A Tokyo state of mind Photo

Photographer’s Note

With a surface area covering 58 hectares, Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is one of Tokyo's largest parks. It was opened to the public in 1949, after it had served as a garden for the Imperial Family since 1903. It features three garden types: an English landscape garden with wide lawns, a traditional Japanese garden with teahouses and a symmetrically arranged, formal French garden. Furthermore, there are some forested areas and a greenhouse. Shinjuku Gyoen is home to a large number of cherry trees of more than a dozen different species, making the park one of Tokyo's most popular and pleasant hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots during late March and most of April. Admission to the gardens is 200 Yen (1.35 €).

The skyscraper at the left is the NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi Building (2000). The upper portion of the building features coloured lights that indicate whether one should carry an umbrella (?!).

The title is a variation of Billy Joel's "New York state of mind", as I'm currently already in the middle of preparing a return trip to Japan for later this year - and of course it also alludes to the similarity with Manhattan's Central Park.

Note includes information from www.japan-guide.com

Nikon D70
2006/03/28 14:05:57.1
JPEG (8-bit) Normal
Image Size: Large (3008 x 2000)
Lens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5 G
Focal Length: 18mm
Exposure Mode: Programmed Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/400 sec - F/10
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-S
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode Ia (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Auto
Image Comment: (c)2006 Norbert Woehnl
Long Exposure NR: Off

tcht, s10001in, ChrisJ, falves, kebek, pasternak, bertolucci, singuanti, chinchini, thaprem, alekpet, plimrn, bibiweb, InasiaJones, arturo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tcht (7280) 2006-07-24 4:35

Hi Norbert,
Superb pic showing all the important elements of Japan. The compo is great with sakuras, bridges, 21st cent skyscrapers etc. Love it.
Maybe even more dramatic if you could do a wider frame,ie. showing more of the pavement on the right. Great shot.
CheukHin

s10001in (1485) 2006-07-24 4:36

Norbert,
nice to comeback with sakura today.
After Robo & ancient era today again in present age.
Natue & technology both in this captured. Beautiful reflection of time squre.
Well done.
TFS,
Shailendra

blakitan (1311) 2006-07-24 4:41

Hi Norbert,
Another great picture of yours. Nicely composed. Colors are wonderful. Superb shot.

Ben Lakitan

Furachan (0) 2006-07-24 4:55

Beautifully composed urban landscape. I doubt if Shinjuku Gyoen has EVER been better represented. Once again I am serious about you submitting your excellent JP shots to the Japan Tourist Board and even JR railways. They are that good!
I love the inclusion of those big reddish bushes in teh foreground, and the skyscrapers on the far background.
Superb!
Francis

ChrisJ (65367) 2006-07-24 5:13

Hi Norbert

Superb reflections in the lake, with a striking contrast between the attractive natural fg beauty, & the bland cityscape in the bg. The highrise looks a little like the Chryssler Building in NYC. Good work & tfs!

coco (25650) 2006-07-24 5:23

Hi Norbert.
Again one of your japanese photos. Plenty of details, a great sharpness and also a very nice light.
Again a nice work.

Regards.

MiguelP (14215) 2006-07-24 5:27

I wonder if is your state of mind about the city of Tokyo or the state of mind you figure out about the city itself. Nontheless I like this balance between nature and modernity.

falves (1403) 2006-07-24 5:45

Hallo Norbert,
Wonderful composition. So typical, so fresh. The colors are outstanding as well as the reflections in the lake. The POV is well chosen and it leads our look through the side walk and into the bridge. The sky scrapers in the background gives a really good mood to your composition.
Gruss
Fred

kebek (5434) 2006-07-24 5:55

Serwus Norbert !
Stunning scenery of early Spring in the big city. And how presentable this city is here !
Serene atmosphere of the park-life contrasts peculiarly with the skyscrapers and surely "life in the fast lane" out there in the hazy background.
Very skilfull composition with the fine forground's interest - bending alley colourful greenery.
Great Work.
Thank You,
M.

leiju (1673) 2006-07-24 6:26

The colors! The textures! The people! It seems that you have once more managed to fit the whole world and its amazing beauty into one single shot! Truly amazing!
What can I say about the picture? It fills me with a tickle of Joy from head to toes! :D The sky scrapers in the back seem to belong to the whole in such a natural way, which contrasts to the normal view of them we might have when juxtaposed with such a lovely sight of nature. You seem to have captured the perfect city where Natura and Human have managed to flourish together.
I am in awe :D
And I can't say any more because words are just no good to express how brilliant this shot is!
Thank You for such a lovely view of the world!!
Julia

pasternak (12671) 2006-07-24 6:45

Hi Norbert, like this one for the same thing as your photo on which I've commented yesterday: the typical Japanese contrast of old and new, but here this is a contrast between the skyscrapers and the garden with lovely sakuras and a pond with petals on the water. The line of skyscrapers on the left and the path on the right frame the garden, good composition!

Cheers
Alexander

carper (60991) 2006-07-24 6:50

a good photo Norbert,
great pov in the shot and a fantastic dof, well taken shot with a good quality, very nice job.
gr. jaap

aralda (1240) 2006-07-24 7:39

Hi Norbert,
Nice note on Shinjuku Gyoen. Regarding the photo, I like the petals on the lake.
The shrub in the foreground seems like a bit of a blob on the photo, but otherwise the compo is nice.
Raluca

sleon (9298) 2006-07-24 7:58

Hi Norbert
Another trip to JP? You must have caught the Japan bug?! This is a nicely composed shot, with an attractive combination of elements - the gardens, the cityscape backdrop and the everyday folk walking by. The various blossoms add nice highlights.
Regards, Susanna

jinju (14259) 2006-07-24 8:51

I could have sworn at forst glance this was NYC. Lovey setting for a park. Central Park may be the most dramatic park in the world just thanks to that setting among all those towers. This angle gives me that feeling. I love the look of this shot. Perfectly tuned contrasts and colors, its a wonderful photo.

