Hot Night Photography in Shibuya in 2022
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.
Hot night photography gear:
Camera body: Fujifilm X-T3
Fujifilm Lenses:
- XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
- XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 R LM OIS
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 Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
More street photography articles:
