Tag Archive for: japan

Asakusa at dusk

Asakusa district, Tokyo, Japan, 2015.

Asakusa district at dusk, Taito ward, Tokyo, Japan, 2015.

I don’t define myself as a pure street photographer, but rather as an urban photographer. The motive is simple: I enjoy capturing the city above all, not necessarily the city’s people. Combined with my passion for travels, mixed together, it results to a lot of cityscapes that not only shows the city, but also the interaction with the people there. I don’t want to just see the buildings, I want to see the traffic, the way people behave in the city.

This shot was taken very close the the Senso-Ji buddhist temple in the Asakusa district in Tokyo’s Taito ward. There is a tourist information spot at the ground floor opened until late in the evening. There, a lift can take you to the 8th floor and let you enjoy the view over one of Tokyo’s most famous temples, as well as on the Sky Tree. Unfortunately, it was quite a cloudy day and the Sky Tree, here in the middle of the photo, was hidden by this very dense sea of clouds. That’s also why we never reached the top of the Sky Tree during our trip… Nevermind, it’s now on the list for the next visit!

I like this photo because it represents quite well what Tokyo looks like. Big, small buildings, one over the other, with almost no space to breath. It is one of the very first prints I’ve ever done for myself… and it now stands in my living room!

Do you like this photo? Click here and get an original, signed print in limited edition! A color edition exists too, don’t hesitate to contact me for more information and a quotation.

EXIFs:

  • Camera: Canon 6D
  • Lens: Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Aperture: ƒ/9.0
  • Focale: 24mm
  • Shutter speed: 1s
  • ISO: 50
  • Copyright: Pierre Pichot 2015, all rights reserved
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Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kyoto, Japan, 2015.

Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kyoto, Japan, 2015.

During our trip to Japan one of the “must see” location was the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto. It’s definitely one of Japan’s iconic places we see in each and every travel documentation about the country, and as we were going to spend a few days in Kyoto, a few hours were dedicated to the bamboos.

However what you usually don’t see on the pictures is that… you’re not the only one there. Saying that this place is pretty crowded is very optimistic. It’s almost impossible to take a clean shot, even with longer exposures. While the place is beautiful, I was a bit disappointed not to be able to come back home with my photo of the bamboo forest. At least, Japanese people are calm and silent, they respect the calm of the place.

But, there is a trick.

Go north up to the Sagatoriimoto Sennocho district, and look for the Adashino Nenbutsu-ji buddhist temple. This temple has more than 8000 buddhist statues that represent the souls of the dead, it’s very impressive. But, there is this stair, between the bamboos, that leads to the temple’s cemetery… the one up there in photo! In order to do not be the typical gaijin that will disturb the zen of the temple I’ve just taken a few shots in those stairs and continued my way, but the result is in my humble opinion quite stunning.

And, by the way, 200 m down the road to the temple, there is a nice coffee shop with a permanent exposition of photos of the neighborhood of the first part of the 20th century, as well as a few old cameras. The perfect stop for travellers!

Do you like this photo? Click here and get an original, signed print in limited edition!

EXIFs:

  • Camera: Canon 6D
  • Lens: Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Aperture: ƒ/8.0
  • Focale: 41mm
  • Shutter speed: 1/30s
  • ISO: 800
  • Copyright: Pierre Pichot 2015, all rights reserved
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Rainy Gion

Kyoto, Japan: Gion, the Geisha neighborhood, under the rain

Gion, the Geisha neighborhood, under the rain. Kyoto, Japan.

Another stop during our trip in Japan, Kyoto and all its temples… More than 1600! But Kyoto is also Gion, the Geisha neighbourhood. Those who have seen Memoirs of a Geisha may remember it. It’s a typical, old neighbourhood with woody homes, small restaurants, and a particular atmosphere. It seems empty, but it feels like there is a lot happening behind those closed doors…

Shot with a Canon 6D then process in black and white with Adobe Lightroom.

Do you like this photo? Click here and get an original, signed print in limited edition!

EXIFs:

  • Camera: Canon 6D
  • Lens: Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Aperture: ƒ/3.2
  • Focale: 38mm
  • Shutter speed: 1/200s
  • ISO: 400
  • Copyright: Pierre Pichot 2015, all rights reserved

 

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Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya crossing, Tokyo, Japan.

Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo, Japan. License it.

While in Tokyo, Shibuya and its well known crosswalk was a mandatory stop for me. As everyone travelling in Japan I think 🙂 It’s is such an incredible atmosphere: while everything and everyone is very, VERY quiet, you find yourself in a place where tens of ads broadcasted on tens of huge screens shout at you at an incredibly high volume. It’s pretty dazzling at first! Then you get used to it and enjoy an incredible place with a moving crowd and, in my case, a sunset like I’ve rarely seen before.

I had to use my tripod for this kind of longer exposure shot, so that I can get the people’s movement. Thanks to everyone that managed to avoid me, this damn gaijin blocking the way! It really reflects the respect oriented mentality of Japanese people, I’m pretty sure I would have not been able to do the same shot here in Europe.

I used Macphun Tonality CK for turning this photo in Black and White. That’s an amazing software that I will write more about further on.

Do you like this photo? Click here and get an original, signed print in limited edition!

EXIFs:

  • Camera: Canon 6D
  • Lens: Samyang 14mm ƒ/2.8
  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Focale: 14mm
  • Shutter speed: 1,6s
  • ISO: 50
  • Copyright: Pierre Pichot 2015, all rights reserved
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Ameyoko shopping street

Ameyoko shopping street, Taito ward, Tokyo, Japan.

The Ameyoko shopping street was definitely one of the best moments of our visit in Tokyo. For a street photographer, this is just heaven: full of people, from the business man to the craziest fellows, full of strange, tiny places, crammed with lots of good of different kinds, all of that just under the Yamanote train line going to the Tokyo Station. It really is an incredible place, if you like street photography you could stay there for days and do not get bored even one second.

Ameyoko, or Ameya-Yokochō in its full name, is situated in the Taito ward in Tokyo, Japan, just next to the Ueno station. Its name comes from the fact that after World War II the shops here used to sell US army goods (hence the “Ame” from America in Ameyoko). This photo represent the owner of one of the almost 200 shops in the street, that really enjoyed to be photographed.

This photo was process in Adobe Lightroom, with a bit of work with dodge and burn in order to give a more 3D feel.

Interested in licensing this photo? Take a look here!

EXIFs:

  • Camera: Canon 6D
  • Lens: Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Focale: 35mm
  • Shutter speed: 1/500s
  • ISO: 400
  • Copyright: Pierre Pichot 2015, all rights reserved
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Tag Archive for: japan