Cormac (26423) 2006-07-24 11:16

Excellent shot! I like the composition very much, because it seems so well balanced. The fence on the right side is a counterweight to the building on the left side, with the open space of the water and the sky acting in the same way. Superb!

bertolucci (11960) 2006-07-24 11:56

A very tranquile atmosphere in the Shinjuku Gyoen park Norbert.I love the colours, the subtle light and the refelections. The hazy urbanscapes keeps it distances which works very well here. And a nice twist on the BJ song. Beautiful work.
Have a nice week,
Bert

cbrman (17379) 2006-07-24 15:30

Hello,

Dans cette image, l'aspect saisisant est ce contraste entre la modernité des grattes-ciel en arrière plan et le calme apparent de ce jardin au premier plan !
Superbe !
Bien vu.
A+

Dominique

avigur_11 (21247) 2006-07-24 16:17

THE leaves on the water do the job here, much more efficiently than a smoothwater pond. POV is excellent, a smart inclusion of the path and the people on the right. THe mixture of colors on the trees is very vivid, and the whole image is very very nice. Well done. Norbert.

dsidwell (9739) 2006-07-24 22:07

Hello Norbert. This has such an interesting appeal to it. The choice to overexpose the sky and background makes that area seem otherworldly. I also like how the foreground interplays with it so nicely and grounds it with so much green and silver.

singuanti (15261) 2006-07-24 22:13

Hi Norbert. To me this shot would benefit from your grad ND filter considering the light but I must say what stunning clarity you've got in the foreground. Maybe a burn tool across the top would help. The colors are very nice. tfs Norbert.

chinchini (25550) 2006-07-25 2:02

Bonjour Norbert,
Quel contraste frappant entre les deux parties de l'image. Le devant de la scène est authentique, ancestral et tranche avec un fond moderne avec ses buildings.
Excellente composition.
TFS / Pierre

hdl (6723) 2006-07-25 7:31

Hi Norbert. A wonderful colour palette. I like the contrast between the park in front and the vague towers of the town in the back.

alekpet (4657) 2006-07-26 7:16

Hi Norbert.

For me, one of your best showing the Tokio as a city. Could be also New York and center park and I would have swaloowed it, but the cherry trees in blossom give away the location ;)

take care, Aleks

rahul__rahul__ (2250) 2006-07-26 10:06

Hi Norbert
great picture, I like the POV in this a lot and how you have not cut off any part of the building, the colors are great and I like the cloudy lighting, the path and how you didnt cut off the path's railing is nice and gives depth, with great plants too.
Everything is wonderful in this.
TFS
Rahul

plimrn (18682) 2006-07-26 15:56

Hi Norbert,
The petals on the water and the reflection of the tower are the elements that make the photo a standout for me. Auto fix gives a lot more detail to the sky without losing anything in the the rest of the photo.
Regards, Pat

bibiweb (27530) 2006-07-26 17:15

Hi Norbert,
This looks almost as if you've merged a photo of NYC with one from a japanese garden. It really does remind me of Central Park with an oriental touch! Your POV is, as usual, very good and the photo has remarkable depth and details.
Regards, Bibi

danyy (62985) 2006-07-27 17:21

Bonjour Norbert,
Un joli clin d'oeil sur les charmes du Japon. Un tout bon cadrage et des couleurs qui demeurent naturelles.
Un endroit situé en ville ou il paraît pourtant agréable de se balader.
De très bons règlages, comme d'habitude.
Daniel

InasiaJones (17341) 2006-07-30 19:22

Dear Norbert,

Please let me begin my note by letting you know how much I’m a big fan of your images. I’ve been throughout your personal website and I’m flabbergasted! I was already aware of your great talent, but to see your photos all at the same time, regroup by themes, is even more striking.

I’ve noticed the during of your stay in cities you’ve visited, like in New York or London and you’re amazingly productive even in a limited timeframe. Your own gallery is a Trekearth website in itself!

I’m sincerely impressed and inspired by your work. I really like the diversity of your photos, although one thing is standard; quality and creativity. Congratulations Norbert!

This one makes no exception with judicious use of foreground elements that offer more dimension to your image. Exquisite earthtone colours and nice reflection make it irresistible. Delightful composition and great atmosphere for this unmistakable japanese scene.

Best regards,

André

P.S.: I was particularly dazzled by your images from the Rockies; even if am canadian, it has nothing to do with chauvinism... Cheers!

arturo (31) 2006-07-31 7:55

Hi Norbert,

the set of colours in this garden proves springtime to be the more refreshing of all seasons...you've captured the skyscraper reflection in the pond in a very inspiring way...there is almost nothing to change nor add in your composition...it is a quality one...even though i'm rather a fan of a wilder side of nature your image teaches me to have some respect for those who created this awesome garden...cheers, arturo

vilarino (16) 2006-08-30 8:19

A great synthesis of nowadays Japan.

I’m surprised this photo isn’t in your own favourite photos!