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Picking up from yesterday's post about my brother-in-law Shogo getting married, after the “chapel wedding” and outside photo ops, we moved inside for a short hors d'oeuvre reception before the main banquet reception.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/250 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shogo Makes a Short Speech
while Namiko simply radiates
( By the way, a different — and amazing — version of this photo appears here )
Soon the couple was whisked away for some backstage preparations or other, and the guests were left to fend for themselves with an open bar and a wide variety of apparently-delicious hors d'oeuvres that I didn't get around to enjoying myself because I preferred to enjoy the camera.
However, the room made it really challenging, with direct sunlight streaming in on one side, over to dark and cozy shadows at the other. If I had the least bit of confidence with a flash I probably would have made it much easier on myself, but I'm very much an ambient light kind of guy, so I had to make do the best I could...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
The Room
bright sunlight at left, father of the bride at center, subdued lighting at right
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony and His Mom and Her Mom
nephew, sister, and mother of the groom
( son, wife, and mother-in-law of me )
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
Orange Juice in an Adult Glass
( it was fresh squeezed, and very good )
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/200 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Curious George Drank Nothing
he's a stuffed monkey, silly
( though he does have a passport )
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 48 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Father of the Groom Enjoyed a Well-Earned Beer
I'm really happy with the photo above, because it's more than just blind luck. I purposefully put the sunlight at his back, and dropped down to create an imposing angle, knowing (or at least hoping) that his great smile would turn the “imposing angle” into something warm and inviting and fun, something that accurately reflected the mood. It's not the best photo in the world, but I think the result is good.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Some of the Hors d'Oeuvres
veggies presented as a fun and healthy snack
Only some light snacks are shown above, but the volume and variety of hors d'oeuvres were such that I wondered whether that was the main meal, so had to ask. Anthony had enough beef to hold him to dinner, even though a full okosama plate (“Most-Honorable-Child's Meal”) awaited him at the banquet reception.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/160 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Investigating the Offerings
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/500 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Blank Slate
prior to the guests being invited to decorate it
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 220 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony Adds Some Fruit Slices
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 4500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Writing a Note With Chocolate Frosting
Anthony has had some practice writing with frosting, having been able to play with the leftovers from these cookies that Fumie prepared when he turned seven, almost a year ago.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 66 mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony's Note
“congratulations”
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 280 — map & image data — nearby photos
More Friends, More Notes
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Group Effort
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 62 mm — 1/200 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Creating a Work of Art
The guy in the photo above spent quite a while drawing a picture, but for the life of me I can't find the photo of it that I thought I took, so this is a big fail on my part. 🙁
And speaking of fails, the focus in this next shot is horribly off...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shogo College Buddy
horribly out of focus in the darkest part of the room
I ventured into the darker reaches of the room, and even at f/1.4 and ISO 6,400, I was still pushing my luck. I've written many times about the Nikon D700's low-light prowess (such as in “Impossible Photography: No Light, No Tripod, No Hope. D700 and a 50mm f/1.2”), but you still need enough light to focus well, and enough skill to put it all together, and I was missing both.
I was borrowing the new Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 from Stéphane Barbery, along with his camera (so that I had two Nikon D700 bodies, and could have two lenses at the ready at all times), so maybe I would have had better focus luck by using its autofocus. But I prefer to focus manually, and sometimes pay the price for my arrogance.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 1250 — map & image data — nearby photos
Family Meeting
parents of the couple chat, while Anthony downs another OJ
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
No-Nonsense. Serious.
Father of the Groom
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/1.4, ISO 3600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Okay, Maybe Not So Serious
sharing a fun moment with his niece (the oldest daughter of his sister, who is just out of frame)
After this was the full-on banquet reception.
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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/8000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shogo and Namiko
emerge from the chapel
( with his folks waiting at left, her folks at right )
Fumie's brother (my brother-in-law), Shogo, got married yesterday, to Namiko Shimoya, in Nagoya Japan.
I was there as a guest, but of course I had my camera, so took a few snapshots (about 1,200). I hold out hope that at least a few came out.
The day's events started with a short ceremony in a Western-esque chapel, then a short hors d'oeuvre reception, then the full-on wedding reception party. I've only glanced at the photos from the first part so far, so that's what I'll present in today's post.
I've written before about Japanese chapel weddings here, though this time there was no “minister” as featured in that post. Also unlike that post, which features photos taken during a fake wedding to demonstrate a hotel's chapel for prospective couples, this was a real wedding and I couldn't move around, so all photos inside the chapel were from my seat (which, being husband to the groom's sister, was in the photographically advantageous front row, and thankfully at the end of the row, so I knew that I wouldn't be blocking anyone else's sight lines).
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
Getting Seated
Anthony, Fumie, and Fumie's folks in the front row
( I'd overexposed the shot in camera, and took the vibe further in Lightroom )
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/320 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shogo Enters First
escorted by his parents
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/800 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Waiting for His Bride
completely at ease, totally enjoying the day
I've known Shogo for 13 years, since he was a senior in high school, and I realized at the wedding that I've never really known him. He's always been the quiet type... friendly and affable, yes, but quiet, a man of few words. So I was completely surprised at the outgoing, totally at-ease man we experienced, on top of the world and just thrilling to a fun day. It was wonderful.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Namiko Shimoya
makes her entrance, being given away by her father
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Veil Has Been Lifted
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony Brings in the Rings
an old hand at it, having done it twice before (here and here)
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Placing Her Ring
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/125 sec, f/6.3, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Presentation
There were various ceremonies, such as having the best man and bridesmaid sign the wedding registry as official witnesses, and eventually....
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/800 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Ave Maria
The wedding venue had an interesting design... the couple exited the chapel via the doors at the back, into what appeared to be some other room, and the doors closed behind them. Then almost immediately, the doors opened again and the chapel was flooded with brilliant sunlight. It turns out that there were two sets of doors separated by a thin hallway; the outside pair remained closed when the couple exited the chapel, then when the inside pair was closed, the outside pair was opened to the sunlight, and then the inside pair was opened to let the sunlight flood in. It was quite a dramatic effect.
In the brief moment when both pairs of doors were closed, the couple stepped out of sight in the in-between hallway, and waited there as all the guests exited the chapel and lined the set of steps just outside. Then the couple made a grand exit from the chapel at the top of the steps, and descended the stairs amid a shower of flower petals that the guests had been provided....
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/8000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Exiting the Chapel
to a shower of flower petals
At the very top of the steps were the couple's parents, followed by close relatives and then more-distant relatives, and then friends spilling off the bottom of the steps. I should have been next to Fumie (in the purple kimono above), but this one time I stepped out of my place as a guest to get a better photo.... the venue offered an excellent location to get photos from a great vantage, but none of the official photographers were there, so I felt it was worth while to take the opportunity to try for some unique shots for them.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/4000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gauntlet of Petals
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Surrounded by Friends
The arrangement on the steps was designed to give the parents and close relatives the best position, but in looking at the photos, I realize it's really a great metaphor for life. The couple start out first with family (that they didn't pick, but were born in to), and progress toward the friends that they have chosen for themselves.
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 36 mm — 1/2000 sec, f/7.1, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Photo Op
#18 of 623
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 — 1/8000 sec, f/1.4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Two Things Everyone Had
a smile and a camera
Everyone was then repositioned on the stairs for a formal portrait, this time with the couple and close family up front at the bottom of the stairs, and friends in back at the top. (For this I put my cameras away, of course.)
After the formal photo I recollected my camera as the couple headed in, and I got this shot that really stands out in my mind...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24 mm — 1/5000 sec, f/5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Shogo Waves to His Buddies
I would have never imagined the Shogo I thought I knew doing this, but the new Shogo (or the old Shogo newly revealed to me) was on top of the world and thoroughly enjoying the day, and had no problem letting everyone feel and share in his joy.
Another photo I really like, taken moments later....
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70 mm — 1/1600 sec, f/5, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
My Honey and Our Boy
We all then went inside for phase two, the short hors d'oeuvre reception.
