{"id":2401,"date":"2014-03-17T23:16:13","date_gmt":"2014-03-17T14:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-03-17\/2401"},"modified":"2014-03-17T23:16:13","modified_gmt":"2014-03-17T14:16:13","slug":"scenes-from-the-2014-kyoto-higashiyama-lightup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/2014-03-17\/2401","title":{"rendered":"Scenes from the 2014 Kyoto Higashiyama Lightup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>80 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nYasaka 5<\/span>-Storied Pagoda<\/span>\ngiven a bit of an artsy treatment\n\u516b\u5742<\/span>\u306e\u5854<\/span>\nKyoto, Japan\n
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\n1050×<\/span>1680<\/a>  ·  1200×<\/span>1920<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>2560<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

\u5915\u3079\u3001\u53cb\u9054\u3068\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u4eac\u90fd\u6771\u5c71\u82b1\u706f\u8def<\/a>\u3092\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3001\uff16\u5e74\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3002\u5149\u6e90\u3068\u5f71\u306e\u9593\u306e\u660e\u308b\u3055\u304c\u5927\u304d\u3059\u304e\u305f\u306e\u3067\u3001\u64ae\u5f71\u304c\u306a\u304b\u306a\u304b\u96e3\u3057\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n\n\n

Yesterday after seeing the\nplum blossoms in the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park<\/a>, I made a<\/span> trip out to see the annual Kyoto Higashiyama\nLightup<\/a>. It was the<\/span> first time since 2008, when I posed<\/span> a report<\/span><\/a> in two parts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

As I tried to take photos, I remembered why I skipped<\/span> it all these\nyears... the difference between the dark of the evening and the brightness\nof the lanterns and other displays is just way too much for a camera<\/span> to do\nanything reasonable with, unless you move to HDR<\/a> and its often\nunearthly results. (Unearthly results can be quite stunningly good, as Trey Ratcliff<\/a> often shows, but\nit's not really my cup of tea.)<\/p>\n\n

I did bring my big tripod with me, but didn't use it all that much\nbecause I'm just too lazy. The photos<\/span> reflect that laziness, with a lot<\/span> of\nmushy softness due to slow shutters, high ISO, and heavy noise reduction in\nLightroom. The lead photo<\/span> above was so mushy that in order to (perhaps)\nrecover something useful from it, I pushed<\/span> the mushiness further and added\nsome grain. I guess<\/span> I must<\/span> like the result, since I'm leading with it.<\/p>\n\n

My evening started at the Chion'in Temple where I met<\/span> some friends. This is the\ntemple undergoing roof repairs<\/a> that I recently<\/span> wrote about. Since I had<\/span> the tripod with me, I tried<\/span> a crisp<\/span> photo of its main gate (which I also<\/span> wrote about recently, here<\/a>)...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 0.8 sec, f<\/span>\/5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nMain Gate<\/span>\nChion'in Temple (\u77e5\u6069\u9662)\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

They had some kind of “<\/span>light projection”<\/span> artistic event going on inside, and the line to get in was huge...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLine Snakes Out to the Street<\/span>\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

(You can't tell in the crappy photo above, but the path is quite nice, as seen here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n

As I waited for friends, I filled my time with the camera...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRickshaw Parking<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWell-Dressed Photographers<\/span>\nor, at least, well-dressed ladies snapping a cell<\/span>-phone photo\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 0.5 sec, f<\/span>\/3.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nThis Entrance Closed<\/span>\nplease use the side door\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

We then made our way to the Shouren'in Temple, often seen on my blog due to the flower-arranging show they have every year\n(pics: 2013<\/a>, 2012<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n

Lanterns along a wall across from the temple (at a condo,<\/span> which is actually where I lived<\/span> when I first<\/span> moved to Kyoto):<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>320 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCondo Wall<\/span>\ntastefully done, as should be, across from the Shoren'in Temple (\u9752\u84ee\u9662)<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Facing the wall, between it and the temple proper, are several\n800-year-old camphor trees. They're very hard for me to photograph for some\nreason, but perhaps one is because the utility wires cutting through just\ndestroy it for me.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 1250 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLit Up Camphor Tree<\/span>\n800ish years old\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>100 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 4500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nI Do<\/span> Love The Roots, Though<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f\/1.4 — 6 sec, f<\/span>\/16, ISO 800 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nStanding Steady<\/span>\nDamien doesn't seem to move during the six-second exposure\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Over in Maruyama Park they had all kinds of various displays, many the same\nas I showed<\/span> six years ago<\/a>. A new display<\/span> had a bunch<\/span> of\nlight cylinders on which people could put blossom-shaped papers with their wish written...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 1400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLight Wish Cylinder... Things<\/span>\nMaruyama Park (\u5186\u5c71\u516c\u5712)\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

