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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bill
semi-aware portraiture guinea pig
As I mentioned the other day, I'm interested in upping my people-photography skills, and after watching some Peter Hurley videos I realize that the barrier I face is not technical skill with the camera, but people skills with people.
Knowing what to do is quite different than actually being able to do it, but that's where practice comes in.
So I was out with some friends at a roof-top beer garden the other day and struck up a conversation with the guy at the next table, Bill, a private chef from Boston in town to learn Japanese cooking. We had a fun conversation about food and photography and Japan and such, and since I had my camera with me, it only seemed natural to point it his way at some point.
So I do so, and he steels himself for a pose...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Deer in the Headlights
Bill is a good looking guy, so the picture above isn't bad, but it lacks something because he's posing for the camera instead of being himself.
Thanks to what I learned in the videos I could sense this barrier, and knew enough not to command “smile” in hopes of breaking it, but I didn't know what to do. So from halfway behind the camera I went back to our conversation about the challenges of learning thousands of years worth of Japanese-cooking culture in a few short days, and asked him to make the face he'd have if, on the day of his return, he was tasked with creating a Japanese banquet for an important client. My intent was to bring him through some silly faces to break the grip of “camera”, the finally say something to elicit a smile.
He started to think about it a moment, then snapped “I know what you're doing... it's a photographer's trick!” and started to smile an honest laughing smile...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Realization
... to which I replied “yes, but it seems to be working perfectly”...
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Drat, I Can't Believe He Got Me
that wrascally wrascal
... and once he was free from the “smile for the camera, NOW!” constraints, he smiled a true smile, and I happened to be there with the camera.
Nikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 5600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Money Shot
The results would have been much better except that I had been enjoying myself at an all-you-can-drink beer garden for two hours, was using a new camera I'd had for less than a day and didn't really know how to use, and worst of all, the mixed rooftop lighting was absolutely atrocious (fluorescent lights are generally horrid... they flicker with changing color 60 times a second... fast enough that our eyes blend it all into “white”, but the camera can't do that, and sometimes the top half of the image is lit by a different color than the bottom, or one half is lit while the other isn't. Ugh.)
Anyway, it was good practice.... if he's ever in town again, perhaps I'll get a second chance.
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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
It's a Jungle Out There
moss garden at the Gioji Temple (祇王寺)
Kyoto, Japan
Some more shots from the outing that started with “Tag Along With Me on a Photo Shoot at Kyoto’s Gioji Temple” and covered in a bunch of posts until the most recent, “Taking It Easy With Some Flowers”.
Here's a shot of me, shooting the same mushrooms seen in “Nicolas's White Little Mushrooms”...
E-P2 — 1/60 sec, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Replete with Squished Nose
photo by Nicolas Joannin
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/200 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shot I Got
The other side of the fence roof had some nails sticking out such that you could tell where the board used to be before it rotted away...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/25 sec, f/16, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nails (Sort of)
Let's try that again, but with a thinner depth of field...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nails
Now you can really see them.
The rest of the post is just a bunch of desktop-backgrounds, starting with a wider view of the same fence-roof thing...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Zones
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tuft
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waves
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 560 — map & image data — nearby photos
Reach for the.... er.... Cliché
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
Relaxed
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tile · Bamboo · Reed
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Busy Path
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Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gateway To the Kuuya-taki Waterfall
空也滝 Kyoto Japan
In my previous post, which continued on from “Discovery On The Way to The Waterfall”, we got as far as the shrine gate seen above, not knowing that just beyond it was a wonderful waterfall.
Not knowing there was a wonderful waterfall meant that we weren't prepared for a wonderful waterfall, so the shots on this post are lacking, but okay considering the circumstances.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
First Shot
There were some large rocks far enough away that the mist wasn't too bad, so I tried to set the camera up on them for a longer shot, while Nicolas apparently made good use of the Gorillapod mentioned in an earlier post...
E-P2 + LUMIX G VARIO 14-45/F3.5-5.6 at an effective 28mm — 1.3 sec, f/22, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waterfall And My Head
inspired composition by Nicolas Joannin
It took a while, but I eventually got something from there that I liked...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 0.4 sec, f/7.1, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Not Too Bad
All around were generally unhappy-looking statues...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/6 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Fuzzy
at a handheld 1/6 sec
But everything looks nicer with a waterfall in the background.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/20 sec, f/3.2, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nicolas Joannin
looking relatively sharp at 1/20th of a second
We eventually turned to head back, and I snapped this shot of Nicolas pausing to apparently check out the funky-bark tree highlighted in the previous post, standing on the same little bridge I had been standing on in the first photo of that post, but from the opposite camera angle....
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
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E-P2 + LUMIX G VARIO 14-45/F3.5-5.6 at an effective 32mm — 1/4 sec, f/10, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Still On The Way
photo by Nicolas Joannin
This post picks up from where “Discovery On The Way to The Waterfall” left off the other day. After venturing through a cluster of buildings, I had stopped on a little bridge to take some shots of the water, and Nicolas snapped the photo above.
