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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
This Way
Stéphane Barbery leads us to new Kyoto discoveries
After what's turned out to be a monochromatic year so far, I'm happy to get some color back in my blog. The fall-foliage season is Kyoto's most glorious, and it runs a long six or seven weeks, so I've got more fodder for posts than I could actually process, so I'll dip in for today's post about a stroll around Kyoto's Mt. Yoshida that I did with some friends (Stéphane Barbery, Nicolas Joannin, and Paul Barr) last month.
I've posted about this area many times, starting in “Discovering Kyoto's Mt. Yoshida” several years ago after Stéphane first introduced the area to me. We both live within walking distance, but I'd not even known about it until he showed me, and on our visit last month Stéphane again revealed new and amazing areas I'd not know about. Stéphane is a wonderful person to lead these kinds of exploratory strolls because he knows what's amazing but merely leads you there, letting each area speak for itself.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Vibrantly Backlit
enveloped in a moody dark surroundings
Mt. Yoshida may be small, but it is a mountain, so there are lots of steps...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Somehow Disconcerting
I think Paul and Stéphane had stopped and turned to wait for me
That shot reminds me of the shot of Paul walking in mud last summer.
Mt. Yoshida is not tall, but it gets you above the city so it's always offering nice views of the area...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Kyoto
mountains, pagoda, utility wires, houses, temple, TV antennas, nature
The pagoda is of the Shinnyodou Temple as seen here, and the large roof in the background is part of the Konkai Koumyou Temple (also called the Kurodani Temple).
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mountain-Top Shrine Path
Takenaka Inari Shrine
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Construction Detail
I like how you can see the joints between the stones.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Catching Up
Nicolas and his smile catching up faster than I can focus
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Picture of a Leaf
E-P2 + 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/5.1, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Taking a Picture of a Leaf
with a squished nose
photo by Nicolas Joannin
E-P2 + 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 19mm — 1/160 sec, f/5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Watching Me Take a Picture of a Leaf
“why is that guy lying in the middle of the path?”
photo by Nicolas Joannin
I spent quite a while trying to get a shot of the leaf, mostly because I had to wait for the few moments when the sun popped out and backlit that one leaf sticking up.
In the end the results were not as good as I hoped, but I'll share a couple more versions of the same view, one with a larger field in focus, and one with the focus on the further point of the leaf...
I often take all kinds of different versions of the same scene while exploring the possibilities, but I don't often share more than one because one of the most important skills a photographer can have is shot selection: knowing what not to share. (Considering that I posted 2,133 photos on my blog in 2011, it's a skill I don't quite have, but then again, I'm a writer, not a photographer.)
E-P2 + 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 45mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
photo by Nicolas Joannin
This next shot doesn't look like much within the confines of this post, but it's a kind of shot I like as a desktop-background picture. Most of the photo is out of focus, but the top part that is in focus is apparent in the larger version, and somehow it all just feels nice...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Alive
I was able to suppress the desire to sub-caption that one with “(for the time being)” because there's something really vibrant and alive about this one. It's the result of my processing in Lightroom... the original, seen below for reference, is decidedly bland.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
( bland original )
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pleasant Mood
E-P2 + 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 17mm — 1/640 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Quite the View
photo by Nicolas Joannin
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/800 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kyoto to Osaka
Museum of Art, Heian Shrine gate, Kyoto Tower, Osaka Skyline
I’ve stumbled upon your blog about a month ago just from random browsing and just wanted to say that I really enjoy your photos.
I’ve even gone back into your archives and saw your progression from a compact camera to a D200 to a D700.
Sincerely,
Al, from NYC, New York
Nice photos as always, but I wanted to comment specifically to say that “Alive” is really breathtaking. Excellent eye and processing.
I’m in agreement on “Alive” – totally entrancing. Another cracker of shot Jeffrey.
And I particularly enjoyed the “dedication-to-your art” pics with the onlooking locals clearly questioning your marbles!
More please. 🙂
PS Actually the un-shopped “Alive” is not in my view bland, but it is a shot in mourning s- and reminiscent of death. Here’s a challenge for you – reshop the “Alive” so that it really shows the opposite…without being bland
Now I am reading your blogs because I used to live in Kyoto, and study there too. So overwhelmed to see the beautiful pictures and read the paragraphs. Bringing back the memories, especially when I read about Yoshidayama, because it is actually not really famous, but I remember hiking there with my campus friends and sensei from other zemi. Such a memorable moment of my life. Thank you for your blog, Jeffrey san. Stay healthy and take care! – Rini / Indonesia