Japan
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I think it is one of the most incredible man-made structures to see in Japan. Pictures only do it partial justice and seeing the entrance from the road does little to inspire, but getting there and beginning the walk up the mountain it becomes breathtaking. The Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably my favorite place to visit in Japan, with the exception of the incredible camera stores in Osaka and Tokyo I've been to Fushimi Inari several times, and I continue to feel the pull to visit it again. Each opportunity to photograph there is unique, and different opportunities are present throughout the day. Photographing it the morning, mid-day, evening and at night all produce incredible images, each with their own unique characteristics. And, during my several visits I’ve photographed it on different cameras and mediums, from the standard point and shoot up to medium format film, which is what this image was taken with. The film, Portra 400, gives this image a vintage look. I love it.
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Kyoto, as one of Japan's cultural centers, has a wealth of beautiful sights. Everything from centuries old classic gardens to stunning examples of traditional Japanese architecture. The Rokuon-ji falls into the latter category, one of Kyoto's most visited temples. Unofficially called the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, it's history dates to 1397, though the temple was rebuilt in 1955 after it had been burned down. The Pavilion is most recognizable for its gold-leaf coating, which covers the top two floors of the structure. I've had the chance to visit Rokuon-ji a few times during my travels to Japan, and each time I've enjoyed visiting the Pavilion. Despite being a major tourist attraction, the entire complex maintains a tranquil serenity; were it not for the obviously pun, I would describe it as zen-like. Photographing the Golden Pavilion is also a joy, though it can take a while for the crowds along with waterfront to disperse enough to allow for the right angle and reflection. I lucked out this specific day, with overcast skies which were helpful since I was shooting film. I absolutely love the reflection of the tree, Pavilion and the clouds in the water; without those, the image would only be mediocre.
The Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably my favorite place to visit in Japan, with the exception of the incredible camera stores in Osaka and Tokyo. Each opportunity to photograph at the Shrine is unique, and different opportunities are present throughout the day, as this image demonstrates. I’d arrived early from Osaka to photograph in the early morning light. It was still quite dark on the mountain, and I was set up to do a long exposure panorama. There weren’t many people visiting the Shrine at this hour, so getting a people-free images was easy. But, after I’d set up and done a few test exposures for the planned pano, I turned and saw a woman in a stark white kimono coming towards me. There was no time to change the camera settings; just enough time to loosen the tripod and recompose the frame to capture this woman as she walked by. The camera was set for a long exposure, which created the “ghost” that is seen in the frame. At first I was disappointed I hadn’t captured the woman frozen in time, but after reviewing the image some more, I came to really love it.
I think it is one of the most incredible man-made structures to see in Japan. Pictures only do it partial justice and seeing the entrance from the road does little to inspire, but getting there and beginning the walk up the mountain it becomes breathtaking. The Fushimi Inari Shrine is probably my favorite place to visit in Japan, with the exception of the incredible camera stores in Osaka and Tokyo I've been to Fushimi Inari several times, and I continue to feel the pull to visit it again. Each opportunity to photograph there is unique, and different opportunities are present throughout the day. Photographing it the morning, mid-day, evening and at night all produce incredible images, each with their own unique characteristics. This image is a panoramic stitch of 7 individual images. Taken at mid-day, the vermillion torii gates shade the path, and the wooded mountainside shades the torii gates. While it was hot and humid this day, the image presents a sense of cool tranquility and peace, which is one of the major draws of Fushimi Inari.
