The Japan trip was a success overall. The places we went were known to us, but the the trip was part tour for friends and part holiday in a familiar space.

I decided to change up my usual work processes, trying to bring something new to a well known subject and on the whole and in response to different priorities, it was a mostly successful.

Switching from Olympus to Panasonic colours, timed ideally with late summer flat greens as it goes, imposing the 2:1, sometimes 1:2 format constraint* and less reliance on discreet street gear, gave me a more “general purpose” setup, with a freedom and ease of shooting close to that of my day job.

The images below are mostly taken from the first two days in the city or at Tofuku-ji temple.

The G9 handles easily and quickly, but the AF was not as sure footed as the Oly cams. It is an interesting difference in work dynamic. The great customisation and control of the G9 mk1, with a button or dial for everything, can mean some over complication and the need to feel your way to the best settings. An example of this was my early preference for the small box cluster focus grouping, until the early rain fooled it more often than not.

By the end, my see-shoot-continue one-action action was back in play, but I know I missed a few shots early on. This was in stark contrast to the many mobile phone shooters who, even with the benefit of using the best known camera they have likely ever owned, often took an age toget a shot.

The difference between a professional photographer and a snapping tourist is still there for now, much as it always has been, in focussed and efficient processes, filling raised expectations and with an awareness of comprehension and action, not the gear. I noticed a few other pro shooters, always obvious by their ready-to-go organisation and speed of operation.

The 12-60 kit Pana lens was a winner all around.

Versatile, optically solid, great range including macro and weather sealed, meant I used it for 90% of the time, only really switching out for light night/street/shopping trips, when the Pen mini and 17mm dangling off my 60” strap did the job.

The first two days were late summer wet, hot and humid. It tested us coming from a stubbornly cool spring at home (overnight temps on Kyoto often exceeding our highest daytime temp to this point), but thankfully the first two days also often bring with them a level of fresh eyed enthusiasm that helped us push through.

Our friends were seeing Japan for the first time with as the Japanese would say “child’s eyes”, so apart from some blisters, dampness and sore feet, time passed happily.

My footware choices were a stand out. Merrill Longsky 2 trail runners, mostly made of some type of hardened plastic mesh negotiated the wet days faultlessly and provided amazing (Vibram) grip on any surface. I switched to a pair of Fly Strike runners and MOAB 3’s for the other days and even with new shoes all around (some clearance specials, so not a huge spend-about the value as the MOAB’s at full price), had no blisters, pressure points or sore feet the whole trip and we usually walked ten plus KM’s a day.

From then, mild heat, very light rain and more often than not, perfect travel conditions.

We showed our friends our “top ten” Kyoto destinations, so sometimes touristy, sometimes not, but our must see’s for new travellers to Kyoto and Nara, including a walk over a small mountain and they also sent themselves off to Hiroshima for the day. We missed a few spots, but there is always the chance of another trip.

*My intent is to do 2:1 triptych or paired sets, sometimes 1:2 hanging ones as well. All the shots were taken with this compositional aide applied, but are of course RAW files, so I have options later.