It's easy to get so caught up in things that one misses what is on one's doorstep.
Read MoreAutumn
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autumn
October
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A month in which we change time...
Read MoreA Different Point of View
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After taking my phone out with me last weekend, I thought I'd go a little larger and use the RX100 this weekend. I wanted to see how I would get on with just a compact camera.
Read MoreThe last of the Gingko
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OK, this is it, I promise! Huge winds this afternoon have completely stripped the leaves from the beautiful gingko trees adorning the many walkways within the University of Tokyo. I managed to snap these shots early in the morning, before the strong winds.
There are many western-style buildings in the university campus, which are arguably more interesting to look at than the newer buildings.
I asked this lady if I could take a photo of her painting - she agreed enthusiastically. The photo has been converted to black and white due to insanely intense colours of her jacket!
The low-level light of this season really does create the best shadows, and highlights.
After these seriously strong winds, and the recent drop in temperature, I really do think that this will be the last significant piece of autumn I catch here in Tokyo. It seems to go on forever, and so much later than back home (it actually does, due to latitude). I know I keep saying that this is the "last of autumn", but I really think it just might be...
... maybe
Icho Namiki Dori
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Icho Namiki Dori, or Ginkgo Tree Avenue, comes alive this time of year. The Gingko are living fossils, with no known relatives in existence. The tree, thought to originate in China, has a very distinctive leaf pattern.
The autumn colours of the Gingko are really intense - turning a very bright yellow like no other tree I've seen before.
The weather this weekend was fantastic - just bright blue skies.
I'll miss these amazing colours in a few weeks... but until then, they don't fail to put a smile on my face every single time.
Autumn descends on Tokyo
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Finally, we had an entire weekend of near-perfect weather. Each morning this week we left for work with sunglasses on, praying that the weather would hold for the weekend. We were in luck. We visited Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden in the centre of Tokyo, cameras at the ready.
There were people picknicking and having lunch, but most people were walking around with either cameras or smartphones at the ready. We also took a lot of photos, but made an effort to appreciate the beautiful range of colours with our eyes and not vicariously through our LCD screens.
The maples are a huge attraction, turning from bright green to a vibrant red, via a visceral yellow.
But there were not just maples to behold...
I'm heading to Okinawa this morning, for some repair work this week. There's a chance I'll be able to catch the final stages of fall upon my return to Tokyo - but if not, I'll still be happy with this year's fall photos.
Upon Reflection
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Sometime last week, though I can't remember when, the clouds briefly parted and a few rays of sunlight burst through the gap.
I ventured out with my NEX-7 and Canon FD 50mm lens, to the pond next to my office building. Some of the trees have started their descent into fall colours already.
It had been raining not long before, an there remained a significant amount of water on the leaves of the numerous trees surrounding the lake. I didn't have to wait long to take the below photograph, though perhaps upon reflection I should have waited for another drop, more central to the frame.
Sunny Sunrise
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It seems that I'm forever saying that the weather will improve, only for the weekend to be a wash-out. This last weekend was, again, a damp and dreary affair. We're wanting to go on the long walks we so enjoy this time of year, but the weather just doesn't want to cooperate.
We woke up this morning to bright sunlight coming through the skylight, birds tweeting, and a clear-sky forecast. Typical! A day inside an office until sunset (at 4:44pm!), and it's glorious outside. Oh well. I snapped the above photo through the condensation-covered window, pictured below.
Uncharacteristically wet
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The weather forecast for the next 7 days alludes to more rain, cloudy days, and generally a rather British-style autumn. It'll be November soon! October last year was much nicer, and I am hoping that this rain system dissipates in the near future, as I want to take photos of the amazing autumn leaves.