When I walked up to them and saw that the blossom-shaped papers had writing, the very first text I noticed<\/span>\nwas a wish<\/span> that stock prices end high. The one immediately<\/span> below it asked for happiness for all the world....<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/2.2, ISO 1600 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nFull Gamut of Wishes<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 2500 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Not really inspired by the technical difficulties in photographing such dark\/bright scenes, I moved<\/span> over to the little pond\nand tried some longish exposures of quite dark scenes...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 8 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\n10-Second Exposure<\/span>\nmakes the moving crowd disappear\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 10 sec, f<\/span>\/2.5, ISO 100 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nWell, Mostly Disappear<\/span>\nthe ghost in the reflection apparently stood still most of the time\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Moving along...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/2, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nQuintessential Japanese Aesthetic<\/span>\nrefined sense marred by a useless traffic cone\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nRock<\/span>\nundoubtedly to encourage drivers not to clip the wall\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>400 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 5000 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nCute Kid<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 2200 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nModern But Powerful<\/span>\nat the entrance to the Daiun-in Temple (\u5927\u96f2\u9662)<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

The photo doesn't seem to capture it, but for some reason I really<\/span> liked\nthe modern stone lantern at the entrance to the Daiun-in Temple (\u5927\u96f2\u9662).<\/span> Its lighting<\/span> was really well done, which certainly helped.<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>160 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nAnother Entrance<\/span>\nthis time to the Entoku-in Temple (\u5713\u5fb3\u9662)<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>50 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nYasaka Pagoda From Afar<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

(The photos I took from the same spot in 2008<\/a> came out better; then I used<\/span> the tripod, and a much<\/span> longer lens.)<\/p>\n\n

One could also look down onto a lane<\/span> that sort of leads to the Kiyomizu Temple, which looks quite different now compared to six years ago...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 cropped — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nLast Night<\/span>\n\u6628\u65e5\u306e\u4e8c\u5e74\u5742\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n
<\/a>\nNikon D200 + Nikkor 70-200mm f\/2.8 at an effective 180mm — 4 sec, f<\/span>\/4.5, ISO 160 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nSix Years Ago<\/span>\n\uff16\u5e74\u524d\u306e\u4e8c\u5e74\u5742\u3002\u96fb\u5b50\u67f1\u3070\u304b\u308a\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

Kyoto has slowly<\/i> been trying to remove the ugly utility poles and\nwires. It's been eight years<\/i> since the big construction<\/a> in\nfront of my place to make tunnels for the wires under the road, but the\npoles still remain. The effect<\/span> when they're gone, as seen above, is almost surreal.\nWalking later on that road, I felt as<\/span> if I was<\/span> on a movie<\/span> set.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>200 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nYasaka Pagoda<\/span>\ncloser this time\n
Vertical Desktop-Background Versions<\/b>\n\n\n1050×<\/span>1680<\/a>  ·  1200×<\/span>1920<\/a>  ·  1600×<\/span>2560<\/a><\/small><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

On the way home, I passed through the Yasaka Shrine (quite a distance<\/span> from, and perhaps unrelated to, the similarly-named pagoda seen above)...<\/p>\n\n

<\/a>\nNikon D4 + Nikkor 85mm f\/1.4 — 1<\/sup>\/<\/big>125 sec, f<\/span>\/1.4, ISO 6400 —\nmap & image data<\/a> — nearby photos<\/a><\/span>\nQuiet Path<\/span>\nYasaka Shrine (\u516b\u5742\u795e\u793e)\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n

I don't really care for the Yasaka Shrine, but I do<\/span> like this path,\nwhich has appeared on my blog here<\/a>\nand here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u5915\u3079\u3001\u53cb\u9054\u3068\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u4eac\u90fd\u6771\u5c71\u82b1\u706f\u8def\u3092\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3001\uff16\u5e74\u3076\u308a\u3067\u3002\u5149\u6e90\u3068\u5f71\u306e\u9593\u306e\u660e\u308b\u3055\u304c\u5927\u304d\u3059\u304e\u305f\u306e\u3067\u3001\u64ae\u5f71\u304c\u306a\u304b\u306a\u304b\u96e3\u3057\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>

Yesterday after seeing the plum blossoms in the Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, I made a trip out to see the annual Kyoto Higashiyama Lightup. It was the first time since 2008, when I posed a report in two parts.<\/p>

As I tried to take photos, I remembered why I skipped it all these years... the difference between the dark of the evening and the brightness of the lanterns and other displays is just way too much for a camera to do anything reasonable with, unless you move to HDR and its often unearthly results. (Unearthly results can be quite [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,10,25],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2401\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/regex.info\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}