Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/160 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
with my new old broken 50mm f/1.2
As I wrote last week, my former manager at Yahoo!, Mike Bennett, visited town. After seeing his girlfriend and her family off in Tokyo, he returned to Kyoto for a couple of days of touristy stuff with me.
I took the opportunity to try out a slightly-broken Nikkor 50m f/1.2 that I'd picked up on Yahoo! Auctions (which is the eBay of Japan). Even after I add the cost to repair the heavy aperture ring and slight rattle of unknown origin, it'll have been cheaper than buying a new one, but truth be told I bought it because I'd confused it for another f/1.2 Nikon lens (the Noct-Nikkor 58mm) that normally runs for about 15× what I paid. Silly me.
I'd used an f/1.2 lens only twice that I recall, once as seen in “Artsy-Fartsy in Kyoto, at f/1.2” about 3½ years ago, and again six months later in “Impossible Photography: No Light, No Tripod, No Hope. D700 and a 50mm f/1.2”. Today's use would be much less challenging than the latter example, though the rattle of unknown origin brought wisps of unexpected tilt/shift to my imagination.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/125 sec, f/1.2, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
at the most delicious Reina de Reina in eastern Kyoto
We made our way to Nishimura Stone Lanterns to check out their back garden, and found them busy working on a variety of projects.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/400 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Apprentice at Nishimura Stone Lanterns
Above is one of the apprentices sitting on what will be the main “roof” of a huge stone lantern. It's partially burred in the ground to stabilize it during this work.
The 5th-generation Daizo Nishimura was in the main workshop, working to restore a 650-year-old lantern that had been damaged in the March-11th earthquake. He was also taking the opportunity to redo some repairs that had been carried out in the Edo period (during the 1600s-1800s). Unfortunately, no photos of that were allowed.
Mike and I headed out to the back gardens (click on any of the “nearby photos” links under the images to see plenty more from these amazing gardens) where he was suitably impressed. Still, this was the first time I'd come during the summer; it's really much nicer in the fall with a carpet of colorful leaves.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/160 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
I'd like to see a bit more lanternness in the background
A wide aperture can really isolate the subject from the foreground and background, but in the test above, I think f/1.2 was a bit too wide.
In the shot below, the background of sunlight filtering through the forest trees is exceedingly “busy”, but somehow I think it really works... I really like this next shot of Mike...
The bowl above is the same one seen in “Paul Barr + Stonecarver's Garden + Lightroom”.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/200 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
in the side garden
Next door is the Nitenji Temple, which also serves as a shrine (and hence all the orange). I thought I'd posted about this place before, but it seems I've only posted some pretty outtakes. It's on a steep hillside, so is visually interesting...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/200 sec, f/1.2, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
and the Hachidairyuuoo Shrine
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 — 1/125 sec, f/1.2, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
max weight 120 kg
The elevator-cart thing is not meant for people... just packages, groceries, etc., for the family that lives at the top.