Saint Mary's Cathedral in Black and White
I don’t like overcast weather. Barren sky is boring. Something in the middle is great. Cumulus clouds are my style. A few of those make everything pretty. When I photographed St. Mary’s Cathedral in Bunkyo ward that was what I had. This classic building was under perfect conditions. It is a great Tokyo photo spot.
Black and white was a good choice for these photos. By removing the color, the structure stands out. Then I added contrast to the sky in Photoshop. That created more separation between the subject and background. I hope I got it right. Let me know if I didn’t.
Here are some “facts” about the building. Home to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tokyo, it was designed by Kenzo Tange. Construction work finished in 1964, the same year as the Tokyo Olympics. You would see the building is shaped like a cross if you had a bird’s-eye view. It’s hard to believe it’s now more than fifty years old. The stainless steel construction makes it look amazing.
St. Mary’s Cathedral is beautiful. The shape, the angles, and the materials combine to make it something special. I think the architect might have been divinely inspired when he put pen to paper for this project.
The only complaint I have is that photography is prohibited inside. The interior, especially the altar area, is amazing and needs to be seen to be believed. If you enjoy churches or architectural photography, you should visit Saint Mary’s.
Where is St. Mary’s Cathedral?
Address: 3-16-15 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Closest Train Stations
The church is near Gokokuji (Exit 6)and Edogawabashi Stations (Exit 1a). They are on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho line. It is about a fifteen-minute walk from both.
Are public restrooms available?
Yes. They are outside the main building.
Conclusion
Did Kenzo Tange receive divine inspiration when he designed St. Mary’s Cathedral? I don’t know but he created a wonderful place for architectural photographers. And that roof is incredible. But, before you go, check the weather forecast for those nice clouds. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more architectural photo articles:
External related websites:
- Tokyo Cathedral from Giovanni Piliarvu.