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 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. 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 up to Tower Record 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 Astro Boy also has some murals in Takadanobaba? They are far more extensive and cover a whole wall. You should see them if you have the time.
Anyway, the rain in Shibuya wasn’t heavy. It was more of a 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 any 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 wasn’t weather-resistant. It was the longer 55-200 mm. I was a little worried about taking it with me. But, it performed very well. Of course, 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. There is so much to see.
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! Anyway, if you have questions or comments, leave them below.
Photo gear used for night photography in Shibuya article:
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
Date photos taken: 13 May, 2022
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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