Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/320 sec, f/1.6, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
I Wonder
what kind of shot he got

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sans Fauxtographer

Here's a desktop-background version with framing I like better:

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Public Street
Arashiyama (嵐山) area of Kyoto, Japan

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That was the last photo I took on Saturday. Sort of in keeping with the timeline nature of my recent “was a busy November!” post, I'll show my first photo from the day, taken from a bridge after a hurried stop and fighting to cross traffic to get to the appropriate side of the bridge in time:

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/500 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Morning Rainbow
in the Arashiyama (嵐山) area of Kyoto, Japan

This was 2½ hours earlier (and 1.6km south) from the intense rainbow that I posted the other day.

Continued here...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rainbow Under Fairly Clear Skies
Arashiyama (嵐山) area of Kyoto, Japan

Here are a few more shots of that intense rainbow in Kyoto the other day. Following Damien Douxchamps' lead, I moved to the other side of the street to get the rainbow crossing over Arashiyama's famous Togetsukyo bridge (渡月橋).

The angle from that side of the bridge also omits the storm clouds seen in the previous post, just off to the left, that are providing the rain swept in on the wind to create the rainbows, so the clear-sky look seems a bit interesting (if perhaps improbable).

For reference, here's another view from where I initially shot the rainbow, showing the storm clouds...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

Anyway, back to the west side of the bridge...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Advertisement in the Making?

The green-roofed building that's the “source” of the rainbow above is a restaurant. I might bring them a copy, but while the rainbow is nice, the photo is otherwise pretty bad, and the photographer in me sees nothing but the harsh light and utility poles. )-:

It looks a bit better with a wider lens...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

You do not want to go to the Arashiyama area of Kyoto on a weekend during fall-foliage or cherry-blossom seasons because it's so ridiculously crowded, but Damien and I were just passing through on the way from one temple to another. By this point we were sort of miserable in the rain, and when we saw the rainbow we stopped quickly to shoot it, leaving Damien looking temporarily more like an astronaut than a photographer...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/320 sec, f/10, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
“If You Take That Photo I Will End You”
( actually, he posed quite nicely, thanks Damien )

And when I mention that it was crowded, I do not exaggerate. We crossed the bridge and I snapped this photo:

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pleasant Day in Arashiyama
would not be found today

Arashiyama is a lovely area, as the “nearby photos” links under each picture shows, but like I said, stay away on weekends during these seasons.

Finally, here's a panorama that I created from 14 shots I haphazardly fired off, handheld, when I first got there. It's not that compelling, but Photoshop (CS5) did an amazing job of stitching them together. I touched up one area and applied a crop, but otherwise it was all automatic...

There's another sort of slightly-endearing factor to the panorama, but I'll let you discover it for yourself...

Continued here...

November was a busy month for photo outings for me here in Kyoto. I took 8,954 photos during the month, though perhaps 1,500 of those were in the pursuit of wigglegrams. Still, that leaves about 7,500 to wade through, a task I will probably never complete.

Here's one photo from each place I went with the camera during the month, in chronological order. The “nearby photos” link under each photo brings you to other photos taken in the same area, perhaps on the same outing as the photo in question, or from other outings throughout the seasons...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/8, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 2
Kitchen Roof
Myouhouin Temple (妙法院), Kyoto Japan
( as seen Nov 3 in “A Bunch Of Desktop Backgrounds from Kyoto’s Myouhouin Temple” )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — ¹/160 sec, f/9, ISO 180 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 4
Taking Under Wing
Hiuchigata Skateboard Park (火打形公園スケートボードパーク), Kyoto Japan
Anthony and Mr. M moments after meeting for the first time

