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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/11, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lauren and Mike
at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto Japan
Mike Bennett, who hired me into Yahoo! in 1997 and who was my manager for the duration of my eight-year tenure there, stopped by Kyoto the other day, and we got together for the visit to the Fushimi Inari shrine (伏見稲荷大社) that I mentioned in my previous post.
Mike's girlfriend, Lauren, had an earlier business trip to Japan, so he joined her for some travel after. Lauren's sister and dad also came.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mike and Entourage
Lauren, Rachael, their dad, and Mike
( all out of focus; I have no idea what my problem was )
As I reported in my first post about this shrine several years ago, it has amazing mountain paths lined with thousands of devotional gates...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Scene
enriched by a splash of sun breaking through the forest cover
I hadn't seen Mike and Lauren since about 2004, and had never met Lauren's sister and dad, so the day was a real treat for me. We'd gotten together a bit earlier in the week for a trip to the top of Kyoto Tower (seen at the top of this post, and from afar on numerous posts, including here, here, and here).
There, enjoying the commanding view made all the better by the clear air left after Typhoon #12 blew through, we were discussing places to visit when an overly-talkative tourist butted in suggesting the Fushimi Inari Shrine. Indeed, now that you mention it, it's hard to go wrong there, so that's what we did.
A large part of my enjoyment in visiting with them was to see their reaction as the place unfolded before them...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Entering the Path in Earnest
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Always a Fun Time
with this group
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Taking it Slow
Mike is one to savor life at an appropriate pace
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/4000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Naturally Cool
just chillin' while others discuss which way to go
Mosquitoes can be as ferocious here as anywhere, but they completely left me and Mike alone for the more flavorful delights of Lauren and her family, who were getting eaten alive at a rapid pace. So it was with great appreciation that the owner of one of the small cafes along the way took pity and assisted them with some bug spray...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bug Treatment
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
This Lady was our Savior
Besides the bugs that bit, there were plenty of huge spiders on display, with appropriately-impressive webs...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Hey Look
it's the 8,293th spider I've seen today
It had been cool after the typhoon blew through, but this day it was hot and ridiculously humid, so with that and time ticking away, we turned around at about the half-way point and headed back down.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Silly Moment with Dad
they were always joking around
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Beetle Photo Op
bugs of one sort or another seemed to be a recurring theme with Lauren
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/1000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Group Effort
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
( I just like the colors in this one )
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Boss of Them All
(Not really; Actually, pretty cool and laid back)
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/2500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Posing for Lauren
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/2000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Very Happy With Her Shot
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/2000 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waiting
for what, I'm not sure, but her expression is cute
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/6400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sisters BFF
Rachael and Lauren
They all headed up to Tokyo later in the day, but Mike will return to Kyoto for a few more days after the rest go home, so we'll probably see him in a post or two next week.
Hey! We were just there a few days before that! Too bad we didn’t get to see you – just two days in Kyoto so we didn’t have much time this go around. I loved fushimi inari, one of our favorites now as far as sightseeing goes. Teresa got positively assaulted by the mosquitos. Her bites were very bad and blistered. Hopefully your friends are not at that level!