

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Festival
Gion Matsuri, Kyoto Japan
So, as I wrote yesterday, I screwed up my camera settings and took all yesterday's photos at the smallest, lowest-quality JPEG settings, which leaves little room to correct white balance and exposure in Lightroom. I did much better the first day.
I'll probably try one more time tonight, but for what it's worth, here are some of the shots from last night, recovered as best I could, presented for the story they tell more than for their photographic qualities...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Outing With Mom

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fan Girls
they were distributing paper fans adorned with advertisements

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Wants To Get Home

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Musicians
in an upper floor of one of the big wooden floats

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 + 1.4X TC @ 420mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lower Level
same float

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/4, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Owner of Those Legs

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1000 sec, f/4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Reactions

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kimono Camera Lady

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Most Fun Seat in the House
at least for her

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/1250 sec, f/2, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nice Couple

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/800 sec, f/2, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Beer
Kirin Tanrei Nama

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/800 sec, f/2, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Stalls
Food and Fun

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/320 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Working With a Smile
This worker (manning a large set of trash cans) chatted with me a bit about my lens, and I told him I'd put this picture up here, but I thought I'd be able to correct the underexposure better in post. (It was getting quite dark and he was in the most trafficed area, so it was difficult to get even this shot.)
He was in the area seen at the lower left of this next shot...

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/800 sec, f/2, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Intersection of Shijo & Karasuma

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/800 sec, f/2, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Too Tall to Fit in Frame

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/250 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Against The Grain

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/200 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Picture of Poise and Grace
I futzed around with a lower color saturation in this one to reduce some distractions. The goatee-guy in all black in the background is her date, but I'm not too sad that she's the only one in focus. 🙂

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/200 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
I Have No Words
to describe what this is

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/200 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Two Couples, Four Smiles

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/200 sec, f/2, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Walking Her Dogie

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/6 sec, f/16, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Artistic Mistake
it was too dark to forget the camera was at f/16

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/800 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Much Better
These girls had asked about my camera (and big lens) and when I told them that I was mostly taking pictures of the crowd, they couldn't get the concept of not concentrating on the floats and other trappings of the festival. They reacted as if I wasn't quite playing with a full deck, until I offered to take their photo, at which point they changed their tune completely.

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bought a Beer Here

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Trash
the streets were remarkably clean, save around trash cans like this
(there are trash cans between the electrical boxes)

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cows
for free photo ops

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Active Kid
kept Mom on the run

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bought a Beer Here, Too
all in the name of research, you know

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/500 sec, f/2, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Having a Good Time

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/500 sec, f/2, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Two Kinds of Style
black and red... both work as far as I'm concerned

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 300mm f/2 — 1/500 sec, f/2, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Evening's Last Posed Shot
moments later, the lights of this covered street were turned off
宵山行ってきました!
少しですがブログに写真をアップロードしましたよ~
いやぁ、凄い人でした。
明日は山鉾巡行です。早起きして行く予定です
For the I have no words picture, were those Manba? Re: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganguro
Thanks Jeff, for the Gion Matsuri photo bonanza. I emjoyed stolling with you as you carried your huge lens in search of the “real Japan” on parade during the festivities. Without leaving my house I was able to take part in your “big lens parade.”
Father Mac in Kyoto.