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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/800 sec, f/8, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Trying To Capture The Elusive Susuki Grass
Vaughn Hart in Kyoto

World-traveler Vaughn Hart was in Kyoto today, and we got together to enjoy some of the photographic delights of Kyoto. He's a user of one of my plugins and so had contacted me when he realized our paths might cross, but it turns out that he hadn't read my blog, so had no real idea about who I am or what it's like around here (and so had no specific ideas about what he preferred to see while here). So, I thought a random drive in the mountains might be nice, to see what we discover.

The susuki (“Japanese pampas grass”) ubiquitous in the mountains in winter is starting to fade, but still as pretty and elusive as ever...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 @ 50 mm — ¹/3200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Susuki Grass

I've tried to photograph it on many (dozens of) occasions, but little comes of it... it's so hard (for me) to capture. It seems this is the first post where I even mention the name. I do recall it's appeared on this spectacular shot, but mostly what I get looks like this.

Anyway, the stems were getting un-fluffy, and perhaps that made things easier...

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/22, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Delicate

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/800 sec, f/8, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Starburst

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Curly

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/800 sec, f/8, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gossamer

Driving some more, we stopped in at one of the many temples dotting the mountains. Like the “Ice Room” Temple I posted about earlier in the month, most of these temples are simple and unassuming, not for tourists, but to serve the local folk.

The one we stopped by today, the Toufuu Shrine (道風神社), is no exception. Wikipedia notes that it dates back to 920.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 @ 24 mm — ¹/800 sec, f/4, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Entrance Path
Toufuu Shrine, Kyoto Japan

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 @ 24 mm — ¹/500 sec, f/4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pond, Moss, and Stone Frog
and Vaughn

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 @ 24 mm — ¹/4000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sliver of Direct Sun

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos

My post “Simple Wood Carving on a Rural Shrine’s Gate” also came from this visit.

When I realized that our random path would bring us near the “Yama no Ie Hasegawa” restaurant I wrote about late last year, I was excited to visit again, but it turns out that they're closed on Tuesdays. Bummer.

Still, there are logging trails in the area, so we left the car at the restaurant and took a walk...

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/1000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Impromptu Backlit Portrait

If you ever wondered what happens when those ceder wrapped in wire and plastic have the wire loosened, I have the answer here:

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/4, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Discards

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/4, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Loosened Wire

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Further Up the Mountain

We eventually were treated to what would have been a great view of a very distant spread out Kyoto, but it was very hazy, so I didn't bother with a picture.

We had time to head across town and swing by Nishimura Stone Carvers for a look...

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos

In one far corner they were working on setting up a new piece, including the 72-year-old third-generation current patriarch of the family (wearing a hat in the background of this picture).....

Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos

I've chatted with him on occasion, and thought I had written a post about him specifically, but I don't see it now, so it must be still on the to-do list. I have posted about his oldest son working a stone in the shop. In fact, the stone lantern he was working on in that post was now in the back garden, still looking too new to be desirable...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 @ 50 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shy

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 @ 50 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fat Buddha
originally seen in this post

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 @ 50 mm — ¹/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Workshop