Category: Japan

Blue Pontocho

This photo comes from Pontocho – a row of restaurants that line one of the rivers in Kyoto. Visitors can dine on these platforms and enjoy the great atmosphere, which is especially enjoyable during pleasant weather. On this particular evening it had been raining for most of the day, but as you can see the vibe is still quite pleasant. This photo is also another in my Lightroom Only series. If you use the sliders...
A bridge in the woods over a stream

A Bridge In The Woods Of Nagano

I’ve tried to be more pointed in my photography throughout this year. That is to say, when I go someplace, I try to have a better idea of what I want to shoot, rather than just wandering around aimlessly shooting anything and everything. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with shooting like that, but with landscape photography, especially when you’re doing long exposures and/or working with a very specific lighting situation, discipline can be...
Les Taylor Photography

Behind Closed Doors – Kyoto, Japan

While I often post photos edited using various features of Adobe’s powerful Photoshop software, I thought it would be interesting to try a new series here at the blog where I post a photo only edited in Lightroom. No masking, no layer adjustments, nothing fancy really – just essential edits in Lightroom. The reason I wanted to try this is because I believe Lightroom is one of the best pieces of software a photographer can...
Sunbeams through trees

Sunrise Through The Pines

It was late April, and I had just completed a long night photographing the Milky Way and the beautiful colors of dawn on Lake Motosoku. Returning to my family’s campsite, I was tired and ready to enjoy some breakfast, assuming my photography was basically finished for the day. But then I saw the sunrise bursting through the trees around the campground, and I knew I had to capture it. This particular campground is expansive, and...
Yasaka Pagoda

Sunset at The Yasaka Pagoda In Kyoto

One of the main places I wanted to visit and photography during my recent trip to Kyoto was the Kiyomizu Temple. I was able to go but unfortunately the grounds close at 6pm, which is far too early during the warmer months to capture the sunset, as was my goal. I took what photos I could and then, a bit disappointed, headed back down the hill toward Kyoto. Thankfully, this leads right through some beautiful...