
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/4.5, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Simple Footbridge
At the Shugakuin Imperial Villa in Kyoto Japan, last November
去年の秋の修学院離宮
I guess this is a continuation of a post three months ago looking back to last November's trip to the Shugakuin Imperial Villa in Kyoto. We're still two months away from fall foliage season in Kyoto, but it's just around the corner for much of the Northern Hemisphere, so I guess this is a getting-in-the-mood-for-Autumn kind of post.
We'd left of on that previous post having headed up a hill to a nice view. The same view with an 85mm at f/1.6 sort of has a slightly-unreal look, as if it's a close up of a model...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/8000 sec, f/1.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo Ops for All
As described in my first post about this location, the tour moves at a brisk pace and they don't like folks to stray ahead or behind. So it's difficult to get most shots without luck and planning. Here's one such shot:
The only way to get that shot is to be the first one down the hill after they tell you to get moving, or the last one. I was the first... folks came streaming down moments later...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ken-chan
I'd made the trip with Damien, Paul, and Kentaro Kataoka (my masseur friend, most recently mentioned on my blog here).
(Coincidentally, I had dinner with Ken-chan and Damien last night at Via Transito, an Italian restaurant run by a friend. Was Tasty. When Paul comes in again November, the four of us will have to do it again and document the meal with photos 🙂 .
Anyway, the lake doesn't look so great in the shot above, so here's a shot of the same covered bridge, but from the other direction, and with perhaps better lighting...
The next stop on the tour was another little hut/house where the Emperor might have tea or something...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/50 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Room for Reflection
Kyuusuitei (窮邃亭) at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/250 sec, f/2.5, ISO 125 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Scene
while moving on the tour

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/10, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ken Again

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/10, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Lake and that Tea House

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Back
the red hat is unmistakable
Our tour of this imperial villa was done, but another awaited, as did lunch.
Interesting challenge to take pictures with the limited time that a quick-moving tour allows. Nice results though. Thanks for posting them.