Photographing the Godzilla statue in Hibiya
A Godzilla statue was unveiled in Tokyo in late March 2018. It was a version based on the one featured in the 2016 film “Shin Godzilla.” According to Toho, the production company, it is Japan’s largest King of Monsters statue. It is a piece of cinema history. Let me tell you, this statue is very cool, but it comes with a caveat.
Debuting in 1954, Godzilla might be Japan’s most famous movie character. Awakened by nuclear weapons, he is a terrifying destroyer. But, he has also helped humanity on occasion. He has appeared in films, computer games, comic books, and television shows.
You can find a statue of him in, Hibiya Godzilla Square. He stands atop a pedestal. While this might be the biggest statue of him in Japan, he is small. He’s only three meters tall!
He’s not the huge and imposing figure from the movies. Large buildings surround him. If you shoot with a short lens, he will appear tiny in photos. He’ll be the dwarf of monsters, not the king. In short, you have to work for your pictures, either search for a great angle or do some post-processing work.
It’s not an impossible problem though. If you are creative you will find a solution. Walk around and try different angles. Try taking photos from underneath or from over the road.
There also is a cafe directly behind him. You can get good photos there if you enter it. Of course, you will need to buy a drink.
I chose black and white for this article as my favorite Godzilla is the one from the first movie. The other films are okay, but the 1954 version is the standout. By today’s standards, the special effects weren’t great, but they were fantastic in those days. And, of course, his theme song is brilliant.
If you want a bigger Godzilla, see the one in Shinjuku. That might be more fun for most photographers, even though you can only see the monster’s top part.
What lenses do I recommend for Godzilla statue photos?
Smartphones, compact cameras, or DSLRs will work. The problem will be making Godzilla look big if that is what you want. To do that find the good angles as I mentioned before. You might use longer lenses. Then you can focus on details and blow out backgrounds with bokeh.
Where is the Hibiya Godzilla Square?
Hibiya Station is very close to the Godzilla statue. The following lines use it:
- Toei Mita
- Tokyo Metro Chiyoda
- Tokyo Metro Hibiya
If you need a map, there is one on Google Maps.
Please leave your questions and comments below. And if you take pictures of him, let me know! I’d like to see them.
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