Camera Labs

I wanted to share some recent photos taken way up in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. It's a truly beautiful place, and the most amazing views can be seen from the northern town of Abashiri.

My favourite photos are this one and this one!

But you can also see a selection of photos from the Sapporo Snow Festival and other places

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70255654@N ... 304251472/

Let me know what you think!

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Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

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18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

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Hi stevesayskanpai
Great pics.. love these shots...
BTW.
Is this the place where they have the ice sculpture yearly ?
Is this Building one of them ?

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Nikon D7000 and a bunch of Nikkors

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70255654@N ... 304251472/

that photo is pretty cool.

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Camera: Canon 40D, 17-85mm IS
Knowledge of Photography: Hours of reading and videos.
Computer: iMac 24inch 3.06Ghz 4gb ram 500gb HD Nvidia 8800 GS 512mb

Wow! Cool shots! I love it up in Hokkaido, but have never made it to the town you mentioned.

I bet it was pretty chilly... was there any problem getting access? IE - were the roads clear?

PS - I took this shot in Hokkaido during a Winter visit:

http://www.cameralabs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=211

DavidL- yes, that building is one of them. Amazing, isnt it!

Gordon- yeah it was freezing, the coldest I've ever been! The roads to Abashiri are actually kept fairly clear, although you have to be careful on the mountain roads about an hour and a bit out of Asahikawa. It takes between 3 and 4 hours to get there from Asahikawa by car, and perhaps slightly longer by train. The views, especially in the moutains, are amazing though, and there are lots of onsens that you can stop off at on the way.

_________________
Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

Gorgeous shots..
but, alas, at least a two cardi day. and that is just to look at those photos from here...and a hot buttered rum. Just how cold is it there?

Gordon, how come they are so beautiful, yours are too...is it because of the atmosphere? The angle of the sun? what is it that makes the shots so beautiful?


patti

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canon 7D, Mark iii 5D, ef 70-300 f/4-5.6, ef 28-135mm canon 100-400mm L IS 4.5, and a little 24-70 L f/2.8...

The photographers

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Thanks Bob!

Patti, its around -3/4 during the day but with a bitterly cold wind by the coast. At night the temperature drops significantly- nice for a few days but I wouldn't want to live there!

As for the atmosphere, I think you're right. One of the first things I noticed when driving out of the city in Hokkaido was how big the sky is, and on the day I visited Abashiri it was crystal clear, not a single cloud in the sky.

The photographs were minimally post-processed, with the sunset one having its colours deepened slightly, a bit of sharpening etc. But it really is that beautiful up there!

_________________
Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

yes...Bob.
I did not mean to minimize Steve's expertise..it is just that I can hardly believe how pretty that sky is..and thanks Steve, it is a place I will never be able to visit, if it weren't for your photos. I appreciate you posting them.

patti

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canon 7D, Mark iii 5D, ef 70-300 f/4-5.6, ef 28-135mm canon 100-400mm L IS 4.5, and a little 24-70 L f/2.8...

Hey Patti, don't say it's a place you'll never get to see! There's always a chance in the future! I hope so anyway as it's a lovely part of Japan which most people (including many Japanese!) rarely get to see...

As for the light, both our shots were taken in Winter (mine 13 months ago), and it's pretty clean up there, so I guess it's Winter light in a clean environment!

Great shots Steve. That snow sculpture is particularly impressive.

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Graham
Flickr

Great shots Steve.

I only got a chance to see Tokyo and the Kansai prefecture when I was there but I *so* want to go back one day and experience the north a bit more.

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My Flickr

I could talk about Japan all day, its great! And a great place for a photographer- amazing sights and natural landscapes, and a very safe place so no worries about having expensive equipment stolen. I left my cellphone on the subway once, and it was handed in to station staff- in how many countries would that happen!?

_________________
Nikon D40 / Nikon D5100

Visit my photograph portfolio and personal blog

18-55 VR f/3.5-5.6
55-200 f/4-5.6
50 f/1.8

Follow me on Twitter: @stevesayskanpai

Very true. Apparently, umbrellas are fair game for theft by everyone though.

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