2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums were amazing

I saw the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums twice.  Both times were superb with the fantastic weather. I went in the morning and the late afternoon. For the first visit, it was so crowded that I gave up. The second time, I went before closing time. There were fewer people, but that limited my shooting time. Still, I got some great pictures.

What photo gear did I use for these photos?

Camera body: Fujifilm X-T2

Lenses:

  • Fujifilm XF 10-24 mm F4 R OIS WR
  • Fujifilm XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
  • Fujifilm XF 55-200 mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS

How was my day with the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums?

Dealing with the people was the hardest thing. There are only a limited number of display areas and everyone wants to see the flower. That means you’ll need to make a choice. One is having a stranger in your shots. You might be able to make that work for you.

Or you wait for them to move on and take photographs at your own pace. Waiting for them to move can take some time, so be warned! Of course, you can go at a time when there is no crowd like I did. But that requires some luck.

There is a third choice. You can fill the frame with the flowers. That’s what I did for most of these 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums. I captured the flowers. But I didn’t mind waiting for people to leave at other times. In the end, I was happy with my photos.

My favorite flower at the 2018 Chrysanthemums Shinjuku Gyoen was the ozukuri. Ozukuri is a dome made up of hundreds of blooms. I always find them a little hard to photograph as I never know whether to shoot them straight or from the side. Anyway, shots taken from both angles are here for you to see.

One thing I did differently that year was to use a wide-angle lens, the Fujifilm 10-24 mm lens. The results were a mixed bag. When shooting up close, some corners got a little stretched. That wasn’t desirable, but I guess it could be a matter of technique.

And while I was in Shinjuku Gyoen, I wondered if chrysanthemums were popular. They are favorites for Mother’s Day in Australia. In Japan, they are on the Imperial Seal. When you hear people talk about flowers, answers can vary. But, I have never heard anyone say chrysanthemums. Still, many people attend this exhibit.

As always, Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s best places to see chrysanthemums. I won’t say greatest anymore, as it does have serious rivals. You can see them elsewhere on this website.

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below. Did you visit the 2018 Chrysanthemums Shinjuku Gyoen? Please tell me what you thought of them if you did.

For more flower articles, look at:

External related websites

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *