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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Komaki Dam
Tonamishi City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan
Just under three months ago, I ended my “Snowy New Year Trip Day Three: Dam Snow” post with the photo above, and a note that I hoped it would not take three months for the followup. Looks like I just made it under the wire.
We'd taken a walk during a heavy snow from our lodge (seen here) to the Komaki Dam (seen in the background behind Anthony in this picture; Wikipedia entry). This post picks up from when we arrived at the east side of the dam, and started walking across it.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26 mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
A Foot of Fresh Snow
on the dam-top path
The photo above doesn't look much like it's anywhere special, but looking left and right really gave a clue...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/200 sec, f/13, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
View to the Left
edge of the dammed up Shokawa River, during a brief let up in the snow
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1/200 sec, f/13, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
View to the Right
un-dammed valley of the Shokawa River
( our lodge would be in view if the snow were not so heavy )
The snow was at times extremely heavy almost to the point of whiteout, except that there was no wind...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58 mm — 1/200 sec, f/13, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fuller Breadth of the Shokawa River
View of everything but the boat dock engulfed in the heavy snow
It was a fun (and quite safe) walk across, with me enjoying the views and Anthony enjoying all the undisturbed fresh snow (that didn't stay undisturbed for long in his presence).
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 35 mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Looking Back
where we'd come from
Along the whole walk, whenever we passed under a tree branch heavily laden with snow, he liked to stand under it while I knock the snow off (like this). This particular time he had a baby snowball pet “pu-chan”, as described here...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 35 mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Protecting
his baby snowball pet
The road back on the west side of the river was through a small sleepy community....
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
River Road
a couple of inches of water flowed down the road, keeping it free of ice and snow
( a fire-hose version of what's described on this post )
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mud and Bamboo Storehouse
I can't imagine how the walls stand up to the weather, but they apparently do
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1/320 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Room with a View
( and a cold hat )
All photos on this post are full-color photos, by the way, but many scenes, like that above, were simply devoid of all color.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 34 mm — 1/200 sec, f/4, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Roadside Mini Shrine
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 31 mm — 1/200 sec, f/6.3, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old House
buttoned up for the winter
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 56 mm — 1/200 sec, f/6.3, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Old Shed
somewhat less buttoned up
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 31 mm — 1/250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lots of Work
a driveway runs from lower right, all the way to the left of the photo, ending at an old man with a snow shovel
Once again – love photos of winter in Japan…. we don’t get much snow here in Adelaide, Australia (ok – specifically… NO SNOW at all). That’s why I always love heading to Sapporo in winter…. even in April you can get some pretty sloshy snow up in Mt Teine….
I have to say that taking photos in snow is always difficult – especially when it gets slippery. Your son must be having a great time. Our three year old last experienced snow when he was two… and was only just getting used to the idea that it was fun (as compared to just cold!).
Nice shots. Did you give that first shot a B&W treatment (as I automatically assumed when I first saw it), or is the scene just that naturally lacking in color?
As I note in the prose, all are color photos… some are just totally lacking in color. —Jeffrey
Thanks. I was so bowled over by the beauty of the scenery, the sheer technical mastery on of your photos, and the rakish handsomeness of Anthony (‘s back), that I must have inadvertently skipped over that sentence.
Of course, entirely understandable 😉 —Jeffrey
Very nice story. Kind of like ‘A Day in the Life’ type of set that really says a great deal about your family life. Thank you for sharing these Jeffrey!
The “View to the Left” photo is stunning. The color tint from the water is perfect.