Camera Labs

Here are a couple of pictures from my visit to Japan's most famous castle, Himeji-jo, during the sakura (cherry blossom) season.

I played around with the saturation as a short-cut to injecting more colour into the images- is it too obvious, and can anyone suggest any improvements?

You can see 100% versions at flickr. Please leave comments here if you like the pics! You can also see Shinkansen pictures (one of which I'll probably submit for this month's "On Assignment") by clicking on that link.

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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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Wow! These images are magic!
I suppose it's a feast for the eyes, and one that is definitely on my wishlist...

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Canon 5D + 17-40 F4L + 50 F1.4 + 70-200 F2.8L
Velbon Sherpa 200R

Pretty amazing architecture!!!!! Great shots!

Mark

Oh, Stevesays...this is a magnificent shot...calm, tranquil, welcoming..

Those blossoms...omg...no wonder they are so famous, and you caught them in their best light...great work...
I know the lines on those buildings, are so beautiful, but you managed to show them off, too...

I think I love this part of Japan...

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...

Lovely shots Stevesays!

Japan has some great Architecture ehh:P

Jay.

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Nikon D80 | Nikkor 18-200mm VR | SB-600 | Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW | ML-L3 | Bits'N'Bobs |

Nice shots.

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Graham
Flickr

I much prefer the second one this is because there is a niec take on the colour balance or there is just more colour in it`!

Does this castel get used?

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alex, thanks for your reply. I actually prefer the first one myself- it seems slightly sharper to my eye, and yes the colour balance of the two shots is different.

himeji castle isn't used- its a big tourist attraction though, on the to-do list of most tourists coming to japan.

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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

For me, the first one is superior to the second one, but both are very well captured. I say this because the pastel colours of the blossoms and white balance in the first image really give a soft mood to what is a very elegant building. The second image has far more contrast and pulls you into the building, but it lacks a mood.

I regret not making the effort to visit the three castles on my visits to Japan, but I'll make sure I do next time.

Thank you very much for sharing.

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Nikonian

http://www.edtangphotography.com
http://journeysintophotography.blogspot.com/

Nice! I like really like number two, very rich in colors

Quentin

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Quentin

Hey, I told you I was going to get my pro account someday!

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