Hot night photography in Shibuya

I hadn’t done any night photography in Shibuya for a long time.  Thanks to the pandemic, I have avoided it for the past two years.  But, I figured it was time to get back in the swing of things.  And it was raining, but that was okay.  I really wanted to shoot there, especially 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, I discovered it was damp and warm.  I overheated quickly. 

My night 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.  But I also went up to Tower Record to photograph Astro Boy.  

The French artist, Invader painted him in 2014.  He is high up above a tunnel.  Did you know Astro Boy also has some murals in Takadanobaba?  They are far more extensive and cover a whole wall.

The rain wasn’t heavy.  It was more of a constant light drizzle.  For most of the night, I had to juggle the camera in one hand and my umbrella in the other.  Whenever I wanted to take a photo, I couldn’t find an awning or roof for cover.

I used two lenses for the night.  One was the Fujifilm 16-55 mm.  It is weather-resistant.  I didn’t have any problems with it, as I expected.  

The other lens I used was the 55-200 mm, which is not weather-resistant.   I was a little worried about taking it with me.  But, it performed very well.  It got a little wet, but it had no problems.  

My visit was brief, but that is okay.  I had so many places to go, but the area was so large.  It was impossible to photograph everywhere in one night.  I always need an excuse to photograph in Shibuya.  

Next time, I’d like to see what is 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 have never visited much.  Night photography in Shibuya is endless. 

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!  I

For more night photography articles, look at:

• Shinjuku at night – a photo walkaround

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