Category: Japan

Les Taylor Photography

A Yomiuri Giants Game at Tokyo Dome

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to a Yomiuri Giants game at Tokyo Dome with my oldest daughter and some good friends of ours. We had a blast! As both a photographer and a baseball fan, I thought I’d share the experience through photos and talk about a few of the differences I noticed between American and Japanese baseball. This was actually my first ball game at an indoor baseball stadium. I...
Fireworks in Japan

Photographing Summer Fireworks

Everyone loves fireworks! They’re beautiful, bright, and just generally awesome. And no matter where you live, you’re likely to have at least one day during the year when your town hosts a grand fireworks display. In Japan this is certainly the case, particularly during the month of August, when fireworks festivals are held across the country. As a photographer, a fireworks display is lots of fun to shoot, but it can also seem a bit...
photo of bamboo forest in Japan

Bamboo Forest of Hokokuji

Although the bamboo forest of Arashiyama in Kyoto is likely Japan’s most famous bamboo grove (and for good reason), there are many other splendid bamboo groves around the country. The grove connected to Hokokuji Temple in Kamakura is a great example of this. Although Hokokuji itself is rather small and a bit out of the way, it’s a great place to visit if you’re in the Kamakura area. Not only can you take in the...
Photo of Kegon Falls

Waterfall In The Woods

As I’ve often mentioned in various posts, one of the most important skills a photographer can have (in my opinion) is gathering multiple photos from a single scene or location. To me it makes the trip more worth while, but it also shows more of what it’s like to experience the sight itself. I’m guessing this isn’t one of the most traditional shots of Kegon Falls, but perhaps that’s part of the reason I like...
Photo of dancing Japanese man

Narita Gion Matsuri

This past weekend I went with fellow photographer Anthony Wood to the Narita Gion Matsuri. Since coming back to Japan in 2012, I haven’t been to that many festivals, so when Anthony invited me to join him at this one, I was excited to take him up on it. And this one did not disappoint! From the crowds to the floats, the atmosphere is a wonderful mixture of playful and traditional. I could say more,...