

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Little Berries
in the fading twilight
Finally getting that all-consuming project that I just posted about off my back, I can now return to my photos. Here are a few from the ikebana (flower arranging) event I went to a couple of weeks ago at the Shoren'in Temple (青蓮院) in eastern Kyoto. I'd managed to post a few shots earlier (in my “busy hallway”, “cute and colorful scene ”, and “serene photos” posts).

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Monet's Arrangement
nice arrangement, but poor composition on my part
This event was related to the flower-arranging events that I post about every year, but it was a special event to mark the ascendancy of a new head of all worldwide practitioners of this particular style of flower arranging.
As usual, I was invited by Arthur Brigham, whose daughters (second and fourth grade) were participating. The one above is fourth-grade Monet's.
The location, the Shoren'in Temple, is a wonderful hidden treasure in Kyoto, and the combination of flowers, temple, gardens, and kimonos provided ample opportunity for me to keep filling my memory card and not want to leave.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 9000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Other Photographers
They're taking photos of the main flower arrangements (presumably by the new head of school), given the high honor of being presented in the Emperor's private chamber. (The Emperor actually did pay a visit ten years ago, but I'd be surprised if a sitting Emperor has used the room for its intended purpose in the last 150 years.).
Those two arrangements weren't quite my cup of tea as much as the kids' ones, but here they are in case they're your cup of tea...
Notice that these photos are both ISO 10,000, both handheld, both with slow shutter speeds (with the second one being 125mm @ 1/60th of a second). The results speak equally well to the D4's low-light ability, Lightroom 4's render engine, and my ability to hold steady while taking a shot. I was more impressed by the D700's leap in low-light ability over its predecessor than in the D4's bump over the D700, but better is better and that's what the D4 is.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
More Kids' Arrangements

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/1250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo Op in the Garden
slightly unbalanced... I tried to will her to turn around, to no avail

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nice-Looking Couple

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/160 sec, f/4, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Second-Grade May's Arrangement
I've plenty more flowers and kimono and temple to post about, but for the moment I'll skip ahead to twilight, after the exhibition was over...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/160 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ringing the Bell

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Garden Path at Twilight

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/60 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Door

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Door
context

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Packing Up
Your first photo of a stem of Beauty Berry (Callicarpa) really tugged at me. I used to have a small one that I was nursing along and Dad mowed over it by accident. Well, back to the potting shed. Sigh!
源氏物語絵巻を彷彿とさせます。
最後の写真?そう言えばそうかもね。あの時の薄明かりの中にはいい雰囲気になるですね。—Jeffrey