March’s Higashiyama Hanatoro Lightup, 2017 Edition

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
some little temple in Kyoto

Sorry for the recent dearth of new content... I've been feeling remarkably unmotivated. At least I'm finally getting around to writing this post, which I've been wanting to do for the last three months.

Every year in March, just before cherry-blossom season, the Higashiyama area of Kyoto has a light-up event. I first blogged about it nine years ago, and again three years ago. This year I took a lazy stroll with some friends and a tripod, snapping some photos along the way.


Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 5600 — map & image datanearby photos
Big Gate
at the Chion-in Temple (知恩院), prior to the best light

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.6, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
Slowly-Encroaching Dusk
Maruyama Park (円山公園)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.6, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
Nene-no-Michi Street
lined with lanterns for the event

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.6, ISO 2000 — map & image datanearby photos
Art Installation
and a lady wearing a shopping bag on her head

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.6, ISO 1800 — map & image datanearby photos
Photo Op

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/3.5, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Restaurant Entrance

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
Temple Entrance
Entoku-in Temple (圓徳院)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1400 — map & image datanearby photos
Kyoto Night View
my photos of this view always look so much worse than reality

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/10 sec, f/4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Road To the Kiyomizu Temple
so much nicer than when the view was filled with utility cables

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 3 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Delicate Flower Sconces
on the wall on the left

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/25 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos

It was dark so I was taking these with a tripod, and the light would change considerably as cars and people moved by, so the shot above and below have a different feel due to the different color light.


Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/5 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 2.5 sec, f/2.2, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos
Flowing Crowd
gets blurred a bit during a 2.5-second exposure

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Happy Bicycle
I've written about this place here: Kyoto’s “Happy Bicycle” Craft Shop

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Rich Light

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2000 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 0.5 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 0.6 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image datanearby photos

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/13 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image datanearby photos
Road To the Chion-in Temple
looks much nicer in real life than this photo

The photo would have been improved marginally if the big gate seen in this post's second photo was lit up, as it is sometimes.


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