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Myohoji hydrangeas in 2017
One of the last places I saw hydrangeas in 2017 was at Myōhōji shrine. That is in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, where I live. I arrived very late in the season, and many flowers were fading. Still, I was glad I went as some were okay for photographs. It made the hour’s walk to get there worth it.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Myōhōji was built in the early 1600s. It is in a quiet residential area. For me, it is everything a Japanese temple should be. It has a social function. Local people use it to meet others, not only to pray.
I enjoyed talking to some of them. As I walked by, they looked me right in the eye and wished me a good morning with genuine smiles. There was no shyness or hesitation. Everyone seemed to be welcome.
Trees at the rear of the complex offer shade from the summer heat to those sitting on benches. There are the classic worship hall and long outdoor corridors. While I was there, I could hear monks chanting inside the buildings.
But, it was the Myohoji hydrangeas I went for, but once again, I cursed my inability to get up at the crack of dawn. That is something I find difficult to master.
And if you miss golden hour, the light won’t be optimal for photography. Still, I got there early enough, and no one was there but me. It was great to have an entire garden to myself for a change.
Most of the Myohoji hydrangeas were arranged in a square around a field, with irises in the middle. Another group was on either side of a path lined with lanterns near the rear entrance. You could tell the gardeners spend a lot of time looking after the plants.
I tried some handheld panoramic shots and stitched them together in Lightroom. That worked well, but my technique might have been lacking, as the main hall shot has a bow in the roof. In retrospect, the gate with the hydrangeas and lanterns needed this type of picture. It was a pity that I didn’t think of doing it, at the time.
When I took these shots, summer was starting to heat up. And that meant these were my last pictures of the 2017 Myohoji hydrangeas. Please read my full article about the temple. It is beautiful and historical. If you are a temple lover, you need to see it.
Myohoji hydrangeas in 2017 photo gear:
- Camera Body: X-T2
- Lenses: XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
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