In the picture above you can see a large tree growing out of the rocks to the left of me. Between that tree and the rocks to the foreground, the stream came pouring through in a little waterfall at eye level that I tried to capture. (The stream then continued under the bridge I was standing on, tumbling down the mountain as we saw in that “on the way...” post.)
I tried a number of hand-held shots of the eye-level waterfall, none of which came out, but this was the least objectionable:
The water seems fine to me (it's got enough blur that I like it, but enough detail to perhaps satisfy those who don't like the milky-smooth waterfall cliché), but the composition just does nothing for me. I think I was just too lazy to switch to my 50mm lens.
E-P2 + LUMIX G VARIO 14-45/F3.5-5.6 at an effective 32mm — 1/10 sec, f/5.6, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Trying To Be Steady
photo by Nicolas Joannin
The view up the stairs was nice, with the shrine gate and all...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/40 sec, f/8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Inviting
We still had no idea what was beyond the steps or how far the path went, much less that there was an amazing waterfall patiently waiting for our cameras.
But I did see that the aforementioned tree had some interesting bark illuminated by some really gorgeous light, so I moved my attention that way...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/60 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Oddly Textured
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Alien Crop Patterns
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/80 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Really Wishing
that I had used my polarizer filter
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Scooped
scoop patterns like in the top of a large tub of ice cream
Despite the appearance of a trough left by an ice-cream scoop, it seems clear that these weren't made by mechanical means. Perhaps some kind of tree virus? Hopefully Peter, my staff botanist, will chime in here.
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/200 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Now This Is Getting Ridiculous
makes last week's tiny orange and tiny white mushrooms look huge
E-P2 + LUMIX G VARIO 14-45/F3.5-5.6 at an effective 28mm — 1/8 sec, f/8, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Context
photo by Nicolas Joannin
Eventually we made our way up what turned out to be the last set of stairs...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1100 — map & image data — nearby photos
空也
I didn't know anything about it at the time, it's this guy born in 1,109 years ago
At the top of the steps, still not privy to the waterfall just around the corner, the light in the little valley was just gorgeous, and I got this kind of “layers of leaves” shot that I really love, but looks flat when it's not totally filling the screen (so be sure to click through to a desktop-background size if you're also into this kind of look)...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Layers and Layers
And then a few steps and our jaws dropped.
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Why, Hello There!
As I mentioned yesterday in “Discovery On The Way to The Waterfall”, Kyoto biologist Nicolas Joannin sort of likes bugs, so I find myself snapping pictures of the little devils when I'm out with him.
The image above is a crop from this shot:
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Warning: this post has pictures of bugs. Don't scroll if you're squeamish.
(I'm quite squeamish about bugs, so nothing too wild on this post.)
We were at the Gioji Temple (as I've been posting about, starting with “Tag Along With Me on a Photo Shoot at Kyoto’s Gioji Temple”), and when we weren't taking pictures of the temple's ample moss and ferns or little microscopic mushrooms (white or orange, take your pick), we didn't have to look far to find a bug.
Sometimes we ran into them, literally, or almost ran into them. This next little guy, the size of a grain of rice, was hanging from an invisible thread at Nicolas's forehead level, and I noticed and was able to alert Nicolas about an inch from impact....
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Hanging By A Thread
Full on 125mm 1:1 macro handheld at f/2.5 of a bug whipping around in the breeze is not going to turn out well, and indeed you can't really identify the green smudge in the picture above. Nicolas did better when he was simply trying to shoot me shooting the bug...
E-P2 — 1/160 sec, ISO 400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Me and The Bug
which is which is left as an exercise for the reader
photo by Nicolas Joannin
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Legs
In an earlier post, I showed Nicolas under a dark roof photographing a bug... here's his photo of a spider:
And here's mine...
This guy's web was really interesting with the white spiral pattern, but wow did it undulate at a high frequency in the wind (sometimes aided by a puff from a chuckling Nicolas).
Later we came across this punk-rock caterpillar:
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Then there was this guy just about to start a meal...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/200 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mmmmmm.... Lunch
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/100 sec, f/2.5, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
I noticed a black butterfly/moth thing on a nearby tree, but it moved to the other side of the tree before I could get it. But Nicolas followed, and got this nice shot:
A bit later, Nicolas found this little guy on his finger...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Just Moments
before the little guy bit Nicolas
We then moved from the Gioji Temple and headed into the mountains, stopping by a place of some historical significance that I'll explain later. While there, we came across this hairy guy:
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tom Selleck
The shape reminds me, oddly enough, of Tom Selleck's mustache, but also in some ways of the “angel wing” countermeasure flares that military airplanes use in defense. The latter probably makes more sense, since as far as I can tell this is the caboose.
E-P2 — 1/80 sec, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Me and Tom
Me with a squished nose; Tom is the yellow smudge at the bottom of the frame
photo by Nicolas Joannin
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Tom was on a rusty fence blocking this path up a very steep incline):
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Going Up
( but not anymore )
This was where the Mt. Atago railway used to run, similar, I suppose, to the train (“cable car” in Japanese) seen last month in “Returning From the Mt. Hiei Hike: Taking The Easy Way Out”. It ran from 1927 until the Japanese military confiscated it for its iron in 1944. You can see some old pictures of what it looked like here.