2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums
I saw the 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums twice. Both times were superb thanks to the fantastic weather. I went in the morning and the late afternoon. The first visit was so crowded that I gave up. Later that day, I went just before the gates closed. That limited my shooting time, but fewer people were around the flowers. Still, I got good pictures.
Photo gear for this shoot
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
The 2018 Shinjuku Gyoen Chrysanthemums experience
Dealing with the people was hard. There are a limited number of display areas and everyone wants to see the flowers. 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. Waiting for people to clear the area wasn’t a problem. Patience won the day. I was happy with my efforts in the end.
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.
Shinjuku Gyoen is one of Tokyo’s best places to see chrysanthemums. I won’t say greatest anymore, as it does have rivals. They are 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.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More flower articles:
External related websites
- Shinjuku Gyoen (official website)