Sushicam

Having lived in Japan for about 10 years now, I’ve been to Kyoto quite a few times, each time with a camera and set of lenses at hand.

My most recent trip starts this coming Sunday.  I’ll be taking a night bus from Shinagawa, departing at around 11 pm, and arriving in Kyoto just before 7 am.  I could take a Shinkansen there, but I will be running a half marathon in Yokosuka earlier on Sunday, and taking the bus that night gets me into Kyoto earlier than if i were to catch the shinkansen the next morning.  I’m betting that I will be tired enough so that I sleep like a baby during the night bus ride.  Just to be sure I will pop a couple of sleeping pills as I board the bus, that way I can hope to get a good nights sleep and arrive feeling relatively refreshed.

On the way back home the following Saturday I will be taking the shinkansen as that is the absolute fastest way to travel, and I will be able to leave Kyoto after sunset and still make it home in time for a late dinner in Yokosuka.

This will be the first time that I will be shooting (digital) medium format in Kyoto.  Usually I shoot DSLR or Rangefinder, but this time I decided to trade off my more light weight kit and go for maximum image quality.

Here’s what I plan to bring:

Mamiya AFDII
Mamiya ZD back
Mamiya 35mm f3.5
Mamiya 55mm f2.8
Mamiya 80mm f1.9
Mamiya 150mm f3.5
Set of 3 extension tubes for macro work
A sack full of CF cards

While I am there I will also be checking out the used camera shops in Kyoto and Osaka to see if I can find a good deal on a Mamiya 200mm f2.8.

All of this fits nicely into a Lowepro Micro Trekker 200, which is my favorite backpack to use. I may change bags and instead use a Domke wax-wear F2, it depends if it looks like there will be a high likelihood of rain as the Domke is very water resistant.

Since I have not really had time to put the ZD back through its paces yet this should be a good opportunity to really see what it can do.

To date I’ve only used this medium format setup for single day type shooting (6-8 hours at a stretch) so I think I have a pretty good idea about what to expect as far as weight goes.  I am still a bit concerned, but I do also know that the results will quickly make me forget about the increase in weight compared to a DSLR kit.

But I do also have a backup plan/sanity check: I will also take along an Olympus E-P1 with a 20mm f1.7 and 14-42 kit zoom. This will serve as my backup in case I don’t feel like carrying so much gear on any particular day. The PEN will also serve as my nighttime low light camera.

Since this is a solo trip, and the only point is to take photos, explore more of Kyoto, and relax, I don’t think I’m going too nuts here with the gear I am bringing.

I just wanted some other people’s perspectives about this plan. Given the same choice of gear, would you do the same thing?

My alternative DSLR setup would be a Nikon D700 with some fast primes: 14/2.8, 35/2, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, and 180/2.8

This past Wednesday, being Veterans day, was a day off for me.

I had planned to go out taking photos. But when I woke up to torrential rains, I checked the weather to see what the rest of the would hold: 100% chance of rain.

Damn.

But, not to be deterred I decided to make the best of it and head up to Nakano to check out a favorite used cameras shop and take some photos.

Since photos taking was secondary on the agenda to camera shopping, I only packed the Olympus E-P1 with 20/1.7, 25/1.4 (C mount), and Zuiko 50/1.2.

I caught the train first from Yokosuka Chuo station to catch the Yamanote line in Shinagawa.  From there I would make the necessary transfer in Shinjuku to get to my destination in Nakano.

It’s about 80 minutes in total on the train, so I sank into my seat and settled in for the ride.  The swaying and creaking of the train as is slid up the tracks started to lull me into a short nap.  I was listening to the sounds around me; The rustle of someone turning a newspaper page, a muted cough from someone further back in the train car,  the hum of the trains electric motors, and the periodic announcement from the train driver about what stations were coming up next.
It was during this time that I heard a little kid pointing out to his father all of the things he saw as the train made its way along the tracks.  That reminded me that there is always something to see.  You just need to open your eyes and mind to it.

In this case I had been “looking” with just my ears, and after hearing that small kid I was reminded that there is never any dead time.  Something interesting is always presenting itself.

I think that most people around me are probably wondering what I am taking so many pictures of all the time, and I am happy to let them assume that I am a tourist.   In all truth, after living here for nearly ten years now, I still do feel like a tourist. I mean this in the sense that it still feels like a vacation to me. There is still wonder in what lies around the next corner, or what there is to see at the next train station.

The wonder of this place has yet to wear off for me. This is a testament to how fascinating I find Japan. There is always something new for me to see. Some times it is a an altogether new place that I exploring, other times it may be something I have seen many times before but I happen to find a new way to look at it.

There is something “subarashii” (wonderful) locked up in most everything we see. The key is being able to to find it. But it is there. Trust me. All you have to do is change your point of view, or frame of mind, and open yourself to what surrounds you.

Let it all in. The sights, the sounds, the smells, the feelings.

Don’t have too many expectations about a place before you see it. While it is good to listen to those that may have been there before you, don’t take their views as gospel. Let your own personal experience shape your view and you will be surprised by what you see once you stop looking with just your eyes…

After nearly ten years in Japan, I finally made it to my first Metropolis Halloween Party.  I wish I had started attending them sooner, because it was a BLAST!  Although, I’m not completely stupid though, because I had enough foresight to book a hotel room for the night of the party and take the next day off from work.

More Photos Here

 

I had with me the old Fuji F30.  It served the purpose well and from the photo gallery you can see I just dumped the memory card straight from the camera.  It’s further proof positive that no matter what camera I use I am more than capable of producing bland, out of focus, poorly framed shots with bad composition and timing.

I was dressed up as Peter Pan, and Saori was Tinker Bell.  She had scored a great deal on the costumes earlier that week via the internet.

I was not planning to stay out all night (Thats what the hotel room was for) but I was aware that the party was a “Nomihodai” meaning it was sure to be fun, if not a little bit of a challenge for the old liver.  And true to form I lost count after the 9th or 10th gin-tonic, but seeing as the party started at 7pm, there was plenty of time not only to drink, but to burn those drinks off.

Granted I was not feeling as chipper as I usually do as I rolled out of bed at the crack of afternoon the next day, but I’ll blame that on the cheap gin.

Will I go again next year?  Most definitely, I just need to think of another costume that will be popular as Peter Pan.  With Japan having such an obsession for all things Disney I was constantly getting dragged into pictures with people which is a great conversation starter to say the least.

Soooo.  Anyone have any ideas about what I should be next year?