Good Times in Asakusa Photo

Photographer’s Note

A rare snowy day in Tokyo, in the lovely gardens of Asakusa. This couple seems to be enjoying the day as much as me, amongst all the Tokyo photographers rushing to catch this white treat.

I overexposed the cameras preference slightly (1/3rd, I think) to avoid grey snow. I am okay losing a little detail in a couple of places to get a less drab look. I cheated and added the dark sky for a little drama.

robertosalguero, asahi, zeca, Clairedelune has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

robertosalguero (110) 2006-10-24 0:01

Hello Andrew. I'm not sure I am a big fun of cheating to make a picture look very different from reality. The place is definitely beautiful and the winter scene is priceless. I like the inclusion of people to give the compo a more warm, fun atmosphere. Two points for showing this beautiful place :-)

Roberto

pilpel-adom (3016) 2006-10-24 1:43

What a lovely and romantic scene - soft snow, couple (or just friends??) with umbrellas, utterly enjoying the surprising weather and the gardens (which I am sure they were delighted of). I have mixed feelings about the two grey posts on both extremest, though. On the one hand, they frame the scene well and constrain to eye to that section, but on the other, they also distract a bit...The Lovely Nippon architecture building adds a lot of elegance to this scene...
Good idea to enhance the effect of the sky - you did it with taste and on spot!
TFS!
Chen

tomescuc (2837) 2006-10-24 12:21

I like your winter scene, but imo, I would have cropped a bit on both sides, actually even better, I would have moved the shot to the right, to capture the lantern at the right fully, and decenter the couple...

Thanks,
Cristian

batalay (21213) 2006-10-25 19:56

Hello Andrew,
Another superb shot. The Asakusa gardens provide a placid and timeless backdrop for the couple. A couple of days ago I had posted a shot of a pair of school girls with umbrellas. Yours reprresents a much rarer phenomenon in Tokyo -- snow rather than rain -- although I actually shot my photo in Kyoto. Regards,
Bulent

zeca (20026) 2006-10-26 1:41

Hi Andrew!
Welcome to TE!!!
This is a nice picture, showing the amazing japanese architecture and all that snow decorating it! Its nice to see the two people with their umbrellas!
Cheers!
Zeca

pady (4800) 2006-10-29 13:24

I like this japanese winter atmosphere. Like in Europe, snow can create very nice effects. And the yellow umbrella add a touch odf colour very interesting.
Greetings
Pierre-André

roconnell (327) 2006-10-29 17:59

Gorgeous backdrop for a snowy day. This is reminiscent of many classic Japanese block prints, with a modern twist (new umbrellas). Well done.

dragonslayero (3108) 2006-11-01 18:20

Hello Andrew

This must truly be a rare scene. What I've heard is that is rarely snow in Tokyo, but I would never have guessed it would snow in this kind of quantity!
Your choice of POV is good, not exactly awsome but still good (I don't really like head on and centered shots that much).
Light conditions seem to have worked to your favour, doing and overexposure seems to have done the trick.
Good detail in the snow, and most important of all: The snow flakes are visible and they are white (!), I rarely see anyone do that correctly.
Colour looks good, like I said I don't really like head on shots so maybe if you had taken a shot a bit more at an angle to the building, you would have gotten a more dominant colour view.
Thank you for sharing.

Odd Jarle

Clairedelune (4885) 2007-05-09 20:14

Lols! It is very rare that I see someone writing so genuinely that he cheated! :-)) You're an honest cheater! Good! That is kind of a relief to read something so refreshing!
Talking of 'refreshing'... lets see that snow photo. I am quite impressed by Odd Jarle (dragonslayero) remark about the snow: "Good detail in the snow, and most important of all: The snow flakes are visible and they are white (!), I rarely see anyone do that correctly." I know, no use maybe to repeat it, but it is so well said! Yes, to overexpose in snow situations is one of the things to do. And doing some PP correction after, if need be.
I always had a sure fascination for Chinese and Japanese architectures. But what's even better is when the snow play with their intricate structures, making forms even more interesting and beautiful. Look at the little snow piles on the posts. A beauty! And then, to that, you have these two people with their umbrellas. Centered? That is one instance where it is important, it creates an harmonious photo. I'm a little more bothered by the cut things on both sides. Maybe more cheating would be appropriate! :-))))
Thanks Andrew for this one!
Claire