Inuyama castle., a photo from Aichi, Chubu

Photographer's Note

This is one of many picture that Norbert and I photographed on the 5th April.

We decided to go to Inuyama castle and the surrounding areas, it was quite funny when we went outside a temple nearby the castle and this 90 year old man invited us in the temple to take more photos and even prepared Japanese tea and Mochi for us to eat, well I guess he wanted to chat and oh my did he....he went on and on (like the titanic song) but in parts were quite interesting, he even had a book of maps and located Germany where Norbert was from but the book was about 50 years old, but he was happy with it (not accurate though)!! Well, after 25 mins we really wanted to pick up our cameras and leave the place and so we thanked him and said our farewells.

More information about the castle below.

Constructed in 1537 atop a bluff overlooking the Kiso River, miraculously surviving centuries of war and earthquake (part of it was damaged by an 1891 earthquake but then repaired), Japan's oldest castle is a designated National Treasure. The four-story keep -- much smaller than most of Japan's castles -- is the nation's only privately owned castle, owned by the Naruse family since 1618. In addition to displaying a few samurai outfits, it offers a nice, expansive view over the river that's especially worth a look if you intend to join the nearby cormorant fishing. The castle is so diminutive you can see everything in 15 minutes

weswang, raytheron, kittyhawk, nwoehnl, anavazao, Fixfocus, alvaraalto, singuanti, ChrisJ, razanoor, pastadog, MLINES, Yffic heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

raytheron (589) 2006-04-07 0:31

Lovely, Dan. Makes me long for my days in Japan. The subdued lighting adds atmosphere to the shot. Yes, sakura (cherry blossoms) are an integral part of Japanese scenery, and you were fortunate to be there at the right times, as they add so much to this image. Really like it, I do!
Cheers
Ray

kittyhawk (1802) 2006-04-07 1:33

Hi Dan,

This is a very nice photo, I like the way you framed the castle with the cherry trees. Very nice composition.

Thank you for sharing.

- Halgeir

PixelTerror (0) 2006-04-07 4:17

HI Dan, heard the news about your session from Norbert this morning in Kyoto, now I see the pics, great pov through the blossoming trees to the rising structure, i m trying hard to do such ones too bt you ll see them later I don t travel with all sat transmission HW like Norbert ;-)
JY

nwoehnl (122) 2006-04-07 4:59

Hi Dan. Nice seeing this one from our shoot, considering the rainy morning it did actually come out pretty good. You arranged the spire of the castle very precisely to fit in between the cherry blossom branches. Good shot, and nice job re-telling the memorable meeting with the old guy. Greetings from Kyoto.

cessy (13647) 2006-04-07 5:17

so beautiful temple with gorgeous flowers
very nice shot, Dan
someday I must go to Japan again

zig (2456) 2006-04-07 10:06

Hi Dan. Pitty that it was rainy on the shooting day. But it looks sakuras in Inuyama are at full blossoms? I wonder how you talked to the old guy.. did you speak in Japanese to him? I didn't knwo you spoke Japanese!

anavazao (5592) 2006-04-07 11:43

hi
beautiful photo! Great colors, POV, light sharpness and note also!
Thanks Ana:)

Fixfocus (9385) 2006-04-07 12:40

Hi Dan,
Interesting story to go along with this capture of the cherry blossoms.Beautiful framing for the impressive castle.Obviously you two were not lucky with the weather but still a good impression of the place and the mood.
Greetings,
Hermann

weswang (18247) 2006-04-07 17:39

Hi Dan, Your picture made me realize that the Japanese style castle and the cheery flowers are made for each other. Nice to use the cheery blossom as frame to the castle and the castle provide a good contrast and eye rest point to the blossom picture. Good to see the visitors in the castle.

alvaraalto (42804) 2006-04-07 18:27

Hi Dan,
Hi Dan,
Back to a favourite “Spring theme” The characteristic Japanese architecture with the herald of spring, these beautiful blossoms.
Well done.
Groet Rob

singuanti (15250) 2006-04-07 22:05

Hey Dan. Wow this is so beautiful. This is one of the nicer cherry blossom shots I've seen in a while. You've so effortlessly combined the trees and the castle. Fantastic shot Dan!

Angshu (56760) 2006-04-08 3:59

Hi Dan
A very good perspective of the castle with the cherry trees in front. Good in almost desaturated colours...
Regards
Angshu

ChrisJ (171794) 2006-04-08 6:17

Hi Dan

I like the simple graphism & composition, with its uncluttered bg. Good sharpness, lighting, colour, & contrast. Tfs!

jmdaoudal (82) 2006-04-08 18:17

This is a very nice spring in Japan one a very positive "cliché" of the flowers and the bac architecture.
beautiful and well composed
Compliments
jean Michel

Tue (92272) 2006-04-09 9:35

Hej Dan,
Very nice capture of this very fine castle. I like very much how the blossoms frame the building. Well captured!
Hilsen,
Lars

john_c (24666) 2006-04-09 12:33

Hi Dan,
Despite the dull sky, this shot works very well and there is much ambience present. The cherry blossoms also are subdued in hue and don't steal the show but rather enhance and nicely frame the castle, which is well seen and appreciated. Your POV is superb. Very fine work.
John

capthaddock (28790) 2006-04-10 10:12

Hi Dan - not the best light, but the blossoms look beautiful, and combined with the castle make a great classic japanese compo.

razanoor (466) 2006-04-11 14:32

Hi Dan,

What a magical shot...it reminds me of the Japanese imperial history....and your note gives a great description of it all. Great work.

regards, Raza

pastadog (13111) 2006-04-11 15:20

Hi Dan, a perfect frame for this impressive castle, it even looks like a perfect match between the tree on right and the slope of the castle, as if it was protecting it somehow. And I enjoyed your story very much. Regards, Daniel

rabdelnoor (3423) 2006-04-11 17:57

Hi Dan,
Lovely POV. I like how you captured the castle hidden behing the trees in full blooming. VEry nice colors and beautiful light.
Take care
Ricardo

Yffic (6106) 2006-07-06 10:51

Hi Dan,

That's typicaly the vision that I have af Japanese temples: a shintoist castle and lots of white trees around...
Colors and composition are really good.

Regards.

Yves