Scale
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/100
Well, day by day, I’m still editing and posting up what’s left of my previous photo excursions into the late November/early December time of year here in Japan. As the chill of winter starts to set in, the flora all around is slowly dying off, with colors fading and leaves falling to be swept up the next day. Pretty soon, the hum-drum of my least favorite season will take over for a few months, leaving me a bit more time to a) Sleep in more b) Work on some lens/gear reviews and c) Hopefully sleep in again some more! Of course, when the cold does get here to stay, I will make my best effort to get some snow shots, maybe even as far north as Hokkaido’s epic snow villages if I get a 3-day weekend.
But, if my current photos have anything to say about it, that time has not yet come! Right near the peak of Fall color in Tokyo, some friends and I headed on a late afternoon trip to the 143-acre Shinjuku National Garden to catch some late November sights. I did not realize just how impressively the park expands into about a third of the size of New York’s Central Park. As are many things in Japan, however, the park is very space-efficient and contains many smaller vistas and gardens for visitors to enjoy, in addition to vast stretches of open field for picnicking and recreational sports. At the super-reasonable 200¥ admission price, I’ll likely see myself coming back again later next year. All photos below with the NEX-7 and Rokinon 16mm f/2, Zeiss Touit 32mm, and Laowa 105mm T3.2 (the last of which I really, really am trying to find time to review!).
Entrance
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/125
As expected, the crowds at the entrance gates only increased on the main thoroughfares through the park.
Hustle and Bustle
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/60
Slow Sunset
105mm, ISO 100, T3.2, 1/400
Not too far from the entrance, we spotted one of many large ginkgo trees drawing many visitors.
In the Distance…
105mm, ISO 100, T5.6, 1/500, in-camera panorama
Relax, Enjoy the View!
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/160
All other species in the gingko division are extinct, and the ginkgo biloba is a hearty species with its seeds used in medicine and food. Even Tokyo prefecture’s symbol is that of a gingko leaf, so it’s easy to understand its significance in Japan.
Warm Reach
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/60
Ginko Social
16mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/125
High Above
105mm, ISO 100, T3.2, 1/125
Moving along some of the many small ponds in the park, visitors can come across more traditional sights seen in much smaller gardens elsewhere.
Bridge
32mm, ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/250
Couple by the Pond
32mm, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/80
Deep Overhang
105mm, ISO 100, T3.2, 1/160
Triple
32mm, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/800
Just a short walk away, Shinjuku Gyoen holds a rather large French-style garden as well, though most of the (impressively large) roses were quite past their prime.
Stalks
32mm, ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/800
French Garden Piles
32mm, ISO 100, f/5, 1/80
Before long, the sun was well on its way towards the horizon, so we headed out to stop by the Yoyogi area once again.
NTT Docomo Reflection
32mm, ISO 100, f/4, 1/160
Gnarled
32mm, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/50
Laughs at the Sendagaya Gate
32mm, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/50
Color on TMR 414
32mm, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/40
Cookies and Burgers
32mm, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/30
Takeshita Street
32mm, ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/60
Takeshita Street is one of the many pedestrian-centric shopping streets in Japan’s big cities. Though, as you can see, it is much more busy and modern than Komachi Street in Kamakura from my last post! Already tired, and at this point suffering from the newly-sprained ankle from that day, my friends instead helped me hobble back to the train station back to Yokosuka for the night.
And with that, I’m one step closer to catching up to the here and now! That’s all for this post, guys and gals, thanks for dropping by! Still getting used to my new a6500 currently, and from test shots so far, it is looking like it will be a mighty fine addition to my kit right alongside “grandpa” NEX-7. Apart from some firmware issues between the Touit and the camera (which Zeiss will be fixing in a week for me), it’s a solid performer through and through. As always, have a great day!