Continued here:
- Hors d'Oeuvre Reception
- Reception, Part I
- Reception, Part II (Cutting of the Cake)
- Reception, Part III (Interlude)
- Reception, Part IV (Mingling)
- Reception, Part V (Entertainment)
- Namiko Candid Bride Portrait
- Creating Photo Books with Lightroom, InDesign, and Blurb
- Shogo and Namiko’s Wedding Wrapup
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Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 78 mm — 1/320 sec, f/5.6, ISO 450 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony and His Tree, 2010
seven years old
We're back in Kyoto for a month now, but it seems I've forgotten to post this summer's picture of Anthony in front of the tree he planted at 1 year old at my folks' place in Ohio. I try to get a photo with him each year, such as at six years old, four years old, and three years old).
His tree is the evergreen, which though it's hard to see, almost reaches the top of the frame.
The other tree's broad leaves had some beads of water that I'd not quite seen before...
I had my Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 macro lens, so gave it a try with the odd refractions coming from the droplets...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/5.6, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony was not at all interested in this...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/640 sec, f/2.5, ISO 360 — map & image data — nearby photos
Impatient
He wanted to drive the tractor (which means he sits on my lap and steers, while I work the pedals), so I put the camera away and off we headed toward the barn where the tractor goes. We passed the lake, which I always find photogenic....
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 240 mm — 1/500 sec, f/6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
... and eventually reach the barn to park. My mom's got lots of flowers around everywhere, which are also photogenic and quite challenging because the colors are often so bold or delicate or fleeting, and next to the barn were these puff-balls of small flowers...
Nikon D700 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/2500 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Some of the puffs were slightly off-white green, and others were a more-greenish creamy off-white green, but every time I look at them on screen the color seems wrong. They're still pretty...
Somehow mixing in some creamy bokeh makes a better match for the creamy color...
So I like that last shot the better.
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Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Bonking The Biggest Mokugyou in the World
two years ago at the Youkouji Temple, Kyoto Japan
when Anthony was 5½ years old
A mokugyou (literally “Wooden Fish”) is a hollow musical instrument carved out of a single piece of wood. They can range in size from fairly small walnuts, to the size seen in the photo above, the largest mokugyou in the world. The sound is appreciably deep.
A mokugyou is often used in Buddhist rites, such as seen in this photo from one of the funeral rites of Fumie's grandmother, two and a half years ago. The photos on this page are at the Youkouji Temple (永興寺), taken after the follow-on funeral rite seen in Kotsuiri — “Placing of the Bones”, when her bones were interred at the temple's graveyard.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 22 mm — 1/40 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
It's been on my mind to post this ever since. I recall that they told me all kinds of stuff about it (how old it is, etc.), but now I don't recall. I stop by every so often to tend to the grave marker, so I really should ask them for the particulars on the thing.
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 55 mm — 1/25 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Outside Detail
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 20 mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Wider View
The big mokugyou is behind the red tassels on the right,
while a smaller one for day-to-day use is right behind Anthony
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17 mm — 1/180 sec, f/4, ISO 1000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Temple Passageways
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 32 mm — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Outside Art
partially submerged dragon, I think
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Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/800 sec, f/9, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
During a stop at an ocean-side park during our short May trip down to Awaji Island a couple of hours from Kyoto by car, I came across a rack of filled with trays of cruncy snacks waiting for hungry customers.
Let's take a closer look...
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 50 mm — 1/800 sec, f/4.5, ISO 320 — map & image data — nearby photos
うるめ
“Round Herring”
Each skewer of a dozen fish sells for about US$4.
(There are about $2,000 worth of fish in this rack, in case you're really hungry.)
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 95 mm — 1/800 sec, f/5, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 210 mm — 1/800 sec, f/6, ISO 720 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 190 mm — 1/800 sec, f/10, ISO 2500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Nikon D700 + Sigma “Bigma” 50-500mm OS @ 410 mm — 1/800 sec, f/11, ISO 3200 — map & image data — nearby photos
The geometric nature of the display garnered a spot on my earlier “Geometric Awaji” post.