In my previous post on our trip to Miyajima near Hiroshima, Japan, I showed the main gate of the Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社、宮島) at low tide. This time I have a few pictures of the shrine itself at low tide.

The shrine is mostly over piers above water (high tide) or mud (low tide), and I should start of by noting that it's much more picturesque when over water (as in the shot at the start of my first post from the trip). To me, today's pictures are more “interesting” than “pretty,” and are probably neither to anyone else, but it's my blog so here they are.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 56mm — ¹/250 sec, f/4.8, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shrine Without Peer

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 24mm — ¹/160 sec, f/4.5, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Side Building

Various materials are used for the piers, including wood, stone, and iron...

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 95mm — ¹/180 sec, f/5.3, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old Iron, New Wood

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 135mm — ¹/60 sec, f/5.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old Stone, New Wood

The “new wood” might be due to damage from a major typhoon several years ago.

Some of the buildings in the temple complex are devoid of color, while others are brilliantly orange. The covered walkway in the shot below is brilliant even in the dull overcast.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 18mm — ¹/250 sec, f/4.5, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Walkway Over Nothing
(at least until the tide comes in)

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 18mm — ¹/320 sec, f/4.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Isolated

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 28mm — ¹/320 sec, f/4.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rear Area of the Shrine Complex at Low Tide

The circular puddle in the center of the shot above has the rather ambitious name “reflecting pond,” through which the little stream that I mentioned on my previous post flows.

Nikon D200 + Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR @ 18mm — ¹/320 sec, f/7.1, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rear Area of the Shrine Complex at Mid Tide

It doesn't look that much better in the final shot. Clear skies (rather than overcast) and deeper water would have given the water a prettier blue, rather than the muddy look we see here. Oh well, maybe on my next trip...

Continued here...