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Himeji in spring


Himeji in spring
Photo Information
Copyright: Norbert Woehnl (nwoehnl) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9506 W: 682 N: 15165] (60112)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-31
Categories: Castles, Nature
Camera: Nikon D200, Nikkor 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 G ED AF-S VR, Digital ISO 100, Hama UV O-Haze 72mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Map: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Travelogue: Japan 2008
Theme(s): Hanami 2008, Neyvan's Favorites II [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 10:45
Viewed: 1006
Points: 40
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A classic angle on Himeji Castle, different than the ones I had posted from my 2006 trip. We had a fine sunny day for our visit this year, and the cherry blossoms offered a pleasant decoration, as always.

Himeji Castle is part of UNESCO's World Heritage List, and is widely regarded as the prototypical Japanese castle, containing defensive and architectural features such as tall stone foundations, whitewash walls, gun emplacements, and stone-dropping holes. One of Himeji's most important defensive elements, and perhaps its most famous, is the confusing maze of paths leading to the main keep. The gates, baileys, and outer walls of the complex are organized so as to force an approaching force to travel in a spiral pattern around the castle on their way into the keep, facing many dead ends. This allowed the intruders to be watched and fired upon from the keep during their entire approach. However, Himeji was never attacked in this manner, and so the system remains untested.

The castle was featured as the headquartes of the Japanese Secret Police in the 1967 James Bond movie, You only live twice. It was also used for large parts of Akira Kurosawa's film Ran (1985), and in some scenes of The Last Samurai (2003) when artificial snow was used during the filming.


Note includes information from www.japan-guide.com

Nikon D200
2008/03/31 14:19:49.8
JPEG (8-bit) Normal
Color
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/250 sec - F/8
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode I (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: (c)2008 Norbert Woehnl
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off
isabela_sor, bibiweb, tcht, papagolf21, jhm, ChrisJ, PixelTerror, MIMACSKA has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To dragonslayero: Japannwoehnl 1 05-13 00:48
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Critiques [Translate]

This place seems to be a real paradise!!!!I cant imagine me leaving daily in a place like this
Too much beauty :)
If this one is on World Heritage List means a lot already
As usual superb framing and exceptional quality
All my best wishes for you and your wife
Hugs

Slav Norbert,
Bi perspektîvek di cî de te wêneyek pir çê û xweşik kişandiye.Pîroz dikim.
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 9289 W: 445 N: 14607] (51293)
  • [2008-05-12 11:13]

it's yor signature,
the blossoms shot, the fine composition and the good format, a nice image to look at, fine photojob here, have a nice evning my friend.
gr. jaap

Hi Norbert,
Well it seems that this time you had a nice blue sky! ;o)
The POV is quite different from anything else I've seen on TE and I like the water that you've included in the foreground... and of course the traditionnal branch of cherry blosoms is there to remind us that this was taken during the spring!
Cheers.
Bibi

  • Great 
  • erdna Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 839 W: 70 N: 983] (4837)
  • [2008-05-12 11:43]

Another nice photo. But compared to your other cherry blossom pictures this is not as effective visually as part of the tree branch is on a background of stones that is almost of the same color and sizes as the blossoms.

Regards,
Andre'

  • Great 
  • tcht Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1401 W: 73 N: 1354] (7112)
  • [2008-05-12 13:47]

Hello Norbert
Wonderful presentation of Himeji shiro with the beautiful sakura. You divided the frame perfectly with good proportion of the sky and moat. Real TFS :)
Cheers
Cheuk Hin

Norbert,
the Himeji Castle is almost a classic here at TE and not only for your gallery. Anyway, it is always nice to see a new entry and particularly during Sakura time that you used wonderfully to frame the whole scene. The water is another interesting detail and I wonder if that was part of the defense strategies of this castle.
Peter

Hi Norebert,
A very attractive presentation here with excellent depth, stunning details, and very natural colors. Very well done and TFS. Gerald

nice shot Norbert

I like the spring shot at Himeji

I hope you had a tour of the place with a guide

have a great week

Hello Norbert

This time you beat me at the finishline, I have an almost identical photo of Himeji taken only a week ago.
Wonderful composition to this photo, the combination between the sakura and the castle in the background make for and excellent balance of elements that radiate "Japan".
Thank you for sharing.

Odd Jarle

Bonjour, mon ami Norbert,
Comment donner à une composition toute sa beauté. Valoriser avec talent le paysage et lui donner toute la force nécessaire pour que le lecteur soit sous le charme.
Voilà comment s'exprime le talent.
Bravo !
Amitiés.
Philippe

Hi Norbert,
interesting composition with the foreground tree and the castle, but the light isn't good on the shot, but I guess you notice it already...
regards,didier

  • Great 
  • MarcT Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1514 W: 482 N: 2859] (11705)
  • [2008-05-13 5:20]

Hallo Nobert,
Wunderschönes Schloss with a nice tree and his flowers. Kind of what we all imagine over there in Japan.
Schöne Grüsse aus Belgien
Marc

  • Great 
  • jrj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5473 W: 504 N: 7191] (32614)
  • [2008-05-13 6:12]

Another well considered compo from your Japan visits Norbert. Well disposed and with a good use of the flowering branch included as foreground. Impressive castle in the back.

  • Great 
  • coco Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4091 W: 140 N: 4800] (22791)
  • [2008-05-13 11:45]

Hi Norbert.

Very good this composition and also the exposure and the light of the photo. You managed very well this situation and you show us a very nice place.

Regards.

  • Great 
  • emka Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 377 W: 17 N: 899] (6545)
  • [2008-05-13 23:46]

Hi,

Wonderful shot of the famous Himeji castle, with cherry blossom, to make it even more Japanese. I like it very much

Malgorzata

  • Great 
  • jhm Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 12302 W: 244 N: 16137] (64556)
  • [2008-05-14 3:20]

Hello Norbert,

Composition and presentation is very well, the lovely blossom tree excellent to the left, the specially building in the known style from Japan.
Splendid environment for a good strolls around the lake.
Very well done, thanks for sharing.

Best regards,
John.

  • Great 
  • ChrisJ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 8644 W: 911 N: 11397] (55246)
  • [2008-05-14 5:08]

Hi Norbert, & congrats on your 60,000+ points!

A fantastic capture of the sakura, with good color, contrast, saturation & sharpness. I like the horizontal banding in the center, & the placement of the castle top right. Tfs!

Hi Norbert,
I went back to revisit your 2006 Himeji pictures and of course the impression this newer view delivers is quite different, a bit of sunshine between the clouds adds value at one. Always very nice this combination of the heritage castle and the blossoming cherry trees.
Have a nice day JY

Hi Norbert,
The right man at the right place and so we have a perfect shot
Great work
Greetings
Guy

Hallo Norbert!
Dieses ganz schönes Foto zeigt mir eine unglaubliche Laune aus Japan. Ich war noch nie, aber bestimt werde ich irgendwann besuchen.
Super gemacht!
Wiele grüsse,
Erika

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