Night photography in Shibuya? I hadn’t done that for a long time. Thanks to COVID-19, I have avoided it for the past two years. But, it was time to get back in the swing of things. The rain wouldn’t deter me. Getting wet wasn’t a problem. I wanted to shoot around the crossing.
My plan for the night soon went astray. The weather forecast said cold and wet. I dressed in jeans and a light jacket. Upon arrival, it was damp and warm. I overheated. The jacket ended up on my shoulder quickly.
The stay was brief, but I should have expected that anyway. With the rain, there weren’t many people around. The only crowded areas were Shibuya Crossing and 109. I also went to Tower Records to photograph Astro Boy.
The French artist, Invader, painted him in 2014. He was high up above a tunnel. Unfortunately, the piece of art is now gone. But do you know the Astro Boy murals in Takadanobaba? They are more extensive and cover a wall. See them if you have the time.
Anyway, the rain in Shibuya wasn’t heavy. It was a drizzle. I juggled the camera in one hand and my umbrella in the other for this night photography. Some cover would have been nice, but none was available when I wanted to shoot.
I used two lenses that night. One was the Fujifilm 16-55 mm. It’s weather-resistant. I didn’t have any problems with it.
My other lens, the longer 55-200mm, lacked protection. That worried me. Rain hit it, but no problems occurred.
The visit was brief, but that was okay. I had many places to go, but the area was large. It was impossible to photograph everywhere in one night. But I don’t need an excuse to shoot in Shibuya. Going back isn’t a problem.
Next time, I want to shoot around Yamashita Park. Its redevelopment finished some years ago, and I still haven’t seen it! I also need to explore Centa Gai. That is a place I rarely visit. Night photography in Shibuya is endless. There is much to see.
Conclusion
If my work schedule isn’t loaded next week, I’ll go again. Hopefully, the weather forecast will be more accurate. I don’t mind the heat, but I don’t like it when wearing jeans! Leave questions and comments below.
Date of Photos: 13 May, 2022
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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