Views at the Honen’in Temple in Eastern Kyoto

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 —
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Entrance from Afar

Honen'in Temple (法然院), Kyoto Japan
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The view above, of the entrance gate to the Honen'in Temple (法然院) in eastern Kyoto, is from the outside looking in,
as opposed to the views in yesterday's post, which were from the inside looking out.

The path leading to the entrance gate is in two parts... the first being
an exceptionally-well-done cobblestone path with what seems to me to be a
decidedly modern feel...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 10000 —
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Path onto the Property

eventually leading to the main gate
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Frankly, I find the modern feel to be a bit jarring in the rustic traditional temple setting, but I like
the cobblestone path a bit better than what follows directly in front of the main gate: plain dirt.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 10000 —
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Standard View

of the famous, photogenic gate

The duo-nature path includes some cobblestone steps rising toward the
gate, and in the lead photo I placed myself such that the lens was just
slightly below the level of the dirt part of the path, thereby rendering it
invisible in that scene.

The thatched gate roof had lush moss, which I always love but can never do justice in a photograph...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 8000 —
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Lush Moss Roof

From just inside the gate you can look down on the path and sand sculptures that we saw yesterday...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 140 —
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 140 —
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 —
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Ferny Northern Slope

of the entrance-gate roof

Better view of the ferns, which I love:

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 4000 —
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Ay Be a Pirate

at least me boots be






Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 560 —
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Sand Detail




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 —
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Gate Sans Sand




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 —
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Damien and Gate




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 360 —
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One More Try

all in all, the one posted yesterday, at 24mm, is probably the best




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 500 —
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Different Angle




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 800 —
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Mossy Lawn
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/400 sec, f/1.4, ISO 360 —
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Back Pathway

behind the mossy lawn
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1400 —
map & image data — nearby photos
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1250 —
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Building Detail

Normally you can not enter the temple buildings nor see the private
gardens, but they are apparently opened for a few days every few years, and
due to Dameon's encyclopedic knowledge of Kyoto temples, our visit this day
was not a coincidence.

You are not allowed to take photos in the buildings, but I was permitted
to take them of the garden areas...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 —
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Curved Stone Bridge

made from a single piece of stone

When going through these photos last night I came across one in black & white; apparently I'd fiddled
with it soon after loading the photos in November. I'm not sure it's worth sharing, but FWIW, here it is....

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 1000 —
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 3200 —
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Slightly Off Kilter

with a pretty engraved deer
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/320 sec, f/2.5, ISO 2500 —
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Lake of Moss




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/13, ISO 2200 —
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Private Inner Garden
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/13, ISO 2200 —
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Vertical View
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1600 —
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Unweathered

I think the stones provide a sturdy area for roof runoff to hit the ground
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Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2800 —
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Courtyard Tree

in groomed sand




Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 — 1/80 sec, f/1.8, ISO 110 —
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Garden Basin
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Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/80 sec, f/2.5, ISO 500 —
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Gargoyle Detail

( it looks like he has a splitting headache )

I love how a leaf is used for the spout. The only other time I've ever seen that was in an outside basin at this very temple, the first time I visited
it 8½ years ago:

Canon IXY DIGITAL 600 — 1/125 sec, f/2.8 —
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Shot in 2005 with a Point-n-Shoot

before I got much into photography

Back to the Nov 2012 visit, here's someone else taking a picture of the basin/gargoyle...

Nikon D4 + Voigtländer 125mm f/2.5 — 1/400 sec, f/2.5, ISO 5000 —
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In Silhouette

doing a fedora right