Monk in contemplation

Monk in Contemplation

Monk in Contemplation. Japan. A monk of the Buddhist temple Hasedera, Sakurai City, Nara Prefecture, contemplates the beauty of nature during autumn, when the leaves of Momiji trees turn red. Moments of contemplation like this are a common factor in all those meditative disciplines and activities which detach from the hectic modern daily life, slow down and meet the “pace of nature”.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
Focal lenght: 135mm
Shutter time: 1/13 s
Aperture: F/4.5
Sensitivity: ISO400

 

You can find the full blog post about the culture and history of tea in Japan at the following page: Tea culture in Japan: history, tradition and plantation of Wazuka

 

 

Path to the forbidden forest

Path to the forbidden forest.

Path to the forbidden forest. Japan. A stairway of stones, plentifully bestrewn with the last leaves of autumn, leads to the heart of the sacred forbidden forest.
With this work I wanted to convey a sense of mysticism, which can be felt during this particular moment of autumn, when the flaming red leaves of the Momiji trees (japanese maple trees) adorn the ancient stairway of stones that leads to the temple into the forest. This scene represented for me the perfect bond between nature and the work of man to approach the divine.

To capture this image I used my Pentax K-3 camera with the Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM lens, mounted on a tripod, and the Lee Polariser filter. To reach the highest possible resolving power of the sensor, I’ve set the aperture to the lens’ sweet spot of f/5.6, then I shot using the Mirror Up function and the wireless trigger, avoiding any unwanted micro-movement. This is actually a composite image of seven different shots, blended together to remove some tourists from the scene.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: Pentax SMC DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM
Focal lenght: 58mm
Shutter time: 1/2 s
Aperture: F/5.6
Sensitivity: ISO100

 

This photograph has been awarded with an Honorable Mention in the 2018 edition of the ipa int’l Photography Awards: “The Path to The Forbidden Forest” – Category Nature/Seasons

 

 

Visit to the shrine

Visit to the shrine.

Visit to the shrine. Two japanese girls, dressed with colorful kimono, pay a visit to the Hirano Shrine, part of a large complex located in the north-western area of Kyoto. I took this shot after what it seemed an endless waiting: the shrine was packed with tourists dressed in the most disparate ways, resulting in a somewhat uninspiring view. In a stroke of luck, I seized the only moment in which those two girls were alone inside the frame and, what is more, it coincided with some clear up in a rather cloudy day.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Focal lenght: 35mm
Shutter time: 1/100 s
Aperture: F/2.8
Sensitivity: ISO100

 

 

The mirror of lacquer

The mirror of lacquer.

The mirror of lacquer. Japan. One of the most sought-after sights during this season in Japan is definitely the one you can enjoy inside the Rurikoin: in this private temple there’s a room opened on two sides to the garden. The special feature of this room is a polished lacquered table that reflects the amazing palette of colors of the Momiji trees in late autumn.
If you are going to visit Kyoto, this is a must see location. Unfortunately the stiff admission ticket is not a deterrent for the hundreds of tourists who want to enjoy this place everyday, so you have to be a bit lucky and hope not to visit the Rurikoin packed in a crowd…

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM
Focal lenght: 10mm
Shutter time: 1/30 s
Aperture: F/5.6
Sensitivity: ISO100

 

Jizos autumn

Jizos autumn: A detail of the shifting colors of the Momiji leaves which frame the staircase of Jizos, near the Shinomiya Shrine in Miyajima, Hiroshima, Japan

Jizos autumn. This photograph is a second view of the previously shared “Hundred Jizos path”, but taken a bit later, when the sun was setting. The low rays of light made the colors of the Momiji leaves even more vibrant than during the day and the statues of the Jizos below seemed to take life, as if they were walking and talking each other. The colorful skullcaps popping out from below the Momiji leaves made this glimpse curious and fascinating.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
Focal lenght: 80mm
Shutter time: 1/160s
Aperture: F/6.3
Sensitivity: ISO200

 

The photo “jizos autumn” is part of the article about the Momijidani Park of Miyajima at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-miyajima-momijidani-park/

 

Hundred Jizos path

Hundred Jizos path: A staircase of stone surrounded by a hundred of jizos and framed by the colors of autumn in Miyajima, Hiroshima, Japan.

