Autumn Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Trees and Supercars Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is a premier Tokyo photography location known for its golden autumn leaves. During the peak season in late November, the street attracts an array of supercars and classic vehicles. This creates a unique opportunity to photograph high-end automotive design against a backdrop of brilliant…
Photographing Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Exhibition 2021 Crisp air and a brilliant, cloudless blue sky provided the ideal backdrop for appreciating the vibrant colors of the annual chrysanthemum show at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in 2021. While the warmth of the sun made a jacket unnecessary, it was a small price to pay for such a…
Why My Polarizing Filter Failed Me at Shinjuku Gyoen A polarizing filter (or CPL filter) fails when there is a lack of direct, directional light to polarize. These filters work by cutting glare reflected at specific angles from non-metallic surfaces. In deep shade or overcast conditions, light is diffused and non-directional, meaning there is no…
Photos of Hibiya Park Chrysanthemum Exhibition 2019 In the autumn of 2019, Hibiya Park, a green oasis in the heart of Tokyo, hosted a truly exceptional chrysanthemum exhibition. While the park is renowned for its magnificent rose displays that draw large crowds each year, the annual chrysanthemum show is a lesser-known yet equally captivating event….
Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen might be Tokyo’s most famous and most popular park. You can read what gives it that reputation in [Shinjuku Gyoen: A Photography Guide to Tokyo’s Urban Oasis]. Every year it puts on a chrysanthemum exhibit. Read on to learn more of my photography adventures there in 2018. The 2018…
5 Tips for Photographing Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Avenue is one of Tokyo’s most iconic autumn destinations, and for good reason. It is lined with 146 majestic ginkgo trees that lead to the outer gardens of Meiji Shrine. When autumn arrives, the leaves ignite into a brilliant gold, creating a…
A 2021 Chrysanthemum Study at Zenyoji Temple Archival Note: This post was originally published in November 2021. It is presented here as part of the Tokyo Snapped archive, documenting one of the city’s many flower festivals. There are days when you set out to document a location, and then there are days when you simply…
Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall A hall born from two great tragedies The Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall was born from two enormous tragedies. One was the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake; the other was the 1945 Bombing of Tokyo. Each event claimed over 100,000 lives that Tokyo hasn’t forgotten. Within these grounds, tribute is paid not only…
Red Spider Lilies at Nogawa Park: A Tokyo Guide In Japan, it is a flower of delicate beauty that also carries the weight of final goodbyes. The red spider lily, or higanbana, is said to bloom when you part with someone for the last time. For years, I seemed to be having my own final…
Canon EOS R5 Field Test: 2024 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums Looking back at my photos from the Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemum Exhibit in November 2024, I’m reminded of two things. The flowers were not at their best, but my new camera was. While the blooms themselves were a bit underwhelming compared to previous years, the situation created…