Kendo Masters Tournament in Kyoto, Part 2
Just Browsing kendo master inspects a bamboo competition sword -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 130mm — 1/800 sec, f/3.2, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Just Browsing
kendo master inspects a bamboo competition sword
What He Was Checking Out prices range from about $100 to $170 -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 110mm — 1/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 220 — map & image datanearby photos
What He Was Checking Out
prices range from about $100 to $170

This post continues from yesterday's My First Look at Kendo: Masters Tournament in Kyoto post, which introduced the kendo (Japanese fencing) event I attended the other day.

Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Abrupt Burst ( for some reason this reminds me of “ Hover Cat ” ) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 155mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 5600 — map & image datanearby photos
Abrupt Burst
( for some reason this reminds me of Hover Cat )
Preparation -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 120mm — 1/15 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Preparation
En Garde ( they don't actually say that ) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 155mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
En Garde
( they don't actually say that )
Touching Gloves ( so to speak ) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160mm — 1/200 sec, f/3.2, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Touching Gloves
( so to speak )
Third in Line -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/1.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Third in Line
Embroidery names are embroidered in beautiful fonts on everything -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/60 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Embroidery
names are embroidered in beautiful fonts on everything
Pre-Match Jitters I wonder whether he still gets them -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2800 — map & image datanearby photos
Pre-Match Jitters
I wonder whether he still gets them

These people (mostly men, but there were a few women) were 7th-dan masters (the max is 8), meaning that they've been doing this for at least 23 years. I wonder whether they get nervous before a bout.

The Decisive Moment or so it seems, but since I don't really know the sport, maybe not -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image datanearby photos
The Decisive Moment
or so it seems, but since I don't really know the sport, maybe not
Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 90mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3600 — map & image datanearby photos
I Got a Lot of Shots Like This due to where I could find to photograph -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
I Got a Lot of Shots Like This
due to where I could find to photograph
Nice Venue Kyubutokuden Hall ( 旧武徳殿 ), dating from 1899 -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/3.2, ISO 1250 — map & image datanearby photos
Nice Venue
Kyubutokuden Hall (旧武徳殿), dating from 1899
desktop background image of kendo masters in a bout in Kyoto, Japan (剣道) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 82mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2800 — map & image datanearby photos
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800

With patience I eventually worked myself into a position that I thought would give great shots, right at the center line where the bonsai tree was directly in the line of sight inside the Japanese flag. But the lighting was ridiculous making the white background of the flag look pink. I fixed it in some shots with some heavy-handed post processing, just as I fixed the visual clutter of the name signs in the background on some of the shots. Artistic License.

Here's an unfixed view:

Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/160 sec, f/5, ISO 3600 — map & image datanearby photos
desktop background image of kendo masters in a bout in Kyoto, Japan (剣道) -- “ Artsy View ” -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 86mm — 1/200 sec, f/4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Artsy View
Desktop-Background Versions
1280×800  ·  1680×1050  ·  1920×1200  ·  2560×1600  ·  2880×1800
Keeping One's Eye on the Ball ( so to speak, again ) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Keeping One's Eye on the Ball
( so to speak, again )
Black Sheep the one non-dark uniform I noticed -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 125mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3600 — map & image datanearby photos
Black Sheep
the one non-dark uniform I noticed
“ Luke, I am Your Father ” ( sorry ) -- Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 90mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3600 — map & image datanearby photos
Luke, I am Your Father
( sorry )
Kyubutokuden (旧武徳殿) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos

I eventually left the main building and wandered around outside a bit, only to find a bigger gymnasium-like building next door being used as a practice/staging area...

Budou Center (武道センター) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

This shot is a great little vignette into Japanese culture. Shoes fill the entryway because street shoes are not worn inside a gym (gym-only shoes might be brought in for sports that require them), but they've set up a raised walkway between the two buildings to allow participants to move between them without shoes.

Inside the gym, many folks were practicing...

Heian Shrine (平安神宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

Back outside at the sales stalls, we have some protective gear on display.` As I mentioned yesterday, this vendor's prices range from $700 a set to $10,000 a set.

Heian Shrine (平安神宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 + Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM — 1/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

Kids forced to tag along have other things on their mind...

Heian Shrine (平安神宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2014 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (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 — 1/2000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

All 2 comments so far, oldest first...

Very interesting images! Were there many other photographers at the competition?

Not many that I noticed, now that you mention it. I did see a few folks with iPhones, and maybe one other SLR. It wasn’t a photographic-friendly event, with few places to shoot from, bad backgrounds, heads in the way, and mixed lighting. In fact, I was on my way out after only half an hour when I noticed a crowded little area that could afford the flag/bonsai shots, but only if I could work myself to the exact center at floor level. It took 10 minutes of waiting and shuffling, but I eventually got there. —Jeffrey

— comment by Tom in SF on May 19th, 2014 at 10:54pm JST (9 years, 10 months ago) comment permalink

I would pay money for a tastefully done, subtlety done… Photoshop of these kendo masters in action above… but with light sabers photoshopped in where their kendo swords are now.

The keywords being tasteful and subtle. http://regex.info/i/JF4_053503.jpg and ‘NICE VENUE” are almost begging for it.

Having said that the action shots are beautiful all by themselves.

— comment by Ron Evans on May 20th, 2014 at 3:26am JST (9 years, 10 months ago) comment permalink
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