Revisiting Kyoto’s Fall Colors: Shugakuin Imperial Villa Last November
Too. Much. Color. volunteer ground crews at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) Nov 2013, Kyoto Japan -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Copyright 2013 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)
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Too. Much. Color.
volunteer ground crews at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮)
Nov 2013, Kyoto Japan

Chatting with a visitor to Kyoto yesterday, she said that she really wanted to see Japan's fall foliage sometime. That prompts me to dip into my archives for a fall-foliage post today, with photos from a visit last November to the Shugakuin Imperial Villa in north-east Kyoto.

It was a brilliantly bright day and even with my polarizer filter (which normally has a wonderful effect with fall colors) the photos seem washed out to me, but some are still not too bad.

Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

This is my second visit, the first having been covered starting in My First Visit To Kyoto’s Shugakuin Imperial Villa where I explain a bit about the place.

Destroyer of Scenic Views I'd prefer them to sprinkle more colorful leaves, rather than rake up what's there -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Destroyer of Scenic Views
I'd prefer them to sprinkle more colorful leaves, rather than rake up what's there

As I explain in the post about my first visit, visiting is only by reserved tour, and it moves along at a brisk pace with little time to stop and compose a photo. Knowing this, I moved forward quickly so that I could stop and have a moment before the rest of the group caught up...

desktop background image of a gate in a fence at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) in Kyoto Japan -- The First Gate -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/5, ISO 280 — map & image datanearby photos
The First Gate
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Moments Later -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/60 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Moments Later
Not Far Inside the Gate -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Not Far Inside the Gate
desktop background image of a narrow garden path at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮), Kyoto Japan -- Narrow Path -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/3.5, ISO 180 — map & image datanearby photos
Narrow Path
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Stark Sunlight and this really looks as if I didn't use the polarizer. I wonder why. -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Stark Sunlight
and this really looks as if I didn't use the polarizer. I wonder why.
Lower Mossy Angle -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/16, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Lower Mossy Angle
desktop background image of a garden at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮), Kyoto Japan -- A Bit Better light -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/16, ISO 640 — map & image datanearby photos
A Bit Better light
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The tour pauses for a moment at some minor outer building.

Minor Outer Building with a couple of rooms -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/14, ISO 900 — map & image datanearby photos
Minor Outer Building
with a couple of rooms
First Amazing Vista that I just can't photograph well -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/14, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
First Amazing Vista
that I just can't photograph well

The tour stops here for a couple of minutes so you can enjoy (and photograph) the view, which is nice, but both times I've been here I've not been able to do it justice. Here are the shots last time..

Later we come across a less-minor building that has some old paintings on the doors, of the hoko rolling floats of the Gion Matsuri Festival held every July for more than a thousand years...

Room with Old Paintings -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/10, ISO 2200 — map & image datanearby photos
Room with Old Paintings

I posted a close up of the painting in an earlier post. In modern times, these old hoko are festooned with lanterns, so look like this and this.

Roof Detail -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — 1/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Roof Detail
Protruding Nails -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 — 1/250 sec, f/11, ISO 5600 — map & image datanearby photos
Protruding Nails
Tour Path taken, literally, on the run to stay ahead of the group and get a clean shot -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Tour Path
taken, literally, on the run to stay ahead of the group and get a clean shot

At some point along the path I turned around to get the trailing crowd...

Deep in Conversation tour-guide policeman explaining something to my friend Kentaro Kataoka -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/1600 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Deep in Conversation
tour-guide policeman explaining something to my friend Kentaro Kataoka

Japanese citizens wanting to visit the imperial sites in Kyoto must make reservations far in advance, but a foreigner (non-Japanese) can often make a same-day reservations. Each group of foreigners can bring one Japanese citizen with them, and this time I brought my masseur friend Kataoka-sensei. (Coincidentally, I had a massage from him today to handle a severely-pulled neck/shoulder muscle; the guy is a miracle worker.)

desktop background image of a gate in a fence at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) in Kyoto Japan -- Another Gate -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Another Gate
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Closer View as 30 folks bear down on me from behind -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/11, ISO 320 — map & image datanearby photos
Closer View
as 30 folks bear down on me from behind
Climbing Up -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/11, ISO 640 — map & image datanearby photos
Climbing Up
Nice View -- Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2013 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 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/11, ISO 180 — map & image datanearby photos
Nice View

Continued here...


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