

Common Scene -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 14mm — ¹/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Common Scene

Before -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Before

After -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 cropped — ¹/2000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
After

I waited patiently for a clear shot, and eventually got it, but the result is really lackluster...

Yawn -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Yawn

I much prefer the shots with people in them,

Such as This... -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/1600 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Such as This...

... Or This -- Ryouanji Temple (龍安寺) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — ¹/1250 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
... Or This

To be continued...

April	1st,	2013	Temple Hopping with Katrin: Kiyomizu Temple and its Environs
April	6th,	2013	Weeping Cherry at Kyoto's Ryouanji Temple
April	9th,	2013	Cherry Blossoms at Kyoto's Ryouanji Temple, Part 1
April	14th,	2013	A Wigglegram from Kyoto's Stunning Haradanien Forest Garden of Blossoms
April	20th,	2013	Kyoto's Amazing Haradanien Garden, Part 1
May	2nd,	2013	Kyoto's Amazing Haradanien Garden, Part 2
July	17th,	2013	Subtle · Pastel · Tranquil
July	21st,	2013	The Effects of Aperture on a Subtle, Tranquil Cluster of Cherry Blossoms
September	4th,	2013	A Visit to the Jikkouin Temple in Rural Kyoto
June	27th,	2014	A Few More Off-Season Spring Blossoms
May	20th,	2015	Discovering Kyoto's Wonderful Toji-in Temple on a Tour with NORU

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