The last of the Gingko

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.

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There are many western-style buildings in the university campus, which are arguably more interesting to look at than the newer buildings.

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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! 

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The low-level light of this season really does create the best shadows, and highlights.

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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...

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... maybe

Icho Namiki Dori

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.

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The autumn colours of the Gingko are really intense - turning a very bright yellow like no other tree I've seen before.

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The weather this weekend was fantastic - just bright blue skies.

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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

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.

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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.

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Greens | RX1 | 1/80s f/13.0 ISO2000 35mm

The maples are a huge attraction, turning from bright green to a vibrant red, via a visceral yellow.

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Reds and Yellows | RX1 | 1/80s f/2.0 ISO100 35mm

But there were not just maples to behold...

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Yellow | RX1 | 1/640s f/2.0 ISO100 35mm

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Tunnel of yellow | RX1 | 1/80s f/5.6 ISO400 35mm

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.

Turning

Central Tokyo is just starting to turn. The trees are turning an amazing mix of red, yellow, and green. It's a beautiful time of year, and it seems such a shame to have to work in an office during daylight hours so bright and vivid as this.

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With a polarising filter, the sky is really vivid

In around a week, autumn will be all around us. The above tree, central to the campus here at the University of Tokyo, turns an amazing yellow by the end of the year. I estimate that in the first week of december, this area of the campus will be yellow, if previous years are anything to go by.

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However, next week, I'll be in Okinawa for work - when I return I think it'll be impossible to walk around Tokyo without rustling in leaves!

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Leaves weren't the only thing turning

Upon Reflection

Sometime last week, though I can't remember when, the clouds briefly parted and a few rays of sunlight burst through the gap.

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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. 

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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.

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Disturbance