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/11, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Rock Garden
Shisendo Temple (詩仙堂), Kyoto Japan
( as seen Nov 5 in “Temple-Hopping with Damien Douxchamps” )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Another Rock Garden
Manshuin Temple (蔓殊院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 160 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Second-Story Overlook
Rurikou-in Temple ( 瑠璃光院 ), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Rich, Deep, Sumptuous Light
at Nishimura Stone Lanterns (西村石灯籠), Kyoto Japan
( We've seen this stone sphere before. )

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 7200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Steep
Nitenji Temple (日天寺), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Closed for the Evening
Honen'in Temple (法然院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 9000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 5
Mediocre Dusk
view from Shogunzuka (将軍塚), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/250 sec, f/1.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 6
Very Private Garden
Honen'in Temple (法然院)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 6
Preparing Lunch
Kyoto University Yoshida Dorm (京都大学の吉田寮), Kyoto Japan
( this dorm is even more of a fire trap than the nearby Kumano Dorm )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 6
Lane 35
Kyoto Dream Bowl (京都ドリームボウル), Kyoto Japan
( one of the friends that Anthony went bowling with )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 7
Overwhelming
Kongorinji Temple (金剛輪寺), Kyoto Japan
a temple of overwhelming sorrow

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 102mm — ¹/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 10
Ollie Attempt
Hiuchigata Skateboard Park (火打形公園スケートボードパーク), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — ¹/100 sec, f/11, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 14
Mildly Carpeted
Iwato Ochiba Jinja (岩戸落葉神社), Kyoto Japan
( as seen in “A Slightly Early Visit to Kyoto's “Fallen Leaf” Ochiba Shrine” )

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 14
Like Shooting Leaves in a Barrel
Kyotomi Pass (京見峠), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 14
Well Worn
Takagamine Senzokucho (鷹峯千束町), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 15
More Color This Time
Shisendo Temple (詩仙堂), Kyoto Japan
from the outing where I shot these

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/200 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 15
Quiet Contemplation
Enkouji Temple (圓光寺), Kyoto Japan

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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/80 sec, f/10, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 16
Secluded
Shouzan (しょうざん), Kyoto Japan
the outing where I did my first real wigglegrams

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/60 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 21
Lovely Path
Koutouin Temple (高桐院), Kyoto Japan
( as seen in “That Amazing Entrance Path of Kyoto Koutouin Temple” )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/80 sec, f/2.2, ISO 110 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 21
Site of a Thousand Wigglegrams
Tenjyuan Garden (天授庵), Kyoto Japan
( or so it seemed, though I've published only this one )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 21
Larry's House
Kaiusou Villa (何有荘), Kyoto Japan
villa that Oracle's Larry Ellison bought for a reported 100 million dollars two years ago
( It's unknown whether he's ever visited )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 21
Well (But Incongruously) Dressed
Nanzenji Temple (南禅寺), Kyoto Japan
I took the shot above not long before taking this wigglegram

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/50 sec, f/2.8, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 25
Bell Tower
Sourenji Temple (宗蓮寺), Kyoto Japan
from this outing

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 25
Now A Carpet
Iwato Ochiba Jinja (岩戸落葉神社), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 25
Shrouded
Hanase, Kitayama (北山花背), Kyoto Japan
farmer burning brush creates a dynamic scene

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 25
Monkeying Around
the Kurama Temple (鞍馬寺), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/16, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 27
Rocky Garden
Housen-in Temple (宝泉院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/1000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 27
Contemplation
Shorin-in Temple (勝林院), Kyoto Japan
( you might have to zoom to understand the caption )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 27
Water Basin
Jikkouin Temple (実光院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 250 — image data
Nov 27
Mountain Path
Near the Sanzen-in Temple (三千院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 27
False Advertising
( it was noisy )
Silent Waterfall (音無滝), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 160 — image data
Nov 27
Back Entrance
Sanzen-in Temple (三千院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 27
Photo Op
Rurikou-in Temple ( 瑠璃光院 ), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 180 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Early Morning Color
Sekisanzen-in Temple (赤山禅院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/500 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Private Lake
Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮), Kyoto Japan
( the Emperor is making a rare visit to Kyoto this week; he may well be sleeping at this villa tonight )

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
No Entrance
Keishun-in Temple (桂春院), Kyoto Japan
the ugly sign is there in case the bamboo barring the way wasn't enough

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/3.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Mid-Afternoon Commute
Myoushinji Temple (妙心寺), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Another Rock Garden
Taizouin Temple (退蔵院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Narrow Entrance Path
Toku'un-in Temple (徳雲院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/100 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 28
Garden-Viewing Room
Daihouin Temple (大法院), Kyoto Japan
as seen in “Tea and Sweets Among the Fall Colors”

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/60 sec, f/2.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nov 30
The New Room
Sumiya (角屋), Kyoto Japan
97-year-old room in a 371-year-old building

I'm going to take it easy for a while, though the layer of snow implied by the current forecast for tomorrow morning may make relaxation impossible. We'll see...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Rainbow Over the “Moon Crossing Bridge”
Arashiyama area of Kyoto, Japan
京都市嵐山の渡月橋と虹

It was, at times, a cold miserable day in Kyoto today, but there's something to be said for being in the right place at the right time.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/500 sec, f/4.5, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Low Slung
with a bird and a hint of doubleness

The rain the rainbows were created in was being swept in low from the mountains to the left. (Fittingly, this area of Kyoto's name, Arashiyama, means “Tempest Mountain”.) Anyway, lacking altitude, they're not one of those tall half circles like this or this. It was quite a squished curve, but what lacked for in height it made up in intensity.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/500 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

The bird in this one is a nice touch, and a bit more obvious than the helicopter in this one.

Continued with a few more shots from a different vantage point, here...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Marching Back
from shooting those red leaves in the background,
at the Toku'un-in Temple (徳雲院), Kyoto Japan

Ce post de blog est pour les parents de Damien Douxchamps, parce que Damien ne leur envoie pas assez de photos de lui-même.

This blog post is for Damien Douxchamps' parents in Belgium, because Damien, who has lived in Japan for the last eight years, doesn't send enough pictures of himself.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Laughing With Paul
at the Sourenji Temple (宗蓮寺), Kyoto Japan
from this outing earlier in the week

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 180 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Okay, I Stand Here for Your Picture”
at the Housen-in Temple (宝泉院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Slight Reaction
to my having said something stupid/silly

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Contemplating
the leaf in the swirl pattern in the gravel
Housen-in Temple (宝泉院)

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Adjusting His Leaf
using my iPhone camera as a mirror

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/8000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Serious Business
Looking macho with his leaf
(C'est juste pour rire)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — image data
A Damien in its Natural Environment
near the Jikkouin Temple (実光院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 250 — image data
Forging Ahead with Paul
Behind the Sanzen-in Temple (三千院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/250 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Intense
in post processing only, like some of these

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Pro Stance
at the Sekisanzen-in Temple (赤山禅院), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Easy to Find
at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮), Kyoto Japan

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sensing
That I have the camera pointed at him

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Yup

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Searching
can't find a leaf to shoot
at the Shugakuin Imperial Villa (修学院離宮)

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — ¹/640 sec, f/1.4, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Killing My Shot

For the most part, Japanese reflexively flash a peace sign when a camera is pointed at them, something that drives most non-Japanese insane, so in the shot above, Damien is mimicking this to spoil my shot. Interestingly, though, he's doing it for exactly the same underlying reason that I suspect the Japanese do it: without something specific to do, they don't know what to do for the camera and so feel uncomfortable.

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Now Trying To Duck my Shot
With Nicolas and Paul joining in

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — ¹/400 sec, f/11, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ultra Killing My Shot
but at least I've got something useful for blackmail some day

I've been running around with Damien a lot while he's visiting Kyoto from Tsukuba. He's appeared tangentially on my blog previously here and here. Also, here are his socks.