The path the runs through the Momijidani Park, in Miyajima, leads to the nearbies of the Shinomiya Shrine; there you’ll find an enchanting staircase of stone, surrounded by hundreds of Jizos. Those many smiling statues, dressed up with colorful skullcaps and scarfs, represent the Bodhisattvas who protect the travelers, children and women. In Autumn, some Momiji trees, with their vibrant red leaves, frame the staircase making the walk a delightful experience.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: SMC DA 15mm F4 ED AL Limited
Focal lenght: 15mm
Shutter time: 1/30s
Aperture: F/6.3
Sensitivity: ISO200

 

You can read the complete article about the Momijidani Park of Miyajima at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-miyajima-momijidani-park/
 

Light the fire

Light the fire. A lantern of a traditional tea house pops out from the autumnal vegetation in Miyajima, Hiroshima, Japan

Light the fire. In the nearby of the first bridge of Momijidani Park there’s a deviation from the main path, along which you can find some traditional tea houses: they are surrounded by trees and low hedges and their natural colors make them almost mimetic. What catches your attention, anyway, is the feeble glow of the lanterns hanging below the corners of the roof: they pop out from the vegetation as you walk in the vicinity and make you enjoy the relaxing walk even more.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
Focal lenght: 115mm
Shutter time: 1/125s
Aperture: F/2.8
Sensitivity: ISO800

 

You can read the complete article about the Momijidani Park of Miyajima at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-miyajima-momijidani-park/
 

Autumn fashion

Autumn fashion: a little girl in a colorful kimono during an “autumn fashion” walk in the Momijidani Park, Miyajima, Hiroshima.

Autumn fashion. The Momijidani park is one of the most famous and appreciated place in Japan to enjoy the beauty of red Momiji leaves. There I had the chance to attend a “fashion show” of a little girl; walking in a wonderful park in autumn is great, so why not catching this occasion to do it with style? So the parents have dressed up their daughter with a colorful kimono, decorated with symbols of long life and luck: needless to say that the little girl instantly became a superstar, attracting lots of tourists and photographers who wanted to capture her “cuteness”, maybe too many, judging from her mixed feelings that you can see in my shot.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
Lens: SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
Focal lenght: 75mm
Shutter time: 1/160s
Aperture: F/2.8
Sensitivity: ISO400

 

You can read the complete article about the Momijidani Park of Miyajima at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-miyajima-momijidani-park/
 

Red Momiji wonderland in the DaigoJi temple

Red Momiji wonderland in the DaigoJi temple: This shot is an alternative perspective of the view of the BentenDo hall that you can find in this gallery.

Momiji wonderland. I wanted to give you an idea of how immersive is the walk around this small temple when the Momiji are at their peak: you’re not just surrounded by the red leaves, but completely covered by them. Just look above your head and you’ll see a beautiful vault made of a natural mosaic of tiny leaves, irregularly lit by the sun; those spots of vibrant red over a deep blue sky represent the best frame for the view of the BentenDo.

To represent this atmosphere I opted for a “vertorama”, a vertical panoramic composition: using an L-plate mounted on the camera and a nodal rail, I’ve shot six slightly overlapping images in landscape orientation, looking progressively higher and higher until I’ve almost reached the zenith. Then I’ve stitched these images using the software Hugin. I hope I’ve been able to immerse you in this scene to make you feel the japanese autumn air.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
 
Lens: HD DA 20-40mm F2.8-4 Limited DC WR
 
Focal lenght: 20mm
 
Shutter time: 1/80s
 
Aperture: F/8
Sensitivity: ISO100

 

You can read the complete article about the DaigoJi temple in autumn at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-colors-of-daigoji-temple/

 

Passage toward autumn

Passage toward autumn: Walking inside a japanese garden is always a fascinating experience: in every season it changes its shape and colors and provides many vantage points to enjoy the beauty of nature in its fleeting shades.

Passage toward autumn. The garden around the BentenDo hall, inside the DaigoJi temple, has all you can wish to admire the harmony between every natural element and the temple placed among them; in my case, what I liked the most has been a glimpse of the small vermilion bridge framed by some branches of beautiful red momiji, visible beyond the small pond in the upper part of the walk.

EXIF:
Camera: Pentax K-3
 
Lens: SMC DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM
 
Focal lenght: 50mm
 
Shutter time: 1/15s
 
Aperture: F/8
Sensitivity: ISO100

 

You can read the complete article about the DaigoJi temple in autumn at the following link: http://www.phoclab.com/wp/blog/autumn-japan-colors-of-daigoji-temple